The Perfect Holiday

“We’re just friends,” I said, trying to shrug it off, even though I caught myself smiling at the thought of her. “She’s gonna help me find mama’s dog a home.”

“Good to have friends,” he said as he tucked away the kerchief and adjusted his hat low over his eyes. “Especially friends that look like that.”

“True.”

He smiled again and slapped me on the back. “Okay, well, reckon I’ll see you in the morning.”

I watched him go with mixed emotions. I liked Uncle Seth as much as I’d ever liked anyone. I couldn’t say that I loved him because I really didn’t know him anymore. He was my mother’s brother and I hadn’t seen him in years. He was a good guy and he was helping me out and being well-compensated for his trouble. I’d leave it at that.

Besides, love was not an emotion I kept ready in my repertoire.

I hadn’t felt anything even close to love in a very long time.

Until Annabel appeared at my door…

* * *

Juju showed up at the house about half an hour after Uncle Seth left, wearing a big smile and a short skirt and a tight blouse that left very little to the imagination. Her boobs were like big melons packed into a tight bra, weighing heavy on her chest. The blouse was open at the neck, offering a fine view of her round cleavage and the freckles that dotted the top of her chest. I had completely forgotten that she was coming by. When I answered the door, I wasn’t wearing a shirt and my skin was sweaty from working in the backyard.

“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.”

CHAPTER 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.”