Page 8 of Head Over Heels

I shake my head. "Not that I know of. Her parents were older when she was born, but I've never heard of anyone else on her side of the family. I know her mom died young, but beyond that, I don't know anything about her side of the family."

"Except that your grandfather was living here all this time. And is a bazillionaire," she says.

"Was," I correct absently. "Dad said he was a real estate developer. He was a big part of building Delmont up after the war. It was a nothing-town in the fifties."

She nods. "So I'm assuming inheriting millions is the good news. What's the bad?" She hands the papers back to me.

"There's a legal hold against the penthouse."

"English?"

"I need to come up with two hundred fifty thousand dollars in order to claim the inheritance."

"Ouch." She winces. "Do you have that kind of cash?"

"Nope. Not yet. If I don't come up with it, the penthouse and everything else will go to the Vanderveens—the building's owners. It was part of a court judgment over a property dispute."

"So you have to come up with a quarter of a million dollars in order to claim a quarter of a billion." A hint of question lingers in her tone.

"You know, you're a pretty smart cookie," I tease. "You should be a doctor or something."

She laughs. "So what's the plan?"

"I'll ask my parents first. They've got enough saved to lend it to me short-term."

Mel nods. "I don't have that much in savings yet—I've been focused on paying my student loans—but Renna has quite a bit saved up from her gymnastics sponsorships. If you can't find the money another way, I can talk to her."

I huff out a laugh. "No matter who I borrow it from, I'll pay double back." I take a sip of wine, then glance at her. "Would you come out there with me this weekend? I have no idea what to expect."

When I push open the door to the penthouse, an unnatural stillness stops me from entering.

"It's so quiet it's creepy," I murmur, my voice echoing through the vast space.

"Do you want me to go in first?" Mel rests her hand on my back, her warmth steady against me. I shake my head and step inside.

My gaze is immediately drawn to the east wall. The entire glass wall gives a breathtaking view of the lake, shimmering in thedistance in the afternoon sun. Light spills into the room, casting shadows across the hardwood floors.

"Holy fuck," Renna murmurs behind us. "This place is all yours?"

She moves further into the room, her fingers trailing across the back of a buttery-soft leather sofa, heading straight for the grand fireplace. On the hand-carved marble mantel sits a collection of photos.

"I thought you didn't know him?"

I follow her to the fireplace. And freeze.

There, in a simple silver frame, is a photo of me at my hooding ceremony. It's a perfect shot of me, smiling proudly as I received my hood—when I officially became a doctor.

I swallow hard. That photo was never published. And after my parents' reaction, I know it didn't come from them. A chill slides down my spine.

"I haven't seen him since I was four," I whisper. "I didn't even know he was still alive."

Renna puts the picture back down carefully. "Well, he knew you." She turns to survey the room. "This place is incredible, Josie."

I wander into the kitchen, sleek stainless steel and marble countertops gleaming in the natural light, still shaken. "I didn't know what to expect. He was over a hundred years old. But this place…" I trail off, still trying to process everything. "It's spotless. He must've had help."

"There's a note here," Mel calls from the dining room. She's standing at a huge mahogany table that could easily seat a dozen people.

"A note?" Surprised, I cross the room to her. "What does it say?"

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