Status Report #5
Wednesday’s wish: Trip to Nags Head
Dear Boss,
Our impromptu trip to the Outer Banks has been quite enjoyable. The Tuckers’ vacation cottage is charming and informal compared to their house in Magnolia Grove.
Sara wanted to hear stories of Sean’s final visit to a beach. Naturally, I was happy to oblige. That day at Emerald Isle stands out as one of the finest in my career.
It pleases me greatly that Sara took this trip. She made two unpredictable choices this week. Perhaps they balanced each other out.
Regards,
Grant
10
Decent Profit
New Bern was on the way back from the Outer Banks, so it would be easy to stop and check out the estate sale that Mom was interested in. Grant and I were on the highway before eight.
As we crossed the bridge into Manteo, I felt his gaze on me.
“Sara, will the detour to New Bern result in today’s wish?”
“Uh-huh.” I scanned the road. Traffic was light in both directions, which was good because my mind was already leaping forward to what we might discover. Antiques and midrange art had been popular sellers in the furnishings half of the shop. I was hoping to find more. “We’ll be wandering through a house, buying items that the family members don’t want to keep. Most of it will be junk, but some things might be valuable. I want you to tell me the difference.”
“Very well.” He relaxed into his seat.
We didn’t speak again until we reached the sale location. It was a bungalow in an established, middle-class neighborhood. We had to park a half-block away.
There was an older woman with her gray hair in a tight braid over one shoulder, sitting in a lawn chair under a big oak. Her eyes tracked us as we crossed the porch and entered through the open door.
Grant leaned closer to whisper, “It is her relative who owned this house.”
I didn’t ask how he knew that, because of course he did. “Do you know which one?”
“A parent, I suspect.”
I went straight to the dining room, where a massive table was covered in knick-knacks. “We’ll start here. Bowls and figurines. Also, keep your eyes open for paintings and fancy pillows.”
“You wish for me to assess their value, primarily in monetary terms?”
“Yes.”
Grant was a huge help. But then, he also turned out to be irritating, because he guilted me over anything that was severely under-priced.
“It’s part of the game, Grant,” I muttered under my breath after he’d huffed for the third time.
“Perhaps you shouldn’t view this as a game, but rather as a family selling their treasures at the saddest of times.”
That stopped me in my tracks. I tried to redirect my thoughts from going where he pushed them, but it was too late. No “steals” today.
We left the estate sale with four nice landscapes, three crystal vases, and an antique piecrust table that would be lovely when it was refinished. I also bought several vintage shawls and hats. All purchased at a price that made Grant’s frown disappear while still permitting a decent profit when we resold.
As we were loading our finds in the back of the SUV, I nudged him in the side. “I’m not bringing you next time.”
He laughed.
