Chapter Fifty
Fifty
Bayview was the next neighborhood along from the Dogpatch, just south of it, in fact.
Quaddra’s warehouse-converted apartment was located at the far north end of Bayview – less than a twenty-minute-walk away from Mary’s present address.
The flat sat on the top floor of a beautiful old, redbrick, ex-storage facility, positioned just across Islay Creek Channel. To Mary, the apartment was a dream.
‘I thought you said that this was a small apartment,’ Mary said, as she walked back into the living room from the outside balcony. The apartment was almost twice as large as the one that she lived in at the moment.
‘It is,’ Quaddra said back, with a frown. ‘It’s only a two-bed.’
Mary chuckled. ‘Two, quite large bedrooms… plus a pretty impressive kitchen, and a living room we could play basketball in. Look at this.’ She broadly gestured at the living room.
‘What about the furniture… the décor… what do you think? Like I’ve said, you can change it if you want.’
‘No, I like it,’ Mary said, having a seat on the large, L-shaped, leather sofa that faced the floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Channel and the San Francisco Bay. ‘Did you decorate it yourself?’
‘Me? No,’ Quaddra replied with a chuckle and a shake of the head. ‘This is an investment property. Every time I acquire one, I hire a decorator to kit them out. I just wouldn’t have the time…’ His head angled left. ‘Or the knowledge.’
Mary stayed silent, her eyes roaming the living room space one more time before settling back on the incredible window view.
‘So, what do you think?’ Quaddra had a seat next to Mary and reached for her hand. ‘I can give you a very good deal.’
‘No.’ Mary pulled her hand away before lifting a finger at Quaddra. ‘I told you – I don’t need any charity. If I take it, I’ll pay the regular market price.’
‘Fine,’ Quaddra came back, hands lifted in surrender. ‘Market price it is.’ There was a long pause. ‘So… will you take it?’
Mary got back on her feet and walked over to the open-plan kitchen. She looked up at the ceiling, then down at the floor before leaning back against the kitchen counter.
‘Yeah,’ she finally said. ‘I really like it. I can see myself living here for a while.’
‘Yes!’ Quaddra cheered, leaping to his feet. He did nothing to hide his happiness. ‘Here.’ He handed Mary the apartment keys. ‘It’s yours.’
Mary looked at him sideways. ‘I haven’t signed the contract yet. And there’s no rush, remember?’
‘Sure, I understand that, but like I told you – I’m flying to New York tomorrow and I’m not exactly sure when I’ll be back. The apartment is unoccupied anyway. If you take the keys now, then you can move your stuff in whenever you like and at your own pace. No rush.’
Mary still looked unsure.
‘Seriously,’ Quaddra pushed, reaching for her hand and placing the keys in it. ‘Just take the keys. It’s easier this way… and since you mentioned the contract, have you thought about which name you’d like me to put on it?’
Mary paused for a second.
‘Anything will do,’ Quaddra pushed. ‘For example – give me a name that starts with the letter…’
“W”.’
‘ “W”?’
‘Um-hum.’
‘I don’t know… umm… Wendy?’
‘Wendy is a great name. She’s even got her own burger place.’
Mary smiled.
‘Now pick a last name… anything will do.’
‘I don’t know,’ Mary looked flustered.
‘Give me a teacher’s name from when you were a child… quick… don’t think… just say it.’
Mary shrugged. ‘I don’t know… Mr. Crowley?’
‘Wendy Crowley,’ Quaddra looked pensive for a moment. ‘It works. What do you think?’
‘Wendy Crowley.’ Mary said the name to herself. ‘Yeah… it does work.’
‘Wendy Crowley it is,’ Quaddra confirmed before stepping closer to Mary to kiss her. ‘And just like that…’ He snapped his thumb and forefinger. ‘… your name is off any property leasing agreement. Good luck to anyone trying to find you from now on.’
They kissed again.
‘Thank you,’ Mary said. ‘I really mean it.’
‘One hundred percent my pleasure,’ Quaddra replied. ‘I’m just so glad you’re staying in San Francisco.’
‘Yeah, me too,’ Mary admitted before turning to look at the view from the window one more time. ‘I like this city… a lot.’
‘Well, this calls for a celebration, don’t you think?’ Quaddra asked. ‘Are you hungry? How about we go get some early dinner somewhere around here? I don’t know this area too well, but I know that Bayview is famous for its diversity in restaurants – especially smaller, street-food kind of places.’
Mary smiled. ‘Yeah, I could eat. But I have a better idea.’ She reached for Quaddra’s hand. ‘How about we christen this place first?’ She gestured towards the hallway that led deeper into the flat and into the bedrooms. ‘Those beds look really comfortable.’
Quaddra smiled, as he followed Mary into the hallway. ‘I really like the way your mind works.’