CHAPTER 22 #2
“Not huge things. But we’re trying to get you the best price.” Theresa said, obviously reading Lainey’s troubled expression.
Lainey nodded, agreeing.
“First, gray is out. We need to paint your living room a soft white or light cream. We need a blank slate for the prospective buyers to imagine themselves living here. Second, we’ll need to fix those loose tiles in front of the oven.
Looks like they’re loose underneath too.
Then some touch-ups here and there,” she smiled.
Lainey appreciated the fact she said, We as if they were a team.
“Good news is, the new landscaping around the house and the new rear patio door are definitely worth mentioning in the listing.”
Lainey and Vivian had come home from work on Monday to a new sliding glass door. Robert had come during the day and replaced it. The boarded up hole was gone, along with the daily reminder of the break-in every time they entered the kitchen.
“But....” Theresa surveyed the vaulted ceilings. “If you can hold off till spring when the yard is green and the flowers are in bloom, I think we’d have a better chance of getting a premium price.”
Lainey bit her lip.
Theresa looked Lainey in the eye. “If you want me to, I’ll run the comps and go to market tomorrow, but I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t give you my professional opinion.
Also, where are you and your daughter going to go?
The market will have more selection to pick your next home come springtime too. ”
Theresa was right. She hadn’t thought that far ahead.
She’d been so over this house the moment she’d learned Geoff’s lover had infiltrated her space.
Then, the break-in was the cherry on top.
She wanted out. “Yes, I suppose I can wait till spring. That’ll give me time to warm my daughter up to the idea of moving too.
” This house had been Vivian’s only home.
She still couldn’t predict how Vivian would react to the news.
Theresa noticed the bare walls where the intruders had ripped down frames. “It’s good your family pictures are down. Artwork can go up, but we don’t want to personalize the space too much. Again, we want the prospective buyers to imagine themselves here,” she winked.
“I’ll get the nail holes filled when we repaint,” Lainey said, jumping on the We train.
“I’m so glad you called me,” Theresa smiled. “I’ve seen you at the bank a few times depositing checks and whatnot, but it’s always nice to be remembered in a profession where referrals keep my lights on.”
Lainey smirked.
“I understand you and Emma are going to be loan officers, correct?”
“That’s the plan. We both should have our NMLS licenses by the end of the year. But I believe they’ll be moving one of us to another branch,” Lainey said.
Theresa smiled. “Like I said, referrals are key in this business. They’ll be for you as well. I may have a networking opportunity coming up around Christmas. If you’re interested?”
Lainey should already be networking for her new position next year, but with all the distractions lately, future planning had taken a back seat. “Yes, I’m interested,” she nodded.
“Great!” Theresa said.
* * *
November was going by in a flash. Though they talked every day and night on the phone. Robert’s schedule hadn’t given him much face-to-face time with Lainey, like none at all.
Lainey let herself into his apartment when he wasn’t home to leave leftovers, keeping his fridge full of hearty meals like chicken n’ dumplings, lasagnas and other comfort foods designed for the colder weather.
Robert noticed his pants’ waistline felt more snug from her heartier meals than the frozen burritos and protein shakes he was used to, but he wasn’t complaining in the least. He eagerly looked forward to what culinary delight awaited him when he returned home every night.
On days when the trainees had lighter PT, he’d skip lunch knowing he’d make up the calories with a white chicken chili Lainey had waiting for him.
He was thrilled when Lainey said she’d met with a realtor and planned on listing her house. He understood this was a big step and one in the right direction to move on from Geoff.
But if he wanted to move forward with her himself, he was well aware of the decisions he’d been putting off.
Lainey never brought up the subject. But he needed to decide what he was going to do at the end of the year.
If he took another post in Arizona, it would most likely end his relationship with Lainey.
He understood Lainey would never uproot her daughter and pull her away from family, a community which they’d relied on through a grim period.
Despite being in a committed relationship with an amazing, caring, gorgeous woman who was also committed to him, he refused to make her choose. This was a decision solely on him to make.
The alternative was to become a civilian and leave his twenty-three year military career behind. Civilian life would allow him to stay in Kansas, close to his own family, his daughter and Lainey.
If he could get past Thanksgiving, the trainees would be through boot camp and on to their MOS training. Then he’d have more time to process his inclination to stay.
Sometimes after a dreary fall day of PT and drills conducted in cold, wet, muddy conditions, the clock couldn’t move fast enough.
He wanted to get home, take a hot shower and call Lainey just to hear her soft, smooth voice, which most nights warmed him far more than the savory meals she’d left in his fridge to heat up.
Occasionally he’d catch a whiff of her perfume in his apartment, evidence she’d been there. Lavender and vanilla would greet him at the door, and his pulse would quicken at the chance of catching her like the shoemaker’s elves, but he never did.
Her visits to drop off meals were brief, fitting them in on her lunch break or before picking Vivian up from school. Once, he discovered Lainey had even folded and put away his laundry.
He wished her sultry scent would linger longer in his apartment, comforting him when he returned home every night. Smelling her made him yearn for a day she’d be there in the flesh, welcoming him with her beautiful smile and soft breasts pressing against him in an ardent embrace.
After entrusting a key to a woman, most men would’ve worried about her snooping through their belongings. But he had nothing to hide. And after her revelation concerning Geoff, he didn’t want her ever having the notion he’d run around on her.
Being with Lainey was easy. She made it easy. She understood his schedule was demanding and never complained or pressured him as he believed most women would’ve. They both understood it was only temporary, but it was up to him to determine what came next.
He more than liked Lainey. He’d fallen for her. And he knew damn well he went into this with his eyes wide open, asking for a real shot with her. And she’d given him one. But was he ready to walk away from the military? From the only way of life he’d known for over half his existence?
Kansas was supposed to be a pit stop to get his head straight and appease his family. But because of Lainey, he felt the weight, heavy within his chest, to make it permanent.
He’d finally agreed to meet Lainey after Jake and Emma wore him down constantly talking about her. Really, he was bored. He humored his friends, thinking this chick wouldn’t be anything special. But then, he met her.
It’s probably why he shut down on their first date with Jake and Emma. He felt it. The moment those long, gorgeous legs in those cherry red boots walked up, he was cooked.
Yep. He’d fallen hard for this chick. But did she feel the same?