Page 151 of Lucky Mother Pucker

“That would be lovely.”

I thank her, and she walks off. We drive off toward the house.

“Damn. Even that sweet old lady hates Richard,” Blake says.

I huff out a breath, feeling my nerves finally start to calm down. And then I think about Lucy and how happy she’s going to be when she sees all of her parents’ belongings.

I can’t wait.

Chapter 54

Lucy

When I walk into the house, Wally runs up to me, wagging his tail.

I crouch down so I can pet him and hug him and give him kisses.

“Aww, did you miss me, boy? I was only gone for eight hours.” I chuckle when he licks my face.

Leo walks out of the kitchen. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

He shoves his hands in his pockets and hunches over slightly, like he’s nervous.

“Can I show you something?” he asks.

I stand up. “Sure, what’s up?”

“It’s in the shed out back.”

I follow him out the back door and into the backyard. There’s a large shed that Leo uses for storage.

When he opens the door, I see stacks of cardboard boxes. I’m confused. Is this what he wanted to show me?

But when I step inside and see what’s written on the boxes, I gasp.

Dad’s gardening tools. Mom’s clothes. Mom’s jewelry.

Tears fill my eyes as I run over to the boxes. I open the one closest to me. I hold my dad’s gardening gloves in my hands. I let out a quiet sob. I see his rusty old trowel and spade. I let out a snotty laugh when I see the small chipped garden gnome he displayed in the garden. He named it Gnomeo.

I set the box aside and wipe my hands on my jeans as I open the box of my mom’s clothes. The light vanilla scent of her favorite perfume wafts through the air. I let out another sob.

I rifle through her clothes, my chest aching. I see her favorite red blouse, the worn jeans she refused to throw out, the paisley print dress she let me wear to play dress up when I was little.

“Oh my god…” I rasp. “It’s all here. All their stuff is here.”

I open another box and gasp when I see the framed photo of my parents, Wally, and me in front of our Christmas tree. My favorite photo we ever took.

I let out a quiet sob, touching the dusty frame and glass. I hug it to my chest. I never thought I’d see this photo ever again.

I look up at Leo, who’s standing off to the side, his eyes teary as he watches me.

That ache in my chest deepens, radiating right through my heart. He did this. He got all of my parents’ stuff. For me.

“Leo, how did you get all this?”

He blinks and swallows, then clears his throat. “The guys and I went over to your house to talk to your stepdad. We convinced him to let us take your parents’ things to give to you.”