38. Abigail
THIRTY-EIGHT
ABIGAIL
My friends’ words rattled around my brain for a long time after they left. The days swept me in their current, with house viewings, meeting with clients and contractors, and all the extra work that came with my job.
And there was a lot of extra work. The phone seemed to be ringing off the hook. It wasn’t until I called Theo Sinclair with the next proposal in his negotiations with Evelyn that I found out what had happened.
I was in my parked car, having just finished another viewing at the Baker house, and was confident the young couple would come back with an offer.
“I didn’t know you were the top-selling realtor in town for the past three years,” he said.
“Oh,” I answered, surprised. “Yeah. This year’s not done yet, but things are looking good.”
“Glad to see you’re finally advertising that,” Theo said. “That’s the kind of thing that would’ve made me contact you first, before wasting my time with those other cowards.”
I blinked. Theo’s words took a few seconds to filter through. “Advertising it?”
“The billboard looks great, by the way. Anyway, I’ll send through a detailed email with what we discussed, and we’ll see if the old bat wants to let go of that property.”
“Hang on,” I cut in when the phone ruffled, Theo obviously meaning to hang up. “What do you mean, billboard?”
“On the freeway just out of town?” Theo answered. “You didn’t know it was up yet?”
“Um,” I said. “No.”
“Well, it looks good. Gotta go. Let me know how things progress with the deal.”
“Uh-huh,” I said, and hung up the phone.
Fifteen minutes later, I was looping around on the freeway and coming back into town, and I saw a gigantic, smiling image of my face—the photo I used in all my marketing materials—alongside the words, “NAIL THE SALE WITH ABIGAIL.” And in smaller font, just beneath: “TOP-SELLING AGENT IN NEW ELWOOD COUNTY, THREE YEARS RUNNING.”
My fingers tightened on my steering wheel, and my heart thumped. It felt scary to have those words up there, in huge font. I wasn’t used to advertising my success that way. But it also felt good.
After all, it was the truth.
On the hands-free setting in my car, I dialed Charlie.
“Hey! What’s up?” she answered.
“Um…” I said. “Did you see the billboard outside of town? ”
“No. What billboard?” she asked, sounding as confused as I was.
“One with my face on it, advertising my top-selling agent status.”
“Really? When did you do that?”
My hands shook a little as I gripped the steering wheel. I’d never seen my name or my eyes so big before. “I didn’t.”
“Well, then it must’ve been your broker, right?” she said.
“Maybe…but I doubt they would do something like that without telling me.” I chewed my bottom lip trying to figure out how in the hell my face ended up all the way up there.
“You’ve had a lot going on recently. You probably just missed the message. But it sounds great! As soon as I leave work, I’ll take Ted over to see it.” Ted was the name she’d given to her old, beat-up car.
“You think they’ll discover it was a mistake and take it down before you get there?” I asked, my head still spinning.
“No way! Now every tourist who falls in love with New Elwood will see your face when they drive into town.”
“That would be amazing. I might even have so much business that I’ll have to start my own agency.” Maybe in an office in that strip mall on Sweetgum Boulevard…
She let out a joyful laugh. “Finally!”
Grinning, I turned for the next exit back home. Charlie caught me up on all of her home renovations and the status of the new hotel until I pulled up in my driveway. At the doorstep, I found a takeout bag from the local Chinese restaurant sitting next to my front door. I frowned. It was Friday, but with everything going on, I’d forgotten to call them with another payment. Maybe they’d made a mistake, or delivered anyway, knowing that I’d be good for the money?
I took the bag inside, inhaling the delicious smell of my Thursday tradition, and called Lotus Flower.
“You don’t owe anything,” the owner said. “It’s already been prepaid for one year. Every Thursday and Friday.”
How in the hell?
“I don’t understand. Who paid for the order?”
“No name, but it was a man. Deep voice.”
A man? It had to be Gabe. I hadn’t talked to him since jail, and maybe this was his way of getting my attention. I ate enough of the takeout to not be ravenous and fed a couple pieces to Winston too. How could I say no to that face? I knew Gabe would be at Sullivan’s, so after this gesture, I decided I’d better go and talk to him. It was time.
My stomach tensed when I pushed the door open to the familiar restaurant and bar. I hadn’t paid a visit since before Donny and Blair’s bogus wedding. Seeing as it was dinnertime, the tables were full and there were only a few spots available at the bar. As I approached, I caught my brother’s eyes.
He immediately smiled and walked over. “Well, well, look who it is. Abigail Stone, top-selling agent, three years running.”
That was what the billboard said. I narrowed my eyes, beginning to put the pieces together. “Wait a second. You put up the billboard.”
Gabe chuckled. “No, but it’s about time somebody put it out there. It’s like I’ve been telling all of my customers today—my sister, Abigail Stone, is the best real estate agent in New Elwood.”
I blinked incessantly. Had I heard him right? I was the best real estate agent in town? While I believed that was true, I never expected him to admit it. “Is this some kind of joke?”
“No, I mean it. I’m proud of you, Abigail.”
Proud of me? My heart swelled at my brother’s warm words and the sincerity in his eyes. “You are?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry I’ve been so tough on you. I’m just so used to you being my kid sister that I couldn’t see you’d become a pretty awesome woman. Even if you do get into trouble sometimes.”
“Aw, Gabe!” I said, willing my misty eyes to stay dry. “Is that why you prepaid my Chinese takeout order for the next year?”
He arched an eyebrow like he had no clue what the heck I was talking about. “I love you, sis, but why would I do that when I could just get you leftover hot wings from here for free?”
Okay, now he was sounding more like my big brother. “So if you didn’t, then who did?”
Gabe nodded ahead at the row of booths along the back wall. I only caught a glimpse of that dark hair before I knew it was Rex sitting alone with his gaze glued to his phone.
My chest tightened. I blew a breath through pursed lips, wobbling on my feet so hard I had to grab the edge of the bar.
“Abigail?”
I glanced at my brother.
He smiled sadly. “I’m sorry for doubting you all these years. Sorry for talking down to you so much. I really am proud of you. ”
I nodded. “I appreciate you saying that.”
“I love you. I know we don’t say it to each other much, but I do.”
“Even though I’m an impulsive screwup?” I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
“You gotta stop saying that stuff about yourself,” he chided. “Makes us all believe it, when it isn’t true.”
Swallowing thickly, I nodded. “I should go talk to Rex.”
My brother let me go.
I glanced at him one last time, smiling. “And I love you too. Even though you’re an overbearing jerk sometimes.”
His laugh was bright and genuine. “Heard. I’ll be better.”
Grinning, I turned back to the man in the booth. My smile slipped as my heart began to race.
Nothing to do but be a little reckless. If not now, then when?