Page 44 of Heir to a Curse

Chapter 17

Iawoke alone again, but feeling rested despite having lost an entire day to the migraine. As I readied for the new day, I sent a message to Mr. Zhao about the hairpiece, asking if there was a way to restore it, and if he knew anything about the owner.

Surprisingly he’d returned a fast reply that there were many reproductions, but that the original gems had been lost long ago. He had no specifics about who the piece belonged to. My heart hurt at the thought that the one chance to break the curse might be lost. I wasn’t even certain it was related. Only that the piece had been Xiang’s once upon a time.

When I stepped out into the bright morning, I was surprised to find the rose maze hacked and in pieces, as though a battle had been waged while I slept. I approached the area with caution. Sections appeared as though it had been slashed apart with a sharp sword or a chainsaw. And I hadn’t heard a thing.

As I approached the house, finding the guys carrying cabinets into the kitchen, they paused and waved. “Hey, Boss,” Jerry greeted. “You look better. You feeling okay?”

“Just a migraine,” I promised him. “I guess I needed to slack a little.”

They both laughed like that was something unfathomable. I joined them in the kitchen, marveling at how close to done it was. The last of the cabinets going in, floors immaculate, walls freshly painted.

“Counters arriving today,” Mike said. “They should be here in less than an hour. Already measured the sink area and the island so I can get the plumbing hooked up.”

“Addy said the appliances are on their way too. She got them to bump up delivery,” Jerry added. “Boss lady is fierce. Wants all this to be done so you can have a few days off.”

I sighed. “I’m fine.”

Both men nodded their heads like they were placating me.

“I’m fine!” I said again.

“Sure, Boss,” Jerry said, patting me on the arm. “But let’s get work done so I can go home early to my kids, yeah?”

And of course, that was enough to motivate me to get working. “Thank you to whichever of you installed the lights,” I said.

“We both worked on it. After the Boss lady said she’d come up to check on you, we wanted to make sure the path was lit. Hopefully the placement was okay,” Jerry said.

“Placement is great. They aren’t the sort of thing I normally pick, but I like how it turned out.”

“Yeah, they were a bit of a different choice of yours,” Mike added.

“I seem to be making a lot of ‘different’ choices since being here. Maybe I’m going through a midlife crisis.”

“S’ok, Boss. Fancy fairy lights are better than sports cars anyway. Less upkeep.”

I mock growled at him to get to work, and moved to do the same myself. Addy sent me several messages about how she was forcing me to go on vacation. To which we had a mini text argument over it. Once this project was done, she was requiring me to take a few days off to relax and read or whatever. I didn’t think I needed the time. She insisted that I spend time at the estate, with the employees, and reflecting on my grief over Sofia’s loss. The last I didn’t want to even contemplate. Like denying it would make it not real. I knew she was gone. Facing the house every day didn’t make it easier, in fact I realized then that I had a bit of irritation in my gut over the whole thing. Being left the house, lambasted by her relatives, expected to make things work, and even break a curse I had nothing to do with. It really pissed me off. Like it was all too much at once.

And that was exactly why Addy was insisting I take a break. Though I was building my own plans for things to do during that time. The yard work needed was intense. I could focus on that. Maybe even build myself a little shed near the cabin that I could put some wood working stuff. Most of that was in Addy’s garage. I spent a couple days a year enjoying that hobby, usually making gifts for people, but often found myself pulled away for work. A few days slaving over sawdust might ease some of my irritation and anxiety. Or at least I hoped it would.

Mr. Yamamoto arrived in time to watch the countertop installation. Custom cut marble, the stuff weighed a ton. I was busy laying a glass tile backsplash when he appeared at my shoulder. The appliances had come early, but would be easy to pop into place once the counters were in. I’d already finished the backsplash over the stove since it was metal plates instead of tile, easier to install and no grout to worry about. They would also find it easier to clean of grease and grime in the future as well. The giant range hood, which took some minor cursing to put in, was there and beautiful, so I hoped Montana appreciated it.

“Montana is going to fall madly in love with this kitchen,” Mr. Yamamoto pointed out.

“I hope so, since I need him to keep cooking.”

“Have you decided what you’re going to do with the house?”

“No. I mean, I guess the normal stuff. We could do weddings, hiking retreats and that sort of thing, but I don’t know what else.”

“And you’ll be staying?”

“When I’m not on a job,” I agreed. I remembered the maze and the damage. “Did anyone report noise from the garden last night?”

“You mean the damage to the maze?” He nodded. “One of the maids said she saw flashing lights. Thought it might be lightning.”

“Was there a storm?” Had I slept that hard after my migraine?