The House on Blackberry Hill: Jewell Cove #1 (Jewel Cove) by Donna Alward

bills alone must be astronomical.”
    “It would have been colder up here in winter. Hotter in summer. Though the windows might have given a bit of a cross-draft for relief.” He forced himself back to business. “There’s not a lot of room above the ceiling, but we might be able to blow some extra insulation in there to make it more energy efficient.”
    She looked up at him with a smile, scanning the open area in the middle that seemed to form a type of common area. “Look at this sofa and table. And games! There’s checkers and backgammon and decks of cards. Downstairs is so formal. This is the kind of place you could let your hair down and hang out with your girlfriends.”
    “Would you want to fix it up, too?”
    “Of course. Oh, Tom, can’t you just imagine what it would have been like to come up here, with all that natural light, and paint or something?”
    “You mean next to the servants?”
    “Oh, right.” Her face fell at his reality check and he laughed.
    “You’re getting carried away. It looks good on you.”
    Damned if she didn’t blush.
    “What about this room?” she asked, opening a door to her left. The room was windowless and completely, utterly dark. Tom stepped across the creaky floor and felt around the inside wall for a light switch. Nothing. He reached into his pocket and took out a penlight, shining it into the room.
    “Holy mother,” he breathed. A cord hung from the ceiling and he stepped inside and pulled it, illuminating a single bulb in the ceiling. “Would you look at this?”
    “You’ve got to be kidding,” Abby said behind him. “Tom, that’s a sea chest .”
    “It’s … everything,” Tom said significantly. The room was piled with chests and boxes. Maybe not filled with actual treasure, but he knew there’d be some gems in here nonetheless. “Marian must have stored all her stuff in here. This is a gold mine, Abby.” He turned to her and grinned. “You wanted to learn about your family? I’m guessing a good part of it is in these boxes.”
    “It’s a little scary. I mean … there’s so much. Maybe there will be things I don’t want to know, you know?”
    “Every family has its skeletons,” he replied. He wondered what she’d say if he admitted his own family tree had not only a town founder but a real pirate on one of its branches. “None of those skeletons can hurt you now, Abby. Everyone’s gone.”
    He wished he could take back the words as soon as they left his mouth. Her eyes were sad as they rested on his face.
    “God, I’m sorry about that. I didn’t think.” He tried to smile. “Of course they’re not all gone. You must have your family back in Canada.”
    But she shook her head. “No, you’re quite right,” she replied softly. “I really am all alone. My parents and grandmother have been gone for a while now.” Her expression of enchantment at discovering the treasure trove had disappeared. Now she just looked lost.
    Tom tried to imagine his life without family. Even with the discord between him and Josh, Tom didn’t know what he’d do without his brother or their parents, or his cousins, Jess and Sarah. Aunt Meggie mothered him like he was her own. No one should be completely alone.
    “I’m sorry,” he said quietly, feeling like a fool and not knowing what else he could possibly say.
    “Not your fault,” she replied. “My mom left us when I was little, but when my dad died of cancer, she got custody of me. We moved around a lot. I was in so many schools I never really settled anywhere, until I finally went to live with Gram when I was fifteen. When Gram went…” Her voice faded. “Well,” she said softly. “It is what it is.”
    He hadn’t realized that she didn’t have anyone. But before he could scramble to come up with some suitable words, she shrugged off the heavy moment.
    “Anyway, you’re right. This is a gold mine. Did you know that I also talked to Isabel Frost last night? She knew Edith and Elijah