Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
“Hi, Margo,” Charley said to the woman who greeted her in the lobby of the real estate office.
“Hi, Charley,” Margo said, shortly after four o’clock. About a decade older than Charley, Margo had short hair and a trim figure. She wore black glasses over her smiling brown eyes.
“I’m so sorry I’m late.” Standing on a wide doormat just inside the office, Charley tugged off her gloves and toboggan.
She gave her head a shake and brushed snowflakes off her shoulders.
“Like I texted to you, my friend, Sully, and I had to stop by his father’s place and pick him up.
His dad slipped on a patch of ice and thinks he may have broken his ankle. ”
“I hope his ankle’s not broken,” Margo replied, with a frown of concern. “No problem as to being late. I’ve lived in Colorado Springs all my life and I’m used to dealing with the occasional blizzard. The Chinook winds won’t be able to melt the ice until the snow stops.”
“Blizzard is the right word,” Charley agreed. “The snow steadily increased as we made our way into town. Sully dropped me off here and is on his way to the ER with his dad. I’ll call Sully to pick me up when we’re done.”
“Great.” Margo waved Charley into her private office. With cups of coffee, they settled into comfortable chairs on either side of Margo’s desk and the realtor said, “My car slid a couple of times on my way into the office.”
“I can imagine,” Charley acknowledged with a nod. “Sully is an excellent driver, but because of the weather, we came into town in his four-wheel-drive Jeep. After picking up his dad, it took almost a half hour longer than usual to reach Old Colorado City.”
They sipped their coffee, and while enjoying a few minutes of catching up with each other, Margo printed out the paperwork regarding the offer on Charley’s shop and duplex.
She explained it all line-by-line, ending with, “This is a good offer, Charley, and as you know, they’re paying cash.
So, it will be a fairly fast transaction if you do in fact accept their offer. ”
Charley nodded her agreement. “Yes, it is a good offer, and I am accepting it.”
“Great.” Margo handed her a pen, and Charley signed in all the appropriate seller spots. “I will let the buyers know they have purchased the property for their tattoo shop and duplex.”
“Thank you for everything, Margo,” Charley said with a smile and glanced out of the window. It was five thirty p.m., and being the last week in December, it was already dark.
“It’s been my pleasure,” Margo replied with a tilt of her head. “My only regret is not having you as my Old Colorado City neighbor anymore. I will miss you.”
“I will miss you too,” Charley said. “I hope you’ll come see Pretty Petals soon.”
“Oh, absolutely. I promise I will. I’ll still order all my flowers from you too.”
“Wonderful,” Charley said. “If we’re done, I’ll text Sully and he’ll come pick me up.”
“Yes, go ahead and text him. You’re my last client of the day, so I’ll wait with you and lock up.
” Margo had just spoken those words when she received a text from her daughter saying she needed a ride home from the nearby skating rink.
It was closing early due to the worsening snowstorm.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can, sweetheart. ”
“If you need to go, I can make sure your door is locked when I leave,” Charley offered.
“If you don’t mind, that works for me. Thank you, Charley.”
Charley and Margo put on their coats and walked into the front office. As Charley pulled out her phone to text Sully, through the snowy window she glimpsed his stormtrooper Jeep. A perfect ride for this stormy night.
“Oh! He’s already here,” Charley said and shoved her phone back into her purse.
“Great timing!” Margo opened the door to the blustery snow and wind. “I’ll keep you posted on the progress of the sale, Charley.”
“Yes, please,” Charley said as they walked out of the office into the snow and icicles. “Thank you, Margo,” she added as the realtor locked the door.
“You’re welcome,” Margo replied and gave her a hug. “Take care,” she called as they parted, going their separate ways.
Shielding her eyes the best she could against the blowing snow, Charley carefully made her way across the slippery sidewalk toward the street and Jeep.
Margo gave her a farewell honk from her car, and Charley waved goodbye.
Margo vanished into the darkening street as Charley placed her hand on the door to the Jeep.
When it didn’t open, she looked inside. The older man driving the black and white Jeep was a total stranger and looked as surprised to see her as she was him.
Charley removed her hand from his vehicle and gave him a small, apologetic wave.
The traffic light changed, and the stranger in the Jeep was gone.
Finding herself alone in the blizzard, Charley started walking in the direction of her shop.
Doing her best not to slip and fall, she reached into her purse for her cell phone.
She couldn’t find it, and her heart thumped as she feared she’d left it inside Margo’s office.
Pressing forward through the snow, she yanked off her glove and breathed a sigh of relief as her fingers curled around her phone.
Charley was nearly to the door to her shop by the time she punched Sully’s name on her cell. He answered immediately.
“Sully, Margo and I are done,” she said as the wind blew. “She’s gone because she had to pick up her daughter and I told her by mistake that I saw your Jeep. I’m almost to my shop where I can wait for you out of the snowstorm.”
“Okay. I left my dad at Memorial Hospital getting his sprained, not broken, ankle treated,” Sully said. “I’m heading up Colorado Avenue now. I’m five minutes from you.”
“Wonderful on both counts,” Charley said happily. “I’ve just reached my shop but I’m having a little trouble getting my key to work. I think the lock is frozen.”
“Stand under the lamppost and stay on the phone with me,” Sully said. “I’m only a few stoplights away.”
“I will,” Charley said. Then, seeing the man walking toward her, she gasped, “Leon!”
“Charley!” came Sully’s alarmed voice over the phone. “Charley!”
“Sul—”