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When they finally made it to the third floor, he could see how its condition had deteriorated. It made him wish he had been here more to help his granddad, but he thought his father had been seeing to that.

“I see your disapproval. Your father takes care of the business from Providence and does a great job. And your uncles all manage stores. Some of your cousins are now moving up in the business.”

“I’m the only holdout, aren’t I?”

“Well, I did build a small empire to keep the future generations of my family fed if they manage it wisely. I wanted a legacy. What’s more important than bringing quality food to small communities?

But you’re building your own legacy, bringing music to the world.

It’s not a problem, not at all. You need to share your talent. You get that from your…”

Rory held up a hand, afraid to hear his mother praised.

“…grandmother,” said Seymour. “She had talent. She could sing like a nightingale, my Margot. But she chose family over performing. It was harder in those days, I think, for women with musical talent. They had to choose between family and fame.”

“It’s still a choice,” said Rory, “and not just for women. Performers who value family have to find that balance. It’s easy for either one—family or fame—to overtake the other.

” Rory thought of Dustin expecting the imminent birth of his first child and hoped he’d choose to stay with the band, but he could understand if he didn’t.

Touring took months and if it took you away from the ones you loved, well, you had to love the life or you couldn’t maintain it.

Rory loved the life. He never wanted to settle into one place for long. And small towns held zero appeal. No way could they compete with his wanderlust.

Rory paused and put a hand on his granddad’s arm to make sure he knew that what came next was important. “I’m not looking to come back here to stay. This is just a visit.”

“Oh, I know, I know.”

“And we need to keep my presence here in town on the down low.”

“The down low, is it?” Seymour waggled his brows.

Rory knew his granddad would like that. Like he was undercover or something. But he didn’t want to share too much. “I need a break from all the excitement of touring. I plan to write some new songs. I need somewhere calm and quiet for that.”

“And you came to Hazard?”

“Nothing happens in Hazard.”

Seymour gave him a long perusal, and his mouth twitched like he thought the comment was funny. He pursed his lips in thought. “Hmm, staying at Agate Point? This might not be the place for you.” His granddad blinked like he’d just had an idea.

Rory frowned, suspicious, but he wasn’t quite sure how he was being played.

“I have the perfect solution.”

“Wait, I want to stay with you, spend time with you.”

“Of course, and you will. We’ll have lots of time.” Seymour patted his arm.

Rory let out a relieved sigh. For a moment it sounded like he was being pawned off. He certainly hadn’t come back to spend time with nutty Hazel or officious Lydia or vague Marjorie.

“But I could use some help. I have some old furnishings that need to go to the new innkeeper, pieces from the eighteenth century. Lydia told me the new innkeeper needs them. And they don’t fit into a home as modern as Agate Point.”

Rory blinked at the mansion being described as modern, but maybe in comparison to the creepy old Hazard Inn it was.

“You can help me load them into the U-Haul I picked up, and we can drive them over.

“U-Haul?”

“It’s out back. I cleared out the colonial furniture from the lower two floors to go back to the inn. Then I moved all the historically accurate furniture down from the third floor to make room for my new furniture.”

“New furniture.” Rory tried to wrap his brain around that. There had always been an overabundance of furniture in the mansion, furniture that his grandmother had loved.

“I’ve decided to be comfortable. It was Margot who loved the antiques. I’m ready to upgrade.”

“Upgrade?” Rory knew he must sound ridiculous repeating his granddad’s words.

With sweeping hand motions, his granddad continued.

“Big screen TV,” (arm wave) “with all the channels,” (bigger arm wave) “and those fancy remote controls,” (small arm wave) “so I can be as lazy as I want,” (big arm wave finish).

He grinned and leaned forward conspiratorially.

“I’m getting one of those sofas with the recliners built in.

Plus,” he gave a tiny jump in excitement, “a new bed that adjusts, so my back won’t hurt.

” He gave Rory a shoulder bump. “I’m moving into the big leagues. ”

Rory just blinked and figured it was good that all this would be on the third floor where it wouldn’t mar the historical appeal of the mansion soon to be open for tours. But if it made his granddad happy and comfortable, he could get behind that.

“So, let’s do this. Let’s take the old antiques back to the inn.” Seymour rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

“Wait, back?” He was doing it again with the repeating. Rory shook his head.

“Your grandmother stole that furniture from the abandoned inn when no one was looking.”

Rory just blinked as his granddad walked away toward the back of the house.

“Stole it?” he said to no one.