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place.”
    The friends walked downstairs. Rosemary joined them as they toured the rest of the house.
    Within forty-five minutes, all four women had visited every nook and cranny in the house from top to bottom. They were seated at the dining room table discussing what Mariah’s next move should be.
    â€œYou know, this is the house my father lived in. As I mentioned he owned other rental properties. The lawyer gave me the list of the houses, and I plan to go look at each of them. I want to meet his tenants and see when the rental agreements end. If I see something I like, maybe I’ll end up moving to another property. The more I think about it, this is too much house for one person.”
    â€œThat sounds like a good idea. Now, if you need some help managing your properties, keep in mind I’m available,” Sonyell volunteered. “Don’t forget that I majored in business administration in college. And, I have a—”
    Mariah nodded her head and finished Sonyell’s sentence. “An MBA. Like you would ever let us forget.” She shook her head from side to side. “I may just take you up on that,” Mariah added. “Outside of the rental properties that Harold Ellison owned, his other business holdings include commercial property. He owned a laundromat, two drycleaners, a beauty and barber shop, and a nice building that houses a doctor’s office. So his holdings were varied.”
    â€œMari, are you a millionaire?” Raquel gasped. Her mouth dropped open.
    â€œSomething like that,” Mariah replied modestly. Her eyes dropped to the table. “This whole process with the will and all seems like a dream. I keep pinching myself to make sure what’s happening is real.”
    â€œCan I touch you?” Sonyell reached out and touched Mariah’s hand. “I’ve never known a millionaire and now my best friend is one.”
    â€œWow, this is simply unbelievable.” Raquel remarked as her eyes wandered around the room. “Who would have thought?”
    â€œSince we’re all here, I have a few bequeathals of my own to make.” Mariah’s eyes shone. “If you guys are open to the suggestion, I thought it might be nice if we all moved to Hammond. I just need to check on the status of the houses and see what’s available. I’d like to gift a house to each of you, and pay for Sasha’s college education.”
    â€œOh, my God.” Sonyell’s hands flew to her face as tears trickled from her eyes. “Are you serious? I can’t believe it. Mari, thank you so much.” She jumped from her chair, flew around the table, and hugged Mariah.
    Raquel swallowed hard; her eyes were shining brightly. “Wow, I’m speechless and you know I always have a comeback. I’ve never received anything so generous in my life. Thank you, sis. I don’t have any ties to Chicago per se. My family can come visit me here. I would love to move to Hammond. If I can help in any of your business ventures let me know.”
    Rosemary moistened her lips. “I’m like the girls: I don’t know what to say. I am content with my life. I can certainly stay in the Garden. I don’t know that I want to uproot myself from the only home I’ve known.”
    â€œOh, no, you’re not, Granny.” Mariah shook her head and peered at her grandmother. “You’re the closest thing to a mother to me. Sonni and Rocki are my sisters by another mother. Granny, I want you to stay with me. I’m almost one hundred percent sure that I will convert this house to a transition home, or group home for teenage girls. If you feel like you still want to work, Granny, then you can cook. Personally, I’d like you to just sit back and enjoy the rest of your life.”
    Rosemary looked down, then up at Mariah. She smiled from ear to ear. “That sounds like a plan. Count me in. But why a transition home,