“As a matter of fact, I am.”
He shoved away from the desk. “You’re making a big mistake. That house is a tear down. You’ll be lucky to get a million. I’m offering you four times that.”
Cassie stood. “I appreciate the offer, but the answer is still no.”
She saw herself out with a polite goodbye to the receptionist, who clearly had been listening at the door. Then she stepped into the sunshine, her heart humming.
It was turning out to be a lovely day.
...
Cassie, Shelly and their father visited Keller Williams the next day. Cassie had made an appointment with Beth Tartullo, the real estate agent she’d run into at the coffee shop in Laurelton back in April. The one with the sticky toddler. For some reason, she’d stayed in Cassie’s mind. Not as aggressive as the agent in New York or as hungry as Weber. Maybe because she was a young mom with a little boy on her hip. Whatever the reason, Cassie had remembered her.
Beth escorted them to an understated conference room and offered coffee or water. She looked more put together than she had that day at the coffee shop and laughed when Cassie reminded her that they’d met.
“I remember you too. I can’t believe you actually called; that day wasn’t one of my better moments.” She extended a hand. “You must be Mr. Linden.”
Cassie’s dad had dressed for the occasion in gray slacks and a tweed jacket. He’d combed his hair carefully and even chosen a tie, although it didn’t quite match. For a disorienting moment he seemed the father of her childhood, the man who’d tried his best to shepherd them through life and whose opinion still mattered most. He shook Beth’s hand, then seemed unsure what to do next, finally sitting when everyone else did.
Cassie prompted gently, “So we’re here because the house has gotten to be too much. It’s a great house where my sister and I grew up. But we need to put it on the market.”
Shelly gave their dad’s shoulder a quick squeeze. “It’s time for a change, right Dad?”
“I would’ve stayed, but they convinced me I don’t need so much space.”
“Aren’t you selling to Weber?” Beth tipped her head in surprise. “I thought I heard that.”
Cassie felt a delicious lightness steal through her. “We’re not selling to Weber. We decided to sell the house and property intact.” It felt indescribably good to say that, like her chest had opened up and she could breathe again. Weber had dangled all that money and promised it would be easy, but in the end, nothing good or right was ever easy. She’d convinced Shelly and her dad to go along, but deep down she’d felt like she was cutting off a piece of herself.
“I never wanted to sell to that man,” her dad said. “I only agreed because you girls thought it best.”
Cassie touched his arm. “You’re right, it was a bad idea. But we don’t need to do it now.” After awakening Shelly the day before, she’d made a quick call to confirm the long-term care policy was still in force. The money was enough for in-home care too, but the house was unsafe with the stairs. And eventually her dad might need more care than a single person could handle. Selling was still the best option. But thankfully they didn’t need to sell to Weber.
“Full disclosure,” Shelly put in, “the house needs a lot of work. But we’re hoping a family might want it.”
Beth beamed at them across the table. “I’m so glad to hear this. As a matter of fact, I have a young family that’s been looking for a fixer upper, but there isn’t much on the market. It’s all pretty done around here.”
“Our house definitely isn’t done,” Cassie said. “Not unless you like early 1970s.”
Beth laughed comfortably. “You’d be surprised what people will snap up. And you’re good with this, Mr. Linden?” Coming from someone else the question might have felt intrusive, but Beth seemed sincere and their dad had been quiet during the meeting. He understood they were selling, Cassie was certain of that. But how must it be for him to relinquish the home where he’d raised a family with the woman he loved? He’d been cheated of time with his Maggie, but had stayed on, growing old in the place they’d chosen together.
“What about my bees?” he said.
Beth’s eyebrows, which were very light, went up so you could hardly see them at all. “You have bees?”
“Three hives.”
Beth glanced cautiously at Cassie and Shelly. “Um, not everyone wants bees, but you never know. With such a charming piece of property, it could be a selling point.”
“Or we could find them another home,” Cassie said gently. Glenn was out of the question, of course, but maybe she could locate someone else who would take them.
“Has to be someone who knows bees.” Her dad was getting that stubborn look. “I’m not handing them over to just anyone.”
“Of course not,” Cassie said. God only knew if the bees would survive after the wasp invasion, but whatever shape they were in, she would find them a home. Maybe they would thrive somewhere else. A change of scenery might do everyone good.
“What about that fellow, that friend of yours?” her dad said.
“Oh, that won’t work,” Shelly said lightly. Under the table, she gave Cassie’s hand a squeeze. Cassie had tried calling Glenn a couple more times, but he hadn’t responded. Even Shelly, who never let go of anything, had stopped asking.
