“Oh, Mia. This is Nathan Boyle. He’s my contractor for the remodel. Nathan, this is the academy’s owner, Mia Malone.” Damien waved her over into the conversation.
“It’s an honor to meet you, miss. I’m so thankful to get a look at the inside of this historic building. I’m so happy that you saved it from being razed a few years ago. The workmanship on this building is amazing. It’s not going to take long to remodel those rooms. I have some ideas on how to enhance some of the original features, if you don’t mind. Like a chalkboard in the living room would have many purposes. You could even turn it into a kids’ room later.”
“Oh, that would be amazing.” Mia looked over at Damien. “I thought maybe you were just doing some painting and door changes.”
Nathan started to laugh. “This is a lot more. I’ll get the designs finished tonight and I can show you in the morning. If that’s okay.”
“That will be fine. I’m doing a staycation for the week, so I’ll be here. Twenty-four seven.” Mia ignored the questioning look Damien was giving her. “I’m heading downstairs to see who’s around for dinner. Damien, are you going to be eating at home?”
“No, I’m sorry. I made other plans. I could change them.” Damien waved at Nathan, who headed downstairs. “I’ll see you in the morning, Nathan.”
“I’ll be here at seven, unless that’s too early, Miss Malone.” Nathan turned at the bottom of the stairs to get her attention. “I don’t want to interrupt your vacation.”
“Seven’s fine.” Mia watched him leave and then turned back to Damien. “Don’t change your plans. I’ll go see if Finn or Abigail are here. I’m sure Christina’s already back at the Adams’s condo with Levi.”
He followed her down the stairs. “I don’t think anyone’s here. Not sure where they all are—I have enough trouble keeping up with your grandmother—but I heard that Finn’s working a second job. That girl has a lot of energy and determination. I wasn’t like that in college. It took the love of a good woman to calm me down.”
“Are you referring to my grandmother or your first wife?” Mia could feel that the first floor was empty. Everyone had already left. Mia watched Damien pause at the front door. “Because if it’s Grans who settled you down, it didn’t happen until you were in your late sixties.”
“I was a late bloomer.” He smiled. “Don’t wait up. Abigail made sure I have the main door key as well as the one to your apartment. If I’m really late, I’ll sleep on the couch down here.”
“Come on up. Finn sleeps on this floor, and I’d rather have you in my guest room than where she can wander into you. Who knows what happens when you sleep in that body?”
“My body, the golem, is just like any other human body, except I can’t procreate. Something I’m not excited about doing again anyway. Not with how my kids turned out.” He held up his hand. “Have a nice evening.”
After Mia grabbed a frozen dinner, bread, and a couple of different cookie doughs from the catering kitchen, she left a note on the counter of what she took, then headed upstairs.
She hadn’t been alone in the academy for a long time. Trent usually hung out here at night, and sometimes Christina and Levi joined them. They played board games or watched a movie, and always talked. She liked the feel of a houseful of people, and she could tell that the academy did too. What would happen when she moved in with Trent?
Who would keep this place filled and happy?
The wind howled mournfully outside.
CHAPTER3
Grans’s car showed up on the security monitor as Mia took out the last batch of cookies. Mia hurried downstairs to let her in and noticed Muffy and two suitcases on the step beside her. “Grans, what are you doing?”
“Tanking my engagement, according to Robert. I told him that I couldn’t leave you alone in this house for the week. You could be targeted. Then he asked me where Dorian was sleeping, and I told him the truth. You would have thought I’d said in my bed.” She picked up the suitcases and came inside. “Come along, Muffy. Although now that I think of it, that’s not a bad idea. Text Dorian and tell him to sleep at my house. The key’s under the mat.”
“Grans, that’s the first place a thief would look.” Mia shut the door, checking that there wasn’t more luggage sitting outside, or that the car doors were still open.
“I have the key spelled, dear. No one can see it unless I want them to. Besides, the house would never let someone inside. Not after what happened.” She shivered at the memory. “I’ll take the elevator. Please take Muffy up with you on the stairs. He needs the exercise.”
Muffy growled at the comment, but then followed Mia up the stairs. The fluffy, mixed-breed dog had put on a little weight in the last few years and Grans wasn’t happy about it. “I hear you’re staying a while?”
Muffy stopped at the second-floor landing and sniffed a few times.
“Yes, we’ve had visitors.” Mia really needed to get people around her or she’d become a crazy cat lady, talking to all the animals.
Gloria started laughing, and “Crocodile Rock” blasted in the stairwell.
Mia shook her head as she and Muffy headed upstairs. “No way. If I’m getting a pet besides Buddy, it’s going to have fur, not scales.”
“Who are you talking to?” Grans asked as she set down her luggage. She opened the door and sniffed the smells coming from the kitchen. “Perfect, I’m right on time for dinner. Good evening, Gloria. I take it you’re providing the music?”
“She has a funny sense of humor,” Mia added, closing the door. “I’ll take your suitcases to your room.”
“I’ll text Dorian. You’d be too nice.” Grans sat at the table. “Those cookies smell amazing. Shortbread?”