I Can Fix That

Chapter 30

I sat at the closing table, signing papers till my hands were cramped up. The attorney told me what each form was, but I couldn’t care less. I felt sick of myself, and I was ready to have this over with, so I didn’t have to think about it anymore.

I signed each paper as quickly as I could, grabbed the ridiculous check, and bolted out of there to avoid the buyers. I wanted it to be a nice, young family who deserved all the love and hard work put into the house. But if I saw someone who would tear the house down or use it as a rental, I would feel even guiltier. I got to my apartment and locked the door, prepared to shut everyone out.

It had been three months now since Grant left. No sign of him anywhere, no small rumors about his reappearance. Even Beau just shook his head when I asked if he thought he was coming back. Everyone thought I was crazy. Why would I wait so long for a man who left me? But they didn’t know. They didn’t understand the way I loved him, or they’d never wonder again.

I tossed and turned on my couch, unable to find a comfortable position. Something was wrong. I was supposed to feel closure after the house was gone. But instead, I felt dread. What if I just cut ties with the only thing that Grant and I had done together? And just for a check? I supposed the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

My phone began ringing, and I saw it was LeAnne from the realty office. I answered, saying hello as joyfully as I could in the circumstances.

“Hey! I’m so sorry to bother you, but the buyer has asked if you could meet them at the house. They said their key isn’t working and we already gave them the extra copies you made for us. They said it won’t even turn.”

Oh no. No, no, no.

I needed to avoid these people like the plague, and I certainly didn’t want to see whoever this person was that couldn’t even turn the key into the new deadbolt.

“I’m just not sure it’s a great idea. I was trying to avoid the buyers if at all possible.”

LeAnne replied, “I understand. They seem like they really need some help, though. I could pay for a locksmith to come out?”

I reluctantly tell her I’ll go, but only because I didn’t want her wasting a piece of her commission on a locksmith when I was able to do it myself.

I put on my shorts and a T-shirt and head out the door, anxious thoughts, stomach-churning and all. The drive to the house was silent. I usually always needed some kind of background noise, but this afternoon I was so high-strung I didn’t hardly notice the lack of noise.

My mind raced with questions I had no business asking. What would Grant think about me selling the house? Did Beau already tell him? Is he mad? What if he’s so mad about it that he doesn’t come back at all? My heart started pounding faster at the thought.

Maybe I just needed a different project to get all of this off my mind. It was still too hot outside for me to volunteer for outdoor events, but maybe I’d sign up for something else. I needed my hands to be busy and my mind to be on anything else. I was dangerously close to calling Grant when I wasn’t busy, and every phone notification I got that wasn’t him was a bigger disappointment.

I pulled up to the house to see no cars in the driveway. They must have parked in the detached garage. There were no lights that I could see, and when I went around back, nobody was on the porch. I rang the back doorbell, but no one answered. I stood there for a few more moments before getting frustrated. I lifted the welcome mat I had placed and saw the spare key was still there. I unlocked the back door and opened it slowly.

I let out a small “Hello?” to let anyone know my presence. When I turned the main light on, there were no boxes or furniture. I made my way through the house, knocking on doors, but no one was there.

I felt too spooked out to stay and decided if these people needed that much help, I’d just leave the door unlocked. I was irritated that I drove here and got all anxious for nothing.

I made my way back down the hall to the living room, and I heard the back door shut. Turning around, I saw the last person I expected. In front of me stood the view I had craved.

Grant Dawes.

My Grant.

I stopped in my tracks, unsure if I was seeing him or if this was a dream. His hair looked different; it was clean-cut and had a nice fade down the side. His beard was trimmed up, and he looked refreshed. Better than I dreamed while he was gone.

“Hey, Hart.” Hart. I loved when he called me that. I still hadn’t moved or picked my jaw off the floor.

“Grant…I…” I had no words. I had tears threatening to come, and my skin was covered in goosebumps.

“When did you get back?” He took a step closer to me, and like a cat, my hair stood up.

“About an hour ago.” He stepped closer. It took every fiber in my being not to wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him into a trance.

“The new owners are going to be here. We need to go somewhere else.” He shook his head and pulled out a keychain.

He grinned at me with that smile I loved. “You’re looking at the new owner, Hart.” My throat was tight, and I could hardly breathe. Tell me he didn’t…

“June. My heart broke when Beau said you were selling it; all I could think was my poor sweet girl fell for something that she is so much stronger than. I knew what had to be done, and I’d be an idiot if someone outbid me for you.” He was standing so close he could probably feel the heat off of me. I felt fat teardrops rolling down my cheeks, and I sniffled.

“Don’t cry for me, Hart. It’s all right.” He stroked my hair and kissed the top of my head, and pulled back so he could look at my face.