Chapter Twenty-Four
Cassie shook her sister awake and shoved the policy under her nose.
“What’s this?” Shelly said, fumbling for her glasses.
“Dad’s long-term care policy. I found it on his desk. It’s all paid up through the end of the year.”
Shelly paged through it, looking up with dawning comprehension.
“Right?” Cassie said. “We don’t need three-point-two million anymore. We could sell the house to somebody who actually wants to live here.”
“Does Dad know about this?”
Cassie shrugged. “He did at one point.”
“Weber’s going to be mighty pissed.”
“I never wanted to sell to him.” Cassie lowered herself onto the bed next to her sister, who scooted over to make room. “It always felt awful.”
. . .
Weber Properties occupied a tastefully done space in downtown Laurelton next to a store that sold high-end lighting and home accessories. The kinds of furnishings that would fit perfectly in a Weber house. Not so much in her own family home. They had never been a fit with Weber.
Even so, Cassie felt a twinge of apprehension as she gave her name to the receptionist. She could have done this over the phone, but that felt wrong. She’d set this in motion, and she would see it through.
The receptionist ushered her in, and Weber came out from behind a sleek desk to shake her hand. He glanced toward the door.
“My father’s not with me,” Cassie said.
“Oh. You do understand we’ll need him since the property is in his name.”
“May I sit?” She gestured to one of the leather chairs across from the desk.
“Please.” He was beginning to look concerned.
She crossed her legs then uncrossed them. “I’ll get right to the point. Our family has decided not to go through with the sale.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Circumstances have changed and we’ve decided to withdraw.”
Weber clicked a pen several times in rapid succession. Shelly was right. He looked mighty pissed. “We can go to three-five.”
“It’s not about the money.”
“It’s always about the money. I can offer four, but that’s it.”
Cassie felt slightly faint. Four million dollars.
But what was the difference between three-two or three-five or even four million dollars?
It was all a lot of money, and in the end the house would be torn down and the property gutted.
She thought of the bees, which miraculously were still holding their own.
The long-term care policy would provide for her father’s care, and they would still walk away with plenty of money.
The house was paid off. How much did they need?
“I’m very sorry, but the sale is off. We’ve changed our minds.”
“What do you mean, you’ve changed your minds!” Weber, who had the kind of olive skin that didn’t redden easily, had turned the color of brick. “You can’t back out, we had a deal.”
Cassie kept her voice pleasant. “As you recall, we haven’t signed anything.”
“We had a verbal agreement,” he said tightly. “I could sue.”
“No judge will take you seriously.”
Weber scowled. “What are you, a lawyer?”
“As a matter of fact, I am.”
He shoved away from the desk. “You’re making a big mistake. That house is a tear down. You’ll be lucky to get a million. I’m offering you four times that.”
Cassie stood. “I appreciate the offer, but the answer is still no.”
She saw herself out with a polite goodbye to the receptionist, who clearly had been listening at the door. Then she stepped into the sunshine, her heart humming.
It was turning out to be a lovely day.
. . .
Cassie, Shelly and their father visited Keller Williams the next day.
Cassie had made an appointment with Beth Tartullo, the real estate agent she’d run into at the coffee shop in Laurelton back in April.
The one with the sticky toddler. For some reason, she’d stayed in Cassie’s mind.
Not as aggressive as the agent in New York or as hungry as Weber.
Maybe because she was a young mom with a little boy on her hip.
Whatever the reason, Cassie had remembered her.
Beth escorted them to an understated conference room and offered coffee or water. She looked more put together than she had that day at the coffee shop and laughed when Cassie reminded her that they’d met.
“I remember you too. I can’t believe you actually called; that day wasn’t one of my better moments.” She extended a hand. “You must be Mr. Linden.”
Cassie’s dad had dressed for the occasion in gray slacks and a tweed jacket.
He’d combed his hair carefully and even chosen a tie, although it didn’t quite match.
For a disorienting moment he seemed the father of her childhood, the man who’d tried his best to shepherd them through life and whose opinion still mattered most. He shook Beth’s hand, then seemed unsure what to do next, finally sitting when everyone else did.
Cassie prompted gently, “So we’re here because the house has gotten to be too much. It’s a great house where my sister and I grew up. But we need to put it on the market.”
Shelly gave their dad’s shoulder a quick squeeze. “It’s time for a change, right Dad?”
“I would’ve stayed, but they convinced me I don’t need so much space.”
“Aren’t you selling to Weber?” Beth tipped her head in surprise. “I thought I heard that.”
Cassie felt a delicious lightness steal through her.
“We’re not selling to Weber. We decided to sell the house and property intact.
” It felt indescribably good to say that, like her chest had opened up and she could breathe again.
Weber had dangled all that money and promised it would be easy, but in the end, nothing good or right was ever easy.
She’d convinced Shelly and her dad to go along, but deep down she’d felt like she was cutting off a piece of herself.
“I never wanted to sell to that man,” her dad said. “I only agreed because you girls thought it best.”
Cassie touched his arm. “You’re right, it was a bad idea.
But we don’t need to do it now.” After awakening Shelly the day before, she’d made a quick call to confirm the long-term care policy was still in force.
The money was enough for in-home care too, but the house was unsafe with the stairs.
And eventually her dad might need more care than a single person could handle.
Selling was still the best option. But thankfully they didn’t need to sell to Weber.
“Full disclosure,” Shelly put in, “the house needs a lot of work. But we’re hoping a family might want it.”
Beth beamed at them across the table. “I’m so glad to hear this. As a matter of fact, I have a young family that’s been looking for a fixer upper, but there isn’t much on the market. It’s all pretty done around here.”
“Our house definitely isn’t done,” Cassie said. “Not unless you like early 1970s.”
Beth laughed comfortably. “You’d be surprised what people will snap up.
And you’re good with this, Mr. Linden?” Coming from someone else the question might have felt intrusive, but Beth seemed sincere and their dad had been quiet during the meeting.
He understood they were selling, Cassie was certain of that.
But how must it be for him to relinquish the home where he’d raised a family with the woman he loved?
He’d been cheated of time with his Maggie, but had stayed on, growing old in the place they’d chosen together.
“What about my bees?” he said.
Beth’s eyebrows, which were very light, went up so you could hardly see them at all. “You have bees?”
“Three hives.”
Beth glanced cautiously at Cassie and Shelly. “Um, not everyone wants bees, but you never know. With such a charming piece of property, it could be a selling point.”
“Or we could find them another home,” Cassie said gently. Glenn was out of the question, of course, but maybe she could locate someone else who would take them.
“Has to be someone who knows bees.” Her dad was getting that stubborn look. “I’m not handing them over to just anyone.”
“Of course not,” Cassie said. God only knew if the bees would survive after the wasp invasion, but whatever shape they were in, she would find them a home. Maybe they would thrive somewhere else. A change of scenery might do everyone good.
“What about that fellow, that friend of yours?” her dad said.
“Oh, that won’t work,” Shelly said lightly. Under the table, she gave Cassie’s hand a squeeze. Cassie had tried calling Glenn a couple more times, but he hadn’t responded. Even Shelly, who never let go of anything, had stopped asking.
Cassie dropped back as Beth showed them out.
“I’m looking for a place too,” she said.
“A condo or a small house.” In spite of everything, she felt a breeze of excitement.
Something appealed about the idea of a house.
Nothing grand, but more room to stretch out.
A kitchen with actual cabinet space. Honest to goodness closets.
She didn’t need much, an extra bedroom for Andrew when he came home.
A bit of a yard. She might even rescue her mother’s peonies.
“I’d be happy to help. Is it just you?”
“Just me.” Here she was, almost fifty, venturing out like a twenty-something.
She wouldn’t lie—after all those years of marriage and motherhood, it did feel a little lonely, starting out with no one else to consult.
Did she need central air, and what did you look for in a furnace?
But she could start fresh. Paint the walls pink if she wanted too.
Navigate life without a doorman. Maybe she would even break down and get a cat.
Beth’s handshake was firm and not the least bit sticky. “We’ll find you just the thing.”
Cassie caught up with her dad and Shelly half a block away looking at a poster for the new Brad Pitt movie.
The same family-owned theater that had been there forever, with an old-fashioned marquee, the neon letters stacked jauntily one on top of the other.
One of the things she liked about Laurelton was the way the town had resisted chain stores and multiplexes.
She couldn’t help thinking of her first date with Glenn, how he’d worried she found Laurelton too dull.
For a moment her mood flagged, missing him.
“Where have you been?” her dad said. “It’s almost time for lunch.”
“Lunch?” Shelly consulted her watch. “It’s only eleven-fifteen.”
“I’m hungry.”
“I have an idea,” Cassie said.
They made their way down the street, past the women’s clothing store where the styles never changed, past the shop that sold delicate enamel dishware. And the bakery, which gave off the tantalizing aroma of fresh bread.
“Want me to get the car?” Cassie said, “or can you walk a couple of blocks?”
“I can walk,” her dad said, moving capably with the cane. “Where are we going?”
Cassie smiled as Bobby’s, with its bright blue awning, hove into view. “Where do you think?”