Lucky Stuff (Jane Wheel Mysteries) Read Online Free

Maybe she had started coming home for midday naps?
    “I came home to mow the lawn,” said Nellie. “Want to do the edging?”
    “Thanks for asking, but I have to run over to Tim’s and print out something and then I guess I have to sign it and…” Jane stopped, finally letting it all sink in. She looked at her mother. “I think I just sold my house.”
    “I knew something like this was going to happen,” said Nellie. “You’re homeless.”
    And with Nellie’s pronouncement, which Jane knew was going to happen, Jane felt herself go a little weak in the knees.
    *   *   *
    “Do you know how freaking lucky you are?” asked Tim. Although he was phasing out of the florist business, he still operated his estate sale business out of the flower shop, partially furnished with antiques and special treasures from the estates he had helped liquidate for clients. Today, behind the long iron and butcher-block worktable he had scavenged from an old garment factory, Tim looked every inch the florist he was when he had first opened the shop. Wearing a white apron with bits of fern and foliage stuck to it, his workspace was covered with raffia and stems, and his giant coolers were filled with mixed bouquets.
    “Last minute favor for a friend,” Tim said, waving his hand in the general direction of the coolers. “Bit of a splashy party and I agreed to do flowers.”
    Jane pulled out one of the bouquets for a closer look. It was tied with a green ribbon; a few charms hung from the bow. A four-leaf clover and a fake rabbit’s foot.
    “What?” asked Jane, pointing to the bow.
    “Lucky charms,” said Tim with a shrug. “Theme party. Here’s your offer. I’ll print it out for you, then you can sign and fax it.”
    Jane was silent as she replaced the flowers.
    “You are going to sign it,” said Tim. “Aren’t you?”
    “What’s with all of this Lucky stuff all over town. I saw a bunch of banners across from the courthouse.”
    “You are going to sign it, right, Janie?”
    Jane paced around the office of the shop and looked over Tim’s shoulder.
    “How did you get into my e-mail? I didn’t log in yet.”
    “Honey, I set up your e-mail in-box, remember? It’s not like you ever changed your password or anything,” said Tim, as the printer started spewing pages. “Stop avoiding my question. You got a cash offer in a rock-hard, rock-bottom market. You’ll be more financially solvent than you’ve been in years.” Tim started picking up the pages and arranging them in a neat stack. “Charlie has a new home in Peru or wherever…”
    “Honduras,” said Jane.
    “Wherever. And I got an e-mail yesterday from Nick. He’s happy as a clam at school. Loves his classes, likes the kids. He sounds perfectly at home. He’ll be relieved when he doesn’t have to worry about you all alone in that house,” said Tim.
    Jane nodded.
    “So let’s read this baby over and then sign it. I’m a notary, you know,” said Tim, hunting for something in his desk drawer.
    “Why?” asked Jane.
    “Because even if it’s the best deal in the world, you still have to read the contract, honey.”
    “No. Why are you a notary?” asked Jane
    “Why are you avoiding the subject at hand?” said Tim, standing and walking over to Jane. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eye.
    “I’ll be homeless,” said Jane.
    “Nellie,” said Tim.
    “What?”
    “You’re talking like Nellie. Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to sign this deal before the buyer wises up and actually looks at the real antiques in your house—the hot-water heater, the furnace. According to the date on this offer, they want to close in a week if they can. The company’s buying the house for the family and the wife wants their kids in school asap. They’ve been in a hotel in downtown Chicago and…” said Tim, looking for the exact wording from Melinda’s cover letter he’d printed out with the offer, “… the wife wants