Chapter 9 Clarice
CLARICE
Clarice had already convinced herself that Hot Guy with the (maybe) teleporting son was never coming back when he actually did, two days later.
She looked up in surprise at his entrance, but was on the phone with a house inspector trying to convince him not to drop their job because Veronica had tried to get him to do something that wasn’t really unethical, but was soundly in a gray area.
He was ranting in one ear while she gave Hot Guy a sheepish wave and pointed to her earpiece.
“No, I understand. No one is expecting you to do that, of course—. I’m sure it was just a misunderstanding—.
You are absolutely right—. Yes. I’m so sorry—.
I would feel— Thank you, I appreciate—. I’ll let her know—.
Thank you so much, that’s wonderful—. I’ll watch for it. Thank you so—much?” He hung up.
Clarice stood up and took her earbud out. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting. How can I help you?”
Hot Guy put down the pamphlet titled Home Ownership and You! and smiled across the counter. “I never did actually thank you properly for bringing Gil back.”
A normal person would have just said You’re welcome or No worries! Clarice, on the other hand, blurted, “Oh, it was nothing. Just a naked kid teleporting into my car in broad daylight. What else would I do with him?”
Hot Guy glanced at Veronica’s closed door and laughed nervously.
“Sorry,” Clarice said, lowering her voice. If his kid actually could teleport, he probably didn’t want the world knowing about it.
“No, I’m sorry. I bet it was a big shock, and Gil said you were really nice about it and that you were pretty and funny.”
Clarice was at a point in her life where compliments from a five-year old were as much as she could ask for. “That’s sweet of him.” She couldn’t help smiling and flushing a little.
“I’d like to make it up to you somehow.” Did he sound nervous or was Clarice just projecting her own insecurities on him?
“You could buy a house from me,” Clarice suggested. “That would go a long way, actually.”
Hot Guy laughed again, more naturally. “There were a few I’d like to see in person, actually.” He had the folder that Clarice had given him, and he listed out two of her favorite addresses.
“Those are both vacant. Let me just check in with Veronica and get the keys,” Clarice said, without having to look them up.
She knocked at Veronica’s door with her usual two taps. “Ms. Chase?”
“Come!”
Clarice was very conscious of Hot Guy in earshot behind her. “There’s a client here who would like to see two of the properties off of Oak Street. I was going to go show them. If that’s okay with you. We can transfer calls to my phone if you’d prefer not to take them.”
Veronica had been doing something on her laptop to the side and she lowered the lid and frowned. “What client?”
Clarice still didn’t know his name. “He’s a new one. He was in a few days ago looking for a three-bedroom near an elementary school.”
“You didn’t get his name?” Veronica had a gift for making her voice sound kind and disparaging at the same time.
“He wasn’t here very long,” Clarice said meekly. She’d clearly screwed that up.
Veronica stood and Clarice’s heart sank. She didn’t want to lose this sale to Veronica for a number of reasons.
Veronica straightened her suit jacket and walked out from around the desk. She always looked so put together, and when she turned on the charm…
“Hi, ya’ll!” she called as she went out to shake Hot Guy’s hand. “Welcome to Chase Realty. I’m Veronica Chase, you are…?”
Hot Guy glanced at Clarice and she felt a bit bad for him being under Veronica’s complete attention. Veronica was a lot.
“I’m Bruno,” he said, but he was still looking past her at Clarice. He didn’t offer a last name.
“Oh, what a fabulous name!” Veronica gushed. “Very…strong.”
Bruno looked back at her, his expression neutral. “It means armor in Old German.”
“Aren’t name origins fascinating?” Veronica said. “My name means victory in Greek.”
Clarice had no idea what her own name meant, but she made a mental note to look it up. “Mr… ah, Bruno was interested in seeing these two properties,” she said, knowing she sounded very dull as she handed Veronica the printouts.
Veronica glanced at them. “Oh, you have good taste, Bruno,” she purred. “Is it just you or do you have a family to put in one of these homes?”
“Just me and my son,” Bruno said briefly. Clarice had a thrill of hope.
“Oh, how sweet!” Veronica cooed. “How old is he?”
“Five.”
Veronica seemed to realize from his flat tone that she was laying it on a bit thick—yes, she could be overwhelming, but she could also read a room and knew when to back off.
“That’s a delightful age,” she said, managing a slightly wistful tone.
“I don’t have any kids myself, but always wanted them.
Clarice, would you check the status of these two properties?
I don’t want to drop in on a seller without notice. ”
“They’re both vacant,” Clarice said. “Here are the keys.” She had already gathered them from the keychart, and she handed them to Veronica.
“I don’t know what I would do without Clarice,” Veronica said to Bruno as she took the keys, as if Clarice wasn’t standing right there. “She’s the glue that holds this office together!”
Clarice smiled faintly.
To her surprise, Bruno looked at Clarice and said carefully, “I was actually hoping Clarice could do the showing. She’s the one who suggested them.”
Veronica’s smile didn’t falter even a little, though she darted a thoughtful sideways look at Clarice. “Oh, of course! Just be back in time to close the office, will you? I have a hunter’s club meeting at five.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Clarice glanced at her watch.
They had plenty of time to do two properties.
She grabbed the keys for a third that was in the same neighborhood in case Bruno wanted another alternative as Veronica reiterated that it was so nice to meet him and waxed eloquent on how fulfilling it was to put a family—even a small family like his! ha, ha!—into the perfect home.
Clarice pulled on her down coat and put her knit hat down over her ears.
“We can meet at this one first,” she said, showing him the top sheet on her clipboard.
“If you have a GPS, it should take you right there. The other address is a little bit harder to get to, because Oak is one way for that block and the GPS doesn’t know that. ”
“I’ll follow you,” Bruno said agreeably, and he held the door open courteously for her.