“Oh yes, hi May! My name is Linda. How are you, love?”
“I’m okay.” I hesitate. “Hoping for some good news?”
“Oh honey, yes! I have a beautiful home coming available in just a couple of days. Mark mentioned you’re looking for a place in Depoe Bay that’s dog-friendly. Is that right?”
“That’s right.” My heart picks up a beat.
“Well, May, you are in luck.” Linda’s voice brightens. “I have a three-bedroom oceanfront that’s dog-friendly. It’ll be available by the weekend. Just needs a bit of maintenance and a new refrigerator.”
“A three-bedroom?” I hesitate. “That’s a little bigger than I was planning on. It might be out of my budget.”
“Well, May,” she continues, sounding almost giddy, “you really are in luck. This home has never been on the market before. The original owners passed away and left it to their grandson, who lives in New York. He only visits during the summers, but he’s getting married and will be out of the country for a while. He doesn’t plan to come back for at least a year, so he’s decided to rent it at a very low price. Honestly, it’s probably the lowest price you’ll find in the area.”
I frown. “What’s the trick?”
She laughs lightly. “Well, you’ll have to do your own lawn work, or hire someone. If you decide to do it yourself, the house comes with a working lawnmower. Also, there’s no washer and dryer—the house doesn’t have connections. The closest laundromat is in Newport, and that’s about twenty minutes away.”
I think about it. Oceanfront? With Neptune? A yard of our own? Still, it sounds too good to be true.
“If you’d like,” Linda continues, “I can send you all the details via email—rent, deposit, requirements, and some pictures of the property. What do you think?”
“Sure.” My voice comes out a little small.
“Oh, and I forgot to mention,” she adds. “The house comes furnished, but only the master bedroom has a bed. The other two rooms are empty.”
I let out a nervous laugh. “That’s fine. I’d love to get more information.”
“Perfect! Can I get your email address?”
I give it to her, and she promises to send everything right over.
“One more thing.” Her tone turns serious. “The house goes on the market in the morning, so you’ll have today to decide if you’d like to be the first applicant.”
“Got it. Thank you, Linda.”
We hang up, and I look at Neptune, who’s watching me with those calm brown eyes.
“It’s too perfect,” I murmur, scratching behind his ears. “I’m still waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
I sit down with my coffee, Neptune by my side, and open the “Batterfield” chat on my phone.
Me:
Guys! You will NOT believe this. I just got off a call about a house right on the beach that’s dog-friendly. Might be perfect, PRAY FOR ME.
Almost instantly, April responds.
April:
Oh my God!! A house on the beach?? That’s like every dream you’ve ever had!
June:
OMG May, that’s AMAZING.
Me:
It sounds too good to be true, though. I’m waiting for the catch.
