Chapter 1

I was just about to hand over a gift card when my daughter, Lisa Mercer, suddenly held up several plane tickets.

"Mom, I already bought tickets for a morning flight to Costa Bella tomorrow."

Warmth spread through my chest. A month ago, my old girlfriends organized a group trip to Costa Bella. I couldn't go because I was helping Lisa take care of her children, but she promised she would take me once she was on vacation.

I looked forward to it for a long time, and now I could finally ring in the New Year with my friends on the coast.

I agreed with a smile. "Great, let me go pack my things."

Before I could finish, she cut me off. "Right. Pack up your things and head back to your own place."

I froze. "What do you mean? You're kicking me out?"

Lisa glanced at me and replied calmly, "These six tickets are for Brandon's parents and our family of four. You don't need to come.

"I'm not trying to kick you out. It's just that we're all leaving first thing tomorrow and nobody will be home. If something went missing, you'd be the one who has to answer for it."

A chill ran through my entire body. So that was how it was. I spent every day running myself ragged so her life could be a little easier, and the moment she no longer needed me, I became a suspect.

And this was the apartment my husband and I bought in the first place.

I let out a cold laugh. "Fine."

Lisa blinked. She clearly didn't expect me to agree so readily. After all, we argued more than once in the past when she took her in-laws on trips and left me behind.

A flicker of discomfort crossed her face.

"Well then... Take care of yourself at home, okay? And if you're short on money, just tell me."

I shook my head as I packed. "No need."

It didn't take long to get everything together. Lisa hurried to call her husband over. "Brandon, drive Mom—"

"No need. I'll get a cab myself." I cut her off, leaving no room for argument.

With that, I walked straight out the door. Fireworks were going off downstairs, brilliant streaks tearing across the night sky, but none of their light could warm the cold settling in my chest.

I flagged down a cab. The driver noticed my suitcase and asked kindly, "Heading home for the holidays this late?"

I nodded.

He must have picked up on my mood, because he spoke again. "You know, whatever's going on, you've gotta put yourself first."

He was right. My own happiness was the most important thing.

I dialed Kevin Morris, the real estate agent.

"Go ahead and list the apartment at Maple Ridge for me. Below market price is fine. The faster it sells, the better."

Kevin paused on the other end. "Ms. Aldridge, are you sure? A unit like yours won't sit on the market. You could hold out for a better offer."

I cut him off. "No need. I want it sold quickly."

Kevin could tell I wasn't budging, so he agreed without hesitation. "Alright, Ms. Aldridge. I'll bring people to view it first thing tomorrow."

After I hung up, I let out a long, heavy breath.

The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror. "Happy New Year."

I managed a smile. "Happy New Year."

Back at my own home, I took the property deed out of the cabinet. Only my name was on it. That was the security my husband, Henry Mercer, left me.

He bought the apartment while he was still alive, intending it for our retirement. Then Lisa got married and her husband, Brandon Seat, didn't have a place of his own, so they moved in temporarily.

That temporary stay lasted eight years. After Henry passed, I moved in too, to help her with the children. I even considered transferring the title to her in a few years, to give her the same sense of security Henry once gave me.

But now, clearly, there was no need for that.

On the afternoon of New Year's Day, Kevin had already lined up a buyer. I took the spare key and went over to the apartment.

Leftover food still sat on the dining table. They didn't even bother to clean up before they left. Other than that, the place was spotless.

I always kept it that way. As I walked the buyer through the rooms and we reached the study, they suddenly asked, "Why is there a cot in there?"