A Daughter's Redemption. Georgiana Daniels

in and highlights the problem areas. You’re the one who mentioned how bad it looked.” Ginger ran her finger down a column of measurements and checked it against the notes Robyn had made. “Besides, it’s only for the main house. The cabins can stay as they are.”

      Only for the main house. Casual words for someone who actually had money to her name, but for Robyn, only the main house meant wiping out her bank account. As it was, she’d had to turn in the rental car, and the refrigerator was nearly empty. She had to make what little money there was last until she got paid again. She made a mental note to ask Phil what provisions existed for renovating.

      People meandered around Joe’s Home and Hardware, chatting with one another as though they had no business but to catch up on the day’s events. Between the full mugs and fun-filled laughter, it was hard to tell if this was a hardware store or a coffee club. Had her dad been part of this group, hanging out with his friends?

      “These seem to be the most reasonably priced.” Ginger tapped the page, then frowned. “Is something bothering you?”

      “Brad came out to Lakeside yesterday, and we had a run-in. I can’t stop thinking about it.”

      Ginger pulled up a seat, the legs of the chair screeching against the concrete floor. “What did he want?”

      “He said he was missing some of Dad’s paperwork, but he wouldn’t give details.” Robyn leaned against the sample book and rubbed her forehead, though the real pain was in her heart. “I have a feeling that getting on his good side will be harder than I thought.”

      “Are you sure you want to?”

      Robyn sat next to her friend. “I know it sounds crazy but yes. Now that I have a chance, I’m taking it.”

      Ginger raised one highly suspicious eyebrow before her features softened. “I won’t pretend to understand, but you and I can have a long talk when I get back from my conference.”

      Robyn stood. She twisted the wand on the display blinds. Open, shut, open, shut. “I’m sure what happened yesterday was a fluke. Let’s get the saleslady and finish up. I’m supposed to meet with the handyman soon.”

      The salesclerk came over and drew up the order. Robyn handed the woman her debit card, hoping it wasn’t declined. She prayed there would be enough money made on the sale of the property to cover what was still owed along with the expenses she was incurring.

      After they finished, they strolled out of the store. A rainbow hung over Pine Hollow, and the scent of rain permeated the air.

      Ginger grabbed Robyn’s forearm. “Don’t look now.”

      Robyn looked. Abby sauntered out of a boutique like she owned the sidewalk, nose tilted skyward. She waved and hoped her half sister was in a better mood than their brother. “Hi, Abby. I thought you had headed home to Phoenix for a while. What brings you back so soon?”

      Abby straightened her collar. “Business.” The clipped word made her cringe.

      “I’ll leave you two alone.” Ginger backed away to peruse a window display.

      Robyn forced a smile and prayed for the right words. “Ginger and I were ordering new blinds. I think they’ll look good in the house.”

      Abby responded with a simper. Where was the sister she’d played with as a kid, the one who splashed around in the lake with her, made mud pies and whispered secrets late into the night? A sister—a whole family, really—was the only thing Robyn wanted. What could she say to bring peace?

      “Abby, look—why don’t we call a truce? I don’t know what you and Brad still have against me after all these years, but I want to get along.”

      “You really don’t know?” Abby’s eyes narrowed.

      “The past is the past.”

      “And sometimes the past bleeds over.” The venom in Abby’s words struck their target, and after a few moments, her features softened, if only a little. “But even now, I have my reasons.”

      She tried to ignore the attention they drew from the other pedestrians. “Tell me. I’ll do whatever I can to make it right.”

      For the first time, Abby’s composure was shaken. “You can’t make it right. Like I said on the phone the other day, there was no reason for my father to leave Lakeside Cabins to you. That was my home growing up. You left, and yet you’re rewarded?” Her pitch rose with intensity. “I don’t think so.”

      “I may have walked out, but I was sixteen years old and full of emotions I couldn’t get a grip on. But you’ll never know how much it hurt to be told that no one wanted me to come back.”

      Abby huffed. “I don’t know anything about that, but it serves you right. My parents had nothing but trouble whenever the subject of you came up, and it really hurt our family.”

      At least you had one. Robyn swallowed the comment in order to focus on what was important now. “Look, I don’t know why Dad left the property to me, either, but it’s the only hope I have that he actually cared about me. I want to get along with you—and with Brad. It’s not like we have to be friends, but can we at least not be enemies?”

      A dark cloud passed over the sun, and the breeze stilled, as though all of Pine Hollow was pausing to hear Abby’s reply. “There is one thing you can do.”

      Robyn’s heart fluttered with fresh hope. She’d do whatever it took to make peace with her sister, no matter the cost. “Tell me.”

      “There’s a hearing coming up, for the police officer who was involved in the accident.” Abby’s eyes turned to stone. “Brad and I are going to have our say and hopefully get that person off the force. You can prepare a statement, too. After everything that’s happened, you owe it to Dad to speak up.”

      Anger bubbled inside her at the mention of the cop, but she’d never been one for vengeance. “I’m not sure what to say.”

      “Say yes.” Abby’s mouth tipped up at the corners. “It’s the least you can do.”

      Chapter Six

      The more time Robyn spent with Caleb, the harder it was to resist the growing attraction. What good would it do to get to know him better when she’d soon be gone? She craved a loving, stable relationship, but she knew this couldn’t be it—even though she caught him sneaking glances at her and sharing more frequent smiles. Life on the road with Mom had taught her not to get too attached.

      An ache pierced her back, a by-product of hunching over the porch’s loose floorboards all morning. She sat tall and stretched.

      “Are you ready for a break?” Caleb’s rugged voice startled her from her thoughts.

      “Only if you are. I can keep going until we’re done.”

      He set aside the nail gun and rubbed his face. “You go on ahead. I need to keep working. I hear there’s a storm coming, and I’d like to have more finished before it hits.” His biceps drew the fabric of his T-shirt taut as he reached for another plank.

      Robyn’s arms felt like noodles. She’d mistakenly thought she could easily handle these tasks after spending the past year moving surfboards and boxes at the shop. But that was nothing compared to the heavy-duty work over the past several days—when Caleb didn’t stop her and handle the tasks himself. She stood and tugged at his arm. “Come on, you deserve a break. I insist.”

      He glanced at the sky, then back at the hole in the porch. “I’ll take a short one. Let me grab my food from the truck.”

      The half sandwich she’d saved from breakfast was still on the counter inside. After paying for the blinds, she’d had just enough money to buy a loaf of bread, peanut butter and jelly. She still had one more paycheck from the surf shop coming, but after that she’d have to break out the credit card. Hopefully the renovations would be done soon so Ginger could list