Charlotte blinked as if she’d lost track of their surroundings too. “Yeah. This is my last appointment of the day, and I’d love to keep talking. You have totally blown my mind.” She mimed her head exploding. “I don’t even know what I’m doing right now.”
Marin’s lips twitched. “I feel the same way.”
Charlotte blew out a dramatic breath. “Okay. Let’s look at the house, and then coffee.”
“Yes.” Truthfully, Marin was already somewhat impatient to leave. She’d been so excited to start house hunting. She’d never owned a home by herself before, having gone straight from her parents’ house into her marriage with Andrew. But while she was eager to find a house, she could already tell she didn’t like this one. It had a musty smell she would never be able to live with. Meanwhile, she was dying—no pun intended—to sit down and talk more with Charlotte.
“So, I got the feeling from your initial email that you’re looking for something move in ready,” Charlotte said, shifting into what Marin suspected was her professional voice.
“Yes.” Marin followed her toward the kitchen, looking around as she walked. “I’m renting now and can stay there as long as I need, but I’m eager to be in my own home.”
“This house is technically move in ready,” Charlotte said, “but it hasn’t been well maintained. The current owner is an elderly widow who lives alone, and she’s offering the house as is. It would mean a lot of updating and repairs for you to take on, so keep that in mind as you look around.”
“I’m not very handy with that kind of thing,” Marin admitted. Not only was she inexperienced with home repairs, but she also had physical limitations now that she hadn’t had before the accident. On the flip side, the settlement she’d received from the driver who hit her was allowing her to build this new life for herself. “I have a feeling this house needs more work than I can put into it.”
“I suspect you’re right, but let’s finish our walk-through anyway. If nothing else, it’ll help you get a feel for what you do and don’t like. Every home you look at will bring you closer to finding the right one.”
“Okay,” Marin agreed. Charlotte had pushed her out of her comfort zone on that bus two years ago, and maybe she could do the same today. Because the whole reason Marin was here in Vermont involved leaving her comfort zone. She was rebuilding her life, making ithers. She wanted to embrace her authentic self for the first time in her forty-seven years, and maybe part of that included figuring out what she truly wanted in a home. “What drew me to this one was mostly its proximity to the campus.”
“Thatisa big plus,” Charlotte agreed. “Were you a professor when I met you before?”
“No.” Marin still couldn’t believe she was really standing here with “the woman from the bus,” as she’d called her in her head for the past two years. “I’m a statistician. I was working for an investment firm, and it was so unfulfilling. I lost that job while I was recuperating, and I’d always wanted to teach, so ... here I am.”
“We have a lot to talk about over coffee,” Charlotte said, “but I love that for you.”
Charlotte’s reaction was validating. Marin was starting over here in more ways than one, and truthfully, it was intimidating. “Thanks. I’m just an adjunct, teaching two classes, but it’s a start.”
“A good start. Northshire University is a great place to teach, and now you’ve got your foot in the door.”
“Do you know someone who teaches there?” Marin asked, undeniably curious to know more about Charlotte. She’d said she grew up here, but beyond that, Marin had no idea why she was back in Vermont.
“Both of my parents taught there,” Charlotte said, turning to lead the way through the living room. “My dad still does.”
“Interesting.” Marin peeked out the window to see the small backyard. It had a storage shed in the corner and was bordered on bothsides by other houses. The space was currently blanketed in snow, but Marin imagined how charming it might be in the summertime. “I’d like a nice yard, I think. I’ve never had my own outdoor space before.”
“Had you always lived in the city?”
“My whole life,” Marin confirmed. “I love the city, don’t get me wrong, but I’m ready for something new. I wanted a change in my life ... and here I am.”
“Here we both are.” Charlotte gave her a curious look. “Quite the coincidence.”
“Not entirely. You mentioned Middleton that day on the bus,” Marin reminded her. “You told me you’d grown up here, so when I saw a posting for an adjunct position teaching statistics at NU, it felt sort of fated for me to at least apply.”
“You don’t strike me as the superstitious type.”
“I’m not, or ... I wasn’t before.” Marin shrugged. “Maybe I am now.”
“Color me intrigued,” Charlotte said. “So, in the interest of going to get that coffee, what do you think of the house?”
“I like the yard and the proximity to campus, but the house itself feels a bit claustrophobic.” Marin looked around herself at the dark paneled walls in the living room. She’d felt trapped most of her adult life, and now she was ready to free herself from those confines, including the proverbial closet. “And it needs a lot of work. I’m trying to be realistic about the sort of houses I’ll find in my price range, but this one needs more than I’m able to give it.”
“Totally fair. It’s your house, Marin. You should have one you love.”
She smiled. “Yes. I’m ready to fill my life with things I love.”
Chapter Two
Charlotte sipped her latte as Marin settled across from her.Marin.The name was unusual, much like the woman. Charlotte had imagined various names for her over the years, wanting to be able to memorialize her properly in her mind, but nothing had ever felt quite right. She’d never thought of Marin. It was a perfect fit for the tall brunette sitting across from her.
