It was a two-story cottage that maybe was cute back in 1950-something, but it looked pieced together, added on, and essentially neglected.
“Hey, I was at the top of my game before Evans Wallace Turk and I tangled chrome, lady. You clearly don’t know how famous I am in certain circles.”
“Ah, sure.”
“Now, normally, I’d come around and open the door for you, like a gentleman, but if I do that, it could be, oh, several hours before we successfully get out of the vehicle.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s not like we’re going to prom.”
Viv got out and was around to help Tag before he was out of his side. Navigating with a broken leg, a brace, and crutches did slow a person down. It was actually refreshing not to be the one most in need of help. Viv grabbed the crutches out of the back seat and held them as Tag navigated to vertical.
“I hate these things so much. But thank you. I mean, if my mother saw a woman helping me out of the car, she’d roll over in her grave.”
“So, when did you buy this place?”
“Last week, fire sale—literally, there was a fire in the garage over there. Luckily, it’s not attached, and honestly, I can build my own outbuilding now, the way I want.”
Viv looked at the charred heap that he’d indicated used to be the garage.
They made their way to the house, and he unlocked to door and ushered her in.
It was, as advertised, a time capsule of kitsch. The appliances were a mishmash of avocado and harvest gold. The carpet was an orange shag. The walls were Brady Bunch paneling; damaged Brady Bunch paneling, to be exact.
But it was big, a huge great room and sliders that looked out to the back, to the lake.
“I like the décor. I think I’ll just leave that. What do you think?”
“You’re nuts. You need to rip out the carpet, the walls. I mean, I can’t even image the bathrooms. Pink, I’m going to guess.”
“Yeah, kidding. I know it needs major work. I will say the inspector said the foundation is good. Plumbing and electrical. Not so much.”
Viv walked around the place.
“Did you pay extra for the furnishings?”
“Yeah, it was an estate sale. Poor old dude passed on a few years ago, but the kids were fighting and decided to sell and split the proceeds. I’ve got to clear it all out. But hey, it’ll be part of the rehab.”
Viv scanned the rooms. Three bedrooms, a huge rec room off the living/kitchen area, and a basement walk-out below made her think he had something here. It was a great location too.
“Oh, is that what I think it is?”
Viv looked out to the lake frontage. There was a big old tree with a branch that stretched out over the lake. It sat next to a sandy beach that needed raking. But could it be?
She walked to the back screen and, with a bit of struggle, opened it to the outside.
“Go at your own pace. I’ll keep up.” She turned to see if Tag was kidding, but he didn’t appear to be.
“I think I know this place.” She walked out to the backyard and toward the big tree.
She broke into a little run.
It couldn’t be, really?
And there it was! A tattered but thick rope dangled from the branch of the tree.
She looked out over the water and remembered again. This was the place! The Ewald place. She’d taken a leap here into the water and got shot at.
She was a kid here. She hadn’t been here since she’d swum for her life out of here, decades ago.
