“Well, you didn’t have to get dressed up for me,” she said, opening the storm door and coming inside with her perfectly-manicured eyebrows raised. She ran the tip of her finger down my chest and giggled as it came away covered in sweat.
“Uh, yeah, I was working out back,” I said. I was suddenly as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers. I peered through the storm door at the street, praying that Annabel was nowhere in sight. I closed the door and turned to find Juju standing in the living room with a long fingernail tapping her chin.
“Wow, it’s kind of…”
“Old and worn out?” I asked, coming to stand next to her as she looked around the room.
“That’s a good way to put it,” she said. “Are you planning on fixing it up or selling it as is?”
I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “I’m getting a new roof put on tomorrow. Fresh coat of paint inside and out. Figured I’d replace the worn-out carpet in here and in the bedrooms. Maybe update the kitchen a little.”
She nodded as I reeled off the list, then gave me a thoughtful frown and slowly shook her head. “I wouldn’t spend a lot.”
“No?”
“Honestly, and I hate to tell you this, sweetie, but houses this size in this neighborhood don’t fetch a very high price even after they’ve been updated.” She walked into the kitchen with me at her heels. She stood in the center of the room with her arms folded over her chest and her nose wrinkled, like the place had a bad spell, which I guessed it did. “This is what we call a low-end starter home. Even the lots aren’t worth much anymore. Sell it as is and you might get thirty-thousand. Fixed up you might get close to sixty.”
I shrugged. “It’s paid for, so that’s fine,” I said. “I was gonna sink eight or nine-grand into it and call it a day.”
“Oh, well then you’ll be fine,” she said, relieved with the smile returning. “Most folks have an attachment to the home they grew up in. They think it should sell for way more than it’s worth.”
“I have no attachment to this place,” I said. “I just want to get it sold and be done with it.”
“Well, I can certainly help you do that,” she said. The leather satchel she’d brought in was on the table. She opened it up and took out a notebook. “Why don’t you show me around and tell me what’s being fixed and what’s not, then I can look at comps in the area and give you a better idea of what you can expect.”
“Okay, uh, you wanna start outside?”
“No,” she said, walking slowly to the door that led to the hallway. She glanced back at me and made a face I recognized from some time in the past. “Let’s start in the bedroom.”
17
Annabel
The morning flew by. After getting to the office, I quickly put on a fresh set of scrubs and went downstairs to start my day. I had a full schedule and things got so busy I completely lost track of time. Before I knew it, it was lunch time. My next appointment wasn’t until one o’clock.
“Wendy, I’m going out to lunch,” I said, stopping at the desk with my keys in hand. “I’ll be back by one.”
“Are you going to lunch with that hot guy with the tattoos and little white dog?” she asked. “He’s such a hunk.”
“Don’t be so nosy,” I said. I tried to frown at her, but it came out as a dopey smile. “It’s none of your business who I have lunch with.”
“You’re right,” she said, holding up her hands. “But he is a hunk.”
I leaned in and wiggled my eyebrows at her. “I know. Now hush up and get back to work. I’ll see you in an hour.”
I saw the black Acura SUV parked in front of Shane’s house when I pulled into the drive, but didn’t really pay it much mind until I was walking across the yard with the basket of tomatoes swinging happily in my hand. The magnet on the driver’s door caught my eye. I recognized the ReMax logo and the photograph of the agent. Juju Wheeler. Smiling. Eyes sparkling. Promising to sell your home in thirty days or less. I froze in my tracks for a moment, then stepped across the porch and pulled open the storm door. I probably should have knocked, but something told me that I would be interrupting something if I did. I put my hand on the knob and gave it a twist. The knob turned. The door opened. I took a deep breath and stepped inside.
I stood inside the door for a moment, listening. I could hear voices. Juju giggling, Biscuit barking. Shane was saying something I couldn’t make out. He sounded… excited. I stepped quietly through the living room and peered around the kitchen door. That’s when I saw them. That’s when the déjà vu hit. Shane was pushed back against the sink with his hands clutching Juju’s arms. Juju was pressed against him, tugging open his belt, her mouth on his, her red lipstick smeared on his chin. Biscuit was on her hind legs, dancing, turning circles, barking, demanding her share of her master’s attention.
I didn’t realize that I dropped the basket of tomatoes until I heard them hit the floor.
Biscuit spun around and barked.
Shane’s head jerked my way. He roughly pushed her back and spat out the words. “Shit! Annabel!”
Juju gave me a dreamy look and smiled. “Well, hey there, Doc. What are you doing here?”
“I…” My eyes filled with tears. My mouth was suddenly dry. I tried to speak but no words came out.