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Susan and Bruce looked at each other, then said, “We’re sorting through all the options just yet. Once we get things cleared away, that might help us make our final decisions.”
After she stepped back, I put the bag with Jeremy’s gift on the makeshift table they’d made out of boxes. Then I set the bag with bagels I’d taken from Griffin on it too.
“What’s that?” Susan asked, pointing to the gift bag.
"Oh, just a little gift for Jeremy."
Her eyes glinted as she looked from me to Chase. “You’re such a darling to bring him something. He certainly loves gifts.”
We all laughed as Bruce approached and gave me a slight hug. "Hannah, good to see you."
“You too, sir.”
“Bruce. Please call me Bruce.”
I nodded, feeling like part of the family now.
"Damn, one of us shows up with a girl and they don’t even notice the rest of us anymore,” Griffin said.
Susan rolled her eyes. “Next time,youshow up with a girl. Now, let’s eat all those goodies you brought, and then we can get to work.”
“What needs to be done?” Chase asked while we took out the bagels.
I immediately bit into mine, then grabbed one of the coffee cups and quickly took a swig.
“The boxes are things I brought. Cleanings supplies and tools,” Bruce said. “But we’re not going to open them until we slog through what Elijah left and toss out what we don’t need.”
“That’s a great plan. Otherwise, you’ll get overwhelmed,” I agreed.
"He took almost everything from upstairs, except he left a fully furnished bedroom and kitchen appliances,” Bruce went on. “He lived here too, above the store.”
“The kitchen will stay as it is,” Susan said. “In fact, I’ll treat you all to brownies later today.”
Chase turned to her. "The kitchen is usable?"
"Yes," Bruce said. "Because the sale finalized so quickly, we easily transferred the electric and gas billings. Your mom baked pies several times this week.”
“And we can attest that they were delicious,” Knox said, and Finn nodded in agreement.
“We liked them too.” Griffin pointed between him and Wyatt.
Chase looked at everyone. "You came here before? Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve stopped by to help.”
"Nonsense," Susan said. "I told them not to disturb you two."
"She really did," Finn said. "Imagine how much self-restraint it took not to do the exact opposite. I was like a dog with a bone."
"Knox, Finn, what has gotten into you two?” Susan inquired.
“The same thing that's gotten to us," Griffin said.
Bruce shook his head. "Spread out through the room. Let’s start by looking through all the stuff lying around and sorting it into 'keep it' or 'throw it away' piles.”
“Hannah, darling, I need your help in that corner," Susan said.
I nodded. "Sure, put me to work."
We walked together to what seemed like a shelf full of books.