The Twelfth Child by Bette Lee Crosby

Abigail Anne Lannigan's father believed that all girl children were good for was housework and being wives and mothers. Her mother insisted she could be anything she wanted to be, but she died when Abigail was 11.  When she turned 16, her father found a suitable husband for her from a neighboring farm. But Abigail had other ideas; she ran away to Richmond where she eventually became a librarian, after being a secretary to a poet and a hostess in a speakeasy.

Fast forward 70 years. Ms Lannigan, who never married or had children, is living a solitary life after her twin brother died. Destiny Fairchild, a young woman who has no family, moves in across the street. Abigail gives her some old furniture, and in turn Destiny cleans her house. Gradually the two become best friends; Destiny takes care of Abigail, eventually becoming her caregiver. Abigail leaves Destiny all her worldly possessions.

When Abigail dies, her great-great-nephew has Destiny arrested for defrauding his aunt and stealing his 'inheritance'. The story is narrated by the dead Abigail, who is furious that her so-called nephew is lying about Destiny, when all her ever wanted was her money, and never did anything for her. Although it's a bit of fluff, I enjoyed the book.

279 pages