London from My Windows by Mary Carter Page A

agreed that would be healthy. But when it did come, Ava feared her rage would swallow everyone in her path.
    â€œI’m sorry to cut right to business, but my schedule is jammed today—”
    â€œShed—jewel,” Gretchen said, trying to imitate a British accent. “Oh, I could just eat you up.”
    â€œMother.”
    â€œPerfectly all right,” Jasper said. He held up his hand and grinned.
    â€œI’m afraid I don’t have long for this call either,” Ava said. She wanted her mother gone so she could sit in the bathtub, and pull the curtain around her, and cry.
    â€œOf course. In regards to Beverly’s estate. She has technically left you her flat in the West End of London.”
    â€œWhat?” Ava said. It couldn’t be true. Her flat? “Why?” A flat in London. She owned a flat in London?
    â€œYou don’t sound happy,” Jasper said.
    â€œI’m shocked.” She was. It just didn’t seem possible. Was this a joke? A prank? Did Ava even want Beverly’s flat? She wanted Aunt Beverly. But it had to mean something, didn’t it? It meant her mother was wrong. Beverly did care. Maybe even loved her. Right?
    â€œOh my God,” Gretchen said. She looked at Ava. “That was your father’s flat once upon a time ago. Oh my God.”
    Ava gave her mother a look. She was practically bouncing on the sofa. Ava would also bet that her mother hadn’t picked up on the fact that Jasper was grieving. She prayed her mother wasn’t going to say anything unkind. It was about the third time replaying Jasper’s words that something struck her. “Technically?” Ava said. “Did you say ‘technically’?”
    â€œAnd I must say, the West End of London is in high demand. It’s the liveliest part of the city—”
    â€œThat will be lost on Ava.” Ava stepped on her mother’s foot underneath the desk. Gretchen kept smiling, but her eyelashes batted in acknowledgment.
    â€œTechnically?” Ava said.
    Jasper looked as if he’d swallowed a snake. “I’m afraid there are some stipulations and conditions.” His voice hitched at the end.
    â€œWhat stipulations and conditions?” Ava asked.
    He held up one finger. “First. You must live in the flat for one year.” He stopped and waited.
    â€œI see,” Ava said. Aunt Beverly knew. She knew all about her.
    â€œI’ll do it,” Gretchen said. “For Ava’s sake.”
    â€œAlone,” Ava said. “You are not allowed to live with me.”
    â€œHe didn’t say that,” Gretchen said.
    Ava pointed at Jasper. “He just said it. Sorry, my mum must be having trouble with your accent.”
    â€œI can understand you perfectly,” Gretchen said. “You have beautiful diction.”
    â€œPlease repeat what you said, Mr. Keyes.”
    â€œJasper.”
    â€œJasper.” Ava lasered him with a look. He raised his eyebrows but did not speak. “Please repeat what you said about Aunt Beverly insisting I live there alone?”
    Jasper made eye contact and held it again. A spark of electricity zapped through Ava. She never felt that with Cliff. Was this just grief? Was it because Jasper was close to Aunt Beverly? She looked away before he got the wrong idea.
    He cleared his throat. “I’m afraid that is correct. The subject is to come alone. At least for the first year.”
    â€œOutrageous.” Gretchen advanced on the computer like she was going to manhandle it. Ava tugged on her mother until she plopped into the chair next to her.
    â€œWe’ve lost the flat then,” Gretchen said.
    â€œPardon?” Jasper said.
    â€œAva can’t live there alone. Beverly knew that full well. This is a trick.”
    â€œMother,” Ava said. Oh, who was she kidding? Her mother was right. Ava couldn’t go alone. She planned on saying so when Emma’s face rose before