Your story about Claire and her unexpected reunion with her estranged sister, Emma, is gripping! The blend of emotional tension and family history creates a compelling narrative. Claire’s determination to honor her grandmother’s legacy by renovating the house, alongside the backdrop of unresolved familial conflict, is really powerful.

Here are a few suggestions to enhance the narrative:

1. **Character Development**: Consider diving deeper into Emma’s character. What specific experiences or hardships led her to return? A flashback or brief mention of her life during the estrangement could evoke empathy from readers and provide a more nuanced view of her motivations.

2. **Flashbacks**: You mentioned that Claire was only twelve when Emma left. Incorporating flashbacks could effectively illustrate their childhood bond and the impact of Emma’s departure on the family dynamic. This could heighten the emotional stakes of their confrontation.

3. **Dialogue Nuances**: The dialogue between Claire and Emma is strong, but adding more emotional weight could amplify the tension. Consider using body language and internal thoughts to convey Claire’s conflicted feelings during their exchanges, like how she grapples with nostalgia for their past while feeling betrayed.

4. **Setting the Scene**: You describe the house beautifully, but it might be worthwhile to emphasize how the renovation reflects Claire’s emotional state. For instance, how certain elements of the house symbolize her memories with her grandmother or her desire for a fresh start for her mom.

5. **Climax and Resolution**: The lawyer’s revelation about the inheritance is a great twist. You might want to expand on the aftermath—how does Claire feel about the outcome? Does Emma react differently after the dollar reveal? This could provide closure or set up further developments in their relationship.

Overall, the story is engaging and captures the complexity of family relationships beautifully. Keep up the fantastic work! If you’d like more specific feedback or help with any particular section, feel free to ask!

This house looked like it was about to fall into itself

Built back in 1887, a house by the side of the road looked like it was going to fall down any minute. When people who were looking for a new home to purchase passed by this enormous place, they didn’t even bother to give it a second look, but then, a person spotted the wracked home and decided to buy it.

After investing time and money, he managed to preserve this piece of architectural history and turn it into an incredible home.

The transformation of this house is almost too good to be true.

This is what it looked like at the beginning.