page6 (1/2)

If she closed her eyes for a second she could ihts Trees Decorations Instead, it was all closed up like an unwanted present

Phoebe tilted her head to the side “Do you only use the house in the summer?”

Matteo shook his head “We’ve never really used this house”

“What?” Phoebe spun around and looked at him “What do you mean, you’ve never used this house?”

Matteo shook his head and stuck his hands in his pockets “It’s been in the family for a while Butwe’ve never really stayed here” There was so odd about the way he said that

Phoebe couldn’t help but shake her head She couldn’t get past the fact that this beautiful house was sitting empty—and had done for years

“Who takes care of it?”

Matteo gave the briefest shake of his head “I have a caretaker They come in a few times a year to clean up andand plu have all been kept up-to-date but” he paused for a second “I iine there will be lots of areas in the house that need updating”

Phoebe wrinkled her nose for a second as she stared up at the three-story building with its shuttered s “It looks around a hundred years old Please tell me it’s been updated since then”

Matteo gave a nod “Of course it has Just not recently”

He pulled a large key fro with his phone As they approached the thick double entrance door he lifted his phone to a panel at the door side There was a short beep before he turned the key “Alar the door open

Phoebe smiled as she watched hiital alarital locks?”