Daylight helps. It is now 7:00 a.m., and I’m getting ready for work. It’s a big day. I wouldn’t miss it for anything. Who needs sleep? Clearly, not me.

I look at my reflection and note the dark circles under my eyes, the unruly hair, and the pasty skin. I don’t look right. I don’t look rested, but it’s more than that. I look a little crazy. Ha. That’s not good. I’ll need to get to work on this before heading to the office. At EventCo, I only have a little bit of time to make some changes. To assert myself. I read it online. New CEOs are judged right away. If I don’t make a good impression, they’ll eat me alive.

Maybe I’ll start offering free lunch to all the employees. They’d like that. Queen Tish, that’s who I am. Let them eat cake for lunch, every day.

I’m glad I see Ashlyn clearly now. I thought she was a bitch, but now I know for sure. Who needs her? I don’t. No more stupid “Ashlyn time,” as John used to call it.

“You understand, don’t you?” John asked me after telling me I wasn’t invited for her sorority’s dad and daughter weekend last spring. “It’s her choice, and she just wants to spend time with her dad. Kate isn’t going, either, if that helps.”

John had tried to pull me into a hug, but I wasn’t happy, not at all. “I need to be with you, too. You’re always so busy. Can’t it be Ashlyn and Tish time?”

“I know, you get jealous. That’s so cute.” He reached for me.

I slapped his hand away. I think I surprised him with the force of the blow. Turns out, I surprised him with a lot of things. “Not jealous. I just don’t like you two talking behind my back, that’s all. She should call and talk to both of us. It should be a rule.”

John shook his head. “Not smart. You can shut down the communication between Kate and me. That’s fine. But not Ashlyn and me. She’s got a mind of her own, my daughter does. I love that about her.”

“She’s a child.” I had my hands on my hips, still certain of my power over him.

“She is. My only one. I’m going to spend some quality time with her. Alone.”

That had been the first time he’d disobeyed me. The first time he would not agree to play by my rules. My hold was slipping. I was furious.

“If you go without me, don’t come back.” I stomped my foot.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Tish.” John began packing.

I looked at his phone as a text lit up. Can’t wait to see you, Daddy!

Daddy? Really?

John spotted me with his phone. “You need to calm down. It’s two nights, albeit two nights at the Regency. I’ll be spoiled. I’ll bring you some of their famous body lotion, OK?”

As the memory dances through my head, so does the realization I’m wasting time standing here. I need to take charge of the present.

Back to my face. I look in the bathroom mirror and pinch my cheeks. It doesn’t help. The word to describe my appearance is drab. That’s something I’ve never been called, ever. That’s it. The last straw. Period.

I’ve got to get out of this house. Maybe with a new bedroom, a new bed, and some cool air, I’ll erase the vision of John.

It’s time to call the real estate agent. I’m reluctant to move too quickly, what with the suburban gossip mill, and Ashlyn and Kate talking about murder, but I have to get out of here. I wonder if I can sue them for slander or libel or whatever it’s called.

Ashlyn is going back to college, so she’ll be gone; Kate better watch her step.

Focus, Tish. I dial the number.

“Chris Cort here. Grandville’s number one agent. May I help?” His deep voice matches the handsome looks of the guy who has sent postcards and calendars to me since we moved into our love nest. We used one of John’s real estate friends to buy the house—I’m using the postcard-sending hunk to find my next home. I need a new place, a city place perhaps, closer to the office.

“Hi, yes, this is Tish Nelson. 902 Coventry.” I try to add a lilt to my tired voice.

“Gorgeous home. Stately. I love it.” He pauses. “Mrs. Nelson, I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you. It’s tragic. And now, I’m afraid, I’ll need to sell the house.”

I don’t need to see him to know he’s grinning. “I’d be pleased to represent you. Could I come by and take a look at the property? What is your timing?”

“As soon as possible, really. There are just too many memories here,” I say, not adding that the stupid place is torturing me. I don’t think he needs to know about that. John’s ghost will disappear once I’m gone. It just better not follow me.

“I can be there in twenty minutes. Does that work for you?” He’s certainly an eager beaver.

“Yes. That works. Chris, does the fact that John died suddenly taint the price of the home?” I ask in the sweetest, almost southern, voice.

“He didn’t expire in the home, did he? I mean that creates a stigmatized property situation, but it’s not insurmountable.”

Expire? Really? Jeez. “No, not in this one. He died in the mountains. At our condo in Telluride. I need to sell that, too.”

“I’m happy to help you with both properties. I have a strong referral network in Colorado. Will we be buying a new residence here and there?” I imagine Chris’s green eyes glowing with the promise of multiple commissions. I then wonder if they really are green or just photoshopped. I’ll find out in twenty minutes.

“Yes, I will be purchasing a new home. I’m staying in the area. I work downtown, so perhaps a condo? I’m not sure.” I’m bored with this conversation. “Let’s talk in twenty minutes, shall we?”

“Yes, Mrs. Nelson. I’ll be there.”

Oh, I know you will, Chris. I just hope you are as cute as your advertising. And as young. Young. I’m young. It’s time I find a man my own age. No more old guys. I hang up the phone and turn back to the task at hand. I have a lot of makeup work to do.

By the time the doorbell rings, I’m ready. Hair blown out. Makeup heavily applied. The house is in fairly good shape since Sonja handled the red wine mess. And the thermostat is behaving. I’ll make a note to call a tech guy next. Maybe Chris knows someone.

When I open the door, I discover Realtor Chris is even more handsome than his advertising. And fit.

As we shake hands, I feel the tingle. The surge of electricity. I give him a big smile, and he returns the favor. This is going to work out just great, for his business and my pleasure.

“Please, come in,” I say.

“Gorgeous,” he says as he walks through the door, following behind me. I know he’s referring to me and not my living room.

It’s been a while since someone has offered me an overt compliment, I mean, besides my husband. But he hadn’t even noticed me lately. No, he was back in love with his stupid ex-wife. An unfortunate choice for him. I control everything now—the company, the money, everything but this stupid smart home.

I turn and toss my hair over my shoulder and wink. “Thank you.” I could lean in and kiss him right now. But business before pleasure today, I remind myself. I have work to do in the office.

“Do you want to give me a tour of the place? I’ll have my team come back this afternoon or whenever you’d like to take the official listing photos, but I’d love to get a feel for the property myself.” Chris’s light-blue tie brings out the green in his eyes.

“Yes, let’s get you a good feel.” I smile, and he follows me like a puppy into the kitchen. This is going to be fun. I need a release. It’s been tough being a grieving widow. It’s tough being one step ahead of everyone else.

I wonder how the investigative journalist is doing. I’m glad I called the tip line at the magazine. I’ve never read the thing, it’s all finance and stuff, but they love juicy scandals, too. Like how a rich old woman is trying to intimidate the young second wife who just inherited half of the company. That should keep the pot stirred for me. Mean old Kate taking advantage of the poor young widow.

I wink at Chris, who is following close behind me up the stairs, so close I can smell his aftershave. “You’ll love the master bedroom.”

“I already know it will be amazing.”

CHAPTER 49

KATE

By the time I make it into the office, I know Ashlyn has been in for a while. She left the house early, just as my alarm sounded. I saw her hop into an Uber, and I watched it pull away.

I wonder what in the world would make my daughter wake up so early on her last day at home and work. I jot a note on my desk to-do list to call her in and ask about her early-morning exploits.

I’m energized. Today’s the day Tish will find out the game is over. For good. It will be fun for Ashlyn to watch. I must admit, it feels like it has been a long time coming. Tish has been a surprising opponent. She’s much more underhanded than I gave her credit for, and much more ruthless. I still cannot believe what she did to Ashlyn’s car. I make a note to call Chief Briggs for the report if he doesn’t call me first.

A knock on my door pulls me into the moment. It’s Jennifer.