It Started With A House: Lizzie. Book 1 (The Westport Mysteries)

by Beth Prentice

  So his date was with his Gran?

  “Oh how lovely to meet you, Lizzie. I’ve heard so much about you and your house. Riley’s been telling me about the renovations you’re doing over there.” She had his killer smile as well.

  “Lovely to meet you to, Mrs. Thomas,” I said extending my hand to her. She took it in both hers, holding on to mine as if her life depended on it.

  “Oh, please, call me Ruby. Oh my, you really are quite beautiful, aren’t you? Riley wasn’t exaggerating when he told me that.” I felt my stomach flip as I turned and saw Riley was going a bit pink on the tips of his ears.

  So he thinks I’m beautiful? Well, that was interesting.

  “I’d like to take credit for the renovation but Riley’s doing all the work.” I smiled. She was still holding my hand, so I moved a step closer to make the stretch a bit less uncomfortable. “So, where are you two going then? Somewhere nice judging by the way you’re both dressed.”

  “Yes, Riley takes me dancing every Friday evening over at the dance hall on Elm. My George and I used to go there every week, but now Riley takes me.” I noticed her eyes got a bit watery at the mention of George who I assumed was her husband. “I can’t complain though. I’m the envy of every woman there with Riley on my arm. He’s a pretty good dancer too, if I may say so.” She smiled, her eyes twinkling. She was obviously very proud of her grandson.

  “Well, we probably should get going, Gran. You don’t want to be late.” I noticed Riley’s ears were still a bit pink as he stepped away from the truck to allow me to pass.

  “It was lovely talking to you, Ruby. I hope you have a fantastic evening.” She gave my hand a squeeze as I attempted to move back.

  “Thank you, dear. I hope to meet you again soon,” she said, finally letting go. As I walked past Riley, I looked up and grinned. What a sweetheart.

  “See you tomorrow, Lizzie.”

  “See you, Riley.”

  Chapter Eight

  Most mornings I tried to get out for a walk before I started work. Even though I hadn’t officially started work yet, I felt it was time to get back into some sort of routine.

  If you followed the river along towards town, it got more commercial with a boardwalk and lots of restaurants and coffee shops. I had my usual walk mapped out and followed the same path every day, finishing at my favourite coffee hangout. I figured after walking for nearly an hour any calories I consumed with my regular Frappuccino and muffin would be void. It’s funny how you see the same regulars every day. Now, I know there are those of you who would think the main crowd down here would be women but surprisingly enough, you would be wrong. It was mostly men. There was the man with the glasses who wore his pants too tight and way too high, who always sat with his laptop. He gave me the giggles. He would be sitting there all alone, typing away and suddenly start talking all to himself. The first time I saw this, I’d slowly backed away from him thinking he was crazy, but soon realized he was talking on his phone. Then there was the Men’s Addiction Support Group. One man seemed to be the leader of this group as he was always here, but the rest of the group changed daily. And then there was the man I could never quite figure out. He was younger than me, always perfectly groomed and smelt divine. He always sat alone and read the same James Patterson novel he’d been reading for the last 6 months. The book still looked brand new, so I’m not quite sure what the hell he did but he was here every day, rain, hail or shine. Most of all I enjoyed watching the business meetings. There’s this one lady who is a total hippy, with her tie-dyed dress and dreadlocks, but she stands at the head of the table and leads a group of men, all dressed in business suits, through budgets and spreadsheets, all while her children sit next to her coloring in. You go girl! More power to you, I always think.

  I also seem to pass the same people on my walk. Some are elderly and always smile and say hello. Others are there to get fit—like the man with the very tanned skinned. Honestly the leather on my couch looks softer than his skin! Of course I can’t forget the person who looks very asexual. This one has me totally puzzled. He-she is always dressed in shorts and a blue t-shirt, has very short hair and is a bit plump. I can’t tell if it’s a man with man boobs or a very flat-chested woman. I’ve even said hello hoping the voice would give it away, but no luck there either.

  Since buying the house I hadn’t had the chance to get down here, but this morning I had got up early—Riley opens the door at 6.30 am anyway—and put my walking clothes on. It felt really good to be out and away from all the mess at home. Riley was making good progress in the attic but the rest of the house was still a mess. Even though I couldn’t wait for it to be finished, I knew that when it was, Riley would be out of my life. I was actually enjoying having him around. I knew I shouldn’t be enjoying his company quite as much as I was, but still…I knew he was never going to be interested in me, so what harm was a tiny little crush?

  After finishing my walk and dark mocha Frappuccino, I headed home to get ready for our meeting at Allora Lodge. Riley was waiting for me when I walked in the door.

  “You’re running a bit late,” he said with a smile. I took a moment to enjoy the glow, before hearing what he actually said. Looking at my watch, I realized he was right. Crap! Time just gets away from you when you’re on holidays.

  After such a relaxing morning I did not need to hear another lecture on how I was always tardy. But Riley was just looking at me, leaning against the counter, long legs stretched out in front of him with that casual relaxed stance he has.

  “Sorry, it was so beautiful down there this morning I lost track of time.” I started telling Riley about the man in the tight pants. “He must have been hot today because he was in his summer outfit. Usually it’s his black jeans and black turtleneck top with his belt pulled two or three notches too tight so it gives him a very big muffin top. The summer outfit is pretty much the same but its black shorts and black t shirt with the belt pulled two or three notches too tight!” I smiled. Riley laughed. I was really going to miss his company when he finished working here.

  * * * *

  After a super-fast shower, I put on a clean skirt, little camisole top and a lightweight sweater, and headed back down stairs.

  “We can take my car if you like,” I suggested, pulling my keys out from the bottom of my handbag.

  Riley shrugged in a yeah whatever movement and we headed outside.

  Now if I haven’t mentioned it previously, I drive a Mini Cooper S. It’s adorable. It’s red and has two black racing stripes running up the bonnet, across the roof and down the back hatch. It’s also turbo-charged so it goes like the clappers. One of the advantages of being thirty-one and single with no children is I got to spend my money on whatever I felt like…until I bought a house that is.

  Getting in, I started the engine and waited for Riley. I watched as he folded himself into the passenger seat, narrowly missing his head on the roof, his knee hanging over the gear lever. As tight a fit as it was for him, I was enjoying every second of it, changing gear more often than necessary as it meant I would have to touch his knee.

  It took about twenty minutes to get from my house to the Allora Lodge Nursing Facility and I will admit, by the time we got to our destination, I was one very happy girl.

  As I parked in the visitors parking I took a good look around at the buildings and grounds. It was a very utilitarian-looking building, with pale bricks, a green tiled roof, and very sparse gardens surrounding it. Inside it was quite depressing and—not meaning to offend anybody—it smelt of old people. When the time came for me to have children, I was going to be very nice to them in the hope I didn’t end up in a place like this. Stepping up to the unattended reception desk, I noticed behind it was a large, light-filled room, filled with the elderly, some in wheelchairs, some in lounge chairs, but all playing bingo. What is it with the elderly and Bingo?

  Ringing the bell, we waited until a nurse appeared. I asked for Lorraine Spencer, the lady whom our meeting was with and it d
idn’t take long for her to arrive. She was a small lady, about fifty, wearing a dark blue uniform with the Allora Lodge logo on the left breast.

  “Come into my office,” she said using her arm to steer us towards the room on our left. It was pretty small considering the size of her desk and all the paperwork she had in piles around the room. “I apologize for the mess. I never seem to have enough space for everything. I keep hoping one day we’ll get a large donation and I might be able to get a bigger office.” She smiled. “Now, you mentioned on the phone yesterday you had some questions about a previous resident here,” she said sitting down behind her desk and clasping her hands in front of her.

  “Yes, her name was Avis Miller,” I smiled. “I bought her house recently and we found something that would have belonged to her. I was hoping you could tell me if she has any living relatives so I could return the item to them,” I explained.

  “Well, as you know all information about Avis is protected by the privacy act so I can’t tell you too much, but I can tell you she had no living relatives. She came to us after a rather nasty fall. She was only with us for four months before she passed, but she was a very sweet lady. She was always friendly to the other residents but didn’t really connect with anyone. It was quite sad that she never had many visitors during her time with us,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s not uncommon though. Do you have any idea how many family members put their relatives in here and basically forget about them?” she sighed, looking at Riley.

  “Could you tell us who her visitors were?” he asked, trying to keep her on track. He gave her the killer smile, so anything he requested was pretty much going to be done. I saw the dazed expression enter her eyes.

  “Well…I...umm…umm...I’m not supposed to give out that information,” she stammered, “but how about I go and see what I can find out.” I could actually see her brain stop working there for a moment. It was okay with me, I understood exactly how she felt. It goes to prove any age bracket can be sucked right into Riley’s orbit.

  “Wow, I’m glad you’re on my side,” I said once she’s left the room.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Seriously, with that smile you can get whatever you want, can’t you?” He just smiled back at me. He knew the power of his talent.

  Lorraine was back in no time with a large black book in her arms.

  “Now, let’s see what we can find. Our computer records show what day she had the visitors and I was right when I said she didn’t have many. Only two in fact. The first one was a couple, Helen and Allen Maxwell, and the second one is a John Smith.” I knew about Helen and Allen as they had told me about their visit, but John Smith? Seriously, could he not have had a more common name?

  “Do you keep a record of addresses of visitors?” I asked, hoping this would give us some more information. She shook her head.

  “No…sorry. We don’t have a need for that kind of information.”

  “What about on Avis’s records?” asked Riley. ”You must have someone listed as a contact for her. Who was notified of her death?”

  Lorraine stopped for a second, looking at Riley before clicking a few keys on her keyboard.

  “I’m sorry, but that information is protected. I can’t tell you even if I wanted to. Can I ask what it is you found?”

  I looked at Riley. There was no harm in telling her.

  “Riley was renovating the attic and found a pile of love letters and an engagement ring hidden under the floor boards . The ring looks very valuable, so I thought it should be given either to a relative or back to the person who gave it to her.”

  “An engagement ring?” Now we had her attention. “Well now, isn’t that interesting. Do you think it belonged to Avis?”

  “Yes, the letters were addressed to her,” said Riley.

  “Well, who would have thought,” she said more as a comment than a question. “I know Avis liked one of the nurses here named Susan. How about I give her a call and see if she’s free for a chat.” Lorraine picked up the phone and pressed a few buttons. Within a minute Susan was knocking on the door. Lorraine introduced us all as Susan took a seat opposite us.

  “Do you remember Avis Miller?” Lorraine asked. Susan nodded. “Well, this lovely lady and her friend have bought her old house and are renovating it. They found an engagement ring that belonged to Avis—with some old letters—and are trying to track down the owner,” Lorraine explained grinning. I think our story was the highlight of her day.

  “Avis was such a lovely lady,” Susan smiled, remembering. “I got quite attached to her while she was here but she never mentioned anything about ever being married or engaged.” Susan stopped and looked a bit thoughtful.

  “Did you ever hear her talk about a William?” I asked.

  “No sorry, but I’ll give it some thought. Sometimes conversations will come back to me when I’m least trying to remember them.” She smiled.

  “Thanks anyway,” I said. This was turning out to be a bit of a waste of time.

  “You know Susan, while you’re here I should get you to look at Mrs. Turner, she was feeling a bit under the weather this morning.” Susan and Lorraine got up to leave the room.

  Well, that’s strange. Is this the end of the meeting? As she walked out of the room I noticed she glanced at Riley. Once they were gone, he got up and walked around the desk.

  “What are you doing?” I whispered in a bit of a panic. I hate the anxiety I feel when sneaking around, already my palms were sweating and my pulse had picked up. Flashbacks of getting caught while sneaking a look at Christmas presents at the age of seven were coming back to me.

  “She was signaling to me to look at the computer once she was gone.”

  Seriously? He got that from the look she gave him?

  “She said she couldn’t tell us who Avis’s emergency contact was because of privacy laws. Well, this way she’s not telling us, is she?”

  He looked quite happy with himself. I have to admit that’s pretty clever really. Grabbing a piece of paper, Riley took down some information. He’d just sat back down in his seat when Lorraine came back into the room.

  “Well, I’m sorry I couldn’t have been more help,” she said with a smile. “But I hope you did find your visit to us useful. Susan will let me know if she remembers anything else and I have your number, Lizzie so I will contact you as soon as I find anything out,” she said as she shepherded us to the door.

  “You’ve been a big help,” smiled Riley, giving her his killer smile again. I think that was payment for her deception.

  * * * *

  The name Riley had written down on the paper was that of a solicitor in the city. I can’t be certain because I no longer have the contract, but I’m pretty sure it was the solicitor who sold me my house. I thought it was interesting he was also her final contact. No friends or family–just a solicitor. But then what did I know? He could have been her friend after all.

  I gave the number a ring once we were back in the car and set up an appointment to see a Mr. Patrick Johns on Wednesday. Hopefully he could shed some light on this. I was just wondering who John Smith was when my phone started to ring.

  “Hello, baby!” It was Mum. I was about to turn 32 and she still called me baby.

  “Hi Mum. What’s up?”

  “Well, I was thinking that, seeing how your birthday is on Tuesday, we would make Sunday dinner for you. Would that be okay, love? It’s just…your father and I have a tournament at the bridge club on Tuesday night and we wouldn’t be able to have it then?”

  “That’s fine, Mum. Scott has actually organized a lovely night out for my birthday. I think we are having dinner in the city and going to a show afterwards. I’m hoping it’s Wicked but he won’t tell me.” I smiled, thinking about it. I hadn’t seen Wicked yet but from what I’d heard, it’s spectacular.

  “Oh, that’ll be lovely,” said Mum. “Maybe he might have a special something for you.” I know she was hinting at a ring, but I really hoped
he didn’t. Yes, about seven months ago I was hoping for commitment, but I was starting to feel a bit uneasy with our relationship. I know I’m lucky to have a boyfriend like Scott, but lately I was feeling like I didn’t want to be lucky. I wanted to be wanted. I wanted a relationship that was equal, where he felt just as lucky to have me. After talking to Mum for another few minutes about Grandma Mabel—apparently she hadn’t stopped talking about Riley since she came over yesterday—I hung up.

  “Grandma says hello.” I smiled. “I think she has a crush on you.”

  “Old ladies love me.” He smiled back.

  “Yeah, not just the old ones, I bet.”

  Chapter Nine

  It was a bit of a tradition that every Sunday night the family would get together and Mum would cook a big roast. I must say Mum cooked the best roast. Grandma Mabel was always there to help her, but after she set the oven on fire last year, she was told to stay out of the kitchen. When I walked in, I found Molly in the kitchen with Mum. Danny, Andrew and Dad were watching Antiques Roadshow in the lounge. Grandma Mabel was in her usual high-backed chair, head back, eyes closed, mouth open and sound asleep.

  “How can you hear the television over her snoring?” I asked as I gave Dad a kiss on the cheek. She sounded like an old chainsaw Dad once owned.

  “You get used it,” Dad said looking around me, obviously more interested in the antiques on TV.

  Mum and Dad had lived in this house my whole life but every time I came here, it looked different. Mum got bored very quickly with the decor and, when her and Auntie M put their heads together, it sometimes became a bit overpowering. Like now for instance. She’s lucky to have Dad and that he’s a very patient man because this week she’d changed the curtains and all the cushions on the couch. They all matched beautifully with a lovely floral print in scarlet. This of course didn’t match the floral carpet which was an awful mix of brown, mustard and orange. Nor did it match the purple couch.