Chapter 2

As I sat in a tight leather chair around a shiny, fake wood conference table, I stared at the redheaded attorney in utter bafflement. This whole meeting felt like a dream. But, no, not a dream, because that required experiencing something in your mind or even longing for it.

This I wouldn’t have considered possible in three lifetimes.

“Let me get this straight,” I said slowly, leaning forward as if that would help make everything clear. “Our grandfather was a millionaire?”

My youngest sister, Jillian, shook her head next to me. She wore an Asian-cut white jacket over a baby pink tank that contrasted with her heavily highlighted medium-brown hair. Must have been a new outfit because I couldn’t remember seeing it in the laundry before. Her shopping addiction had only worsened since she quit college and became a social media influencer.

Who, ironically, made more than I did as a travel agent with a hospitality degree. Go figure.

“Sorry,” Jillian said, “but I’m having trouble believing this. We’re talking about Grandpa Howie, right? The guy who wore overalls to church?”

The attorney, Eleanor, smiled. Her shoulders bounced as if she struggled to contain a laugh. “A multimillionaire, actually. At the time of his death, his assets were valued at thirty million dollars.”

Thirty.

Million.

That was a lot of zeros.

How did our grandparents hide wealth of that magnitude and never tell us? Grandpa drove the same rickety old truck my entire life and never said a word. He and Grandma never went on trips. They’d bought us decent birthday and Christmas gifts, but I always assumed that to be good, old-fashioned grandchild spoiling in action. But thirty million ?

He could have lived anywhere in the world with that kind of cash. With only the smallest percentage of it, I could have gone to Paris anytime I wanted. I could even move there.

I saw my thoughts reflected in Alexis’s face. She shifted in her seat. Even at age twenty-four, Alexis’s version of dressing up involved a yoga skirt with shorts underneath—yes, apparently that was a thing—a pair of sporty tennis shoes and a stretchy tank with straps that crossed in the back. She’d left with Dad during her freshman year, so I’d missed most of her high school career, but I could imagine how it went. Sports after school, games all weekend, and rejecting anything educational. I tried to envision her going to prom and smiled. If a guy asked her, she probably said no. That required something nicer than yoga pants, after all.

Or maybe she found some kind of yoga dress. Or even spray-painted a sports logo on her gown. The image made me chuckle inwardly.

Be nice , I chided myself. No matter Alexis’s decisions, she would always be my sister. But it grew harder to have a civil conversation with Alexis every time I saw her. In nine years, she’d only bothered to come home three times—to say goodbye to Mom, again for Mom’s funeral, and now, three days after we buried our grandfather.

And she didn’t have transportation issues or financial troubles. She drove a BMW likely bought by our father. If she’d wanted to come, nothing could have stopped her.

It was more than miles that separated us.

Eleanor looked as surprised at our reactions as we felt, so I straightened and reminded myself I was the oldest and should probably act accordingly. “I hope you’ll forgive us, Eleanor. It’s just that Grandpa Howie bought his clothes from the thrift store. I remember him bringing me there once when I lost one of my shoes to his dog.”

Alexis barked a laugh. “I asked him to drive me to the salon once because my bangs were in my eyes and I couldn’t see to play soccer. He took me into the bathroom and cut them himself. Even used my old preschool scissors because they were all we could find.”

“You looked like a sheared llama,” Jillian said, and the two smiled at each other. The twinge of hope I entertained fizzled and died when Alexis’s smile faded and she stared at her hands once again.

Eleanor spoke up. “I completely understand. Not all wealthy people flaunt their wealth. Some hide it. Your grandfather was one of those, which is probably why he died so wealthy.”

Jillian reached for my hand and squeezed it, looking nervous. Her long hair cascaded down her shoulders in loose waves I’d spent dozens of hours trying to emulate without success. She wore an open and innocent expression that made a person want to hug and protect her. That precise expression had attracted plenty of men over the years.

Yet another reason I resented Mom’s being taken from us so early. I could handle the big-sister thing, but I didn’t know how to be a protective parent with the one person I had left in the world.

“Are you saying he left us money?” Alexis asked. “How much are we talking?”

I wanted to roll my eyes. “Lexi, have a heart. It hasn’t even been a week since he passed.”

She pinned me with a glare. “Hey, I loved Grandpa, too, but I have things to do, and I’m sure Eleanor’s busy. So let’s get to the point.”

I clamped my mouth, feeling a familiar resentment. Alexis and I were once the best of friends. We’d shared not only a room but our deepest secrets. She even gave me the piano music for Phantom of the Opera on my fourteenth birthday during my Phantom-obsessed days. Or weeks.

Okay, let’s be honest. It was probably years.

And then Alexis announced she’d be living with Dad, and Mom shut herself in her room and cried for three days straight. Hard not to harbor anger toward a sister who chose the wrong side.

Jillian and I shared a knowing look. Only a few more minutes and the Travell sisters could go their separate ways again.

Eleanor cleared her throat. “Ladies, it’s clear there’s some tension between you, which is completely normal. I have two brothers myself. But you’ll have plenty of time to work this out because your grandfather did indeed leave each of you a small fortune. ”

Her words sounded all echo-y in my disbelieving ears. Had she used the term “small fortune”?

“There’s a condition,” Eleanor continued.

“Which is?” Alexis asked, straight-backed in her chair.

“Before you receive a cent, you must go on a monthlong European tour together.”

Her words blended in my mind until they no longer sounded coherent. Did she say . . . ?

“A European tour?” Jillian breathed.

“Together?” Alexis said with a groan.

“A month?” I repeated dumbly.

Being away an entire month would get me fired. Not that I loved my job at the travel agency, but it allowed Jillian and me to keep our childhood home. Mom’s life insurance paid for her funeral expenses and most of the medical bills, but not all. When we returned from this trip, I’d have to start all over. And in a town as small as ours, one didn’t have a whole lot of options.

But Europe. An old excitement arose inside.

“Your grandfather planned your trip in its entirety,” Eleanor said. “You’ll fly to France, then board a cruise ship that will take you around Italy and Greece. Then you’ll visit Switzerland, Austria, and Germany via train. Your trip will end in the UK, and you’ll enjoy London the last three days.”

I only heard one of the countries. The rest blurred together. “By France, do you mean Paris?”

“Specifically Paris, yes. That will be your first five days. Normally, it would be three, but your grandfather wanted to give you extra time to recover from the long flight. I’ve already booked the plane tickets for two weeks from today.”

Paris.

Five entire days in Paris .

City of Light. City of Love. The city I’d dreamed of visiting my entire life. It felt ever out of reach and never quite real—a city overseas that other people visited and talked about, and movies and books referenced, but beyond a barrier I couldn’t cross.

Now I would get my chance. Finally. Only one problem.

“Does it have to be a month?” I asked. “Or can I fly home early so I don’t lose my job?”

Eleanor looked up from her papers and stared at me. My sisters did the same.

“Leave it to Kennedy to miss the whole ‘small fortune’ part,” Alexis said. “You won’t need a job after this, Neddie. None of us will.”

“Don’t call me Neddie,” I shot back. Only Hunter called me that, and he . . . wasn’t here anymore.

Eleanor looked back and forth between us. “I, uh, apologize for not being clearer. Your grandfather wants all of you there for the entire trip, or nobody gets a cent.”

“Just how many cents is that?” Alexis asked. She looked around at us and shrugged. “It’s not like I’m the only one thinking it.”

“It’s a fair question,” Eleanor said. “Ladies, your grandfather was very clear in his will. One month together and not a day less. If you manage it, and I think you will, the inheritance waiting for each of his grandchildren in liquid assets, stocks, and real estate will total $4 million.”

I’m pretty sure I passed out.