“What does that make me?” Kate asked.
“The Guest That Eli Invited,” Tessa shot back. “You’re practically family except for, you know, the religion thing.”
Kate rolled her eyes. “Youarefamily. You and Lacey are joined at the hip and running a business.”
“She’s on her Jacksonville jaunt with her new man, and we can work remotely, or she can come to my house, where I’ll set up an office,” Tessa said. “I don’t have to live at the Summer House to work with Lacey. It’s not my house. It’s theirs. And it gets crowded. I heard that Crista might be coming down in July—the place is jammed regardless of the oodles of bedrooms.”
“Huh. So, this is a surprise,” Kate said slowly as she processed the news. “How long have you been looking?”
As she drove into a sweet residential area, Tessa told her the whole story, starting with Dusty’s house being the first. She explained that they were both essentially on the hunt for the same house in the same price range, so Lorna always brought them on showings together with hopes that one of them would like the property.
“You have been seeing him a lot,” Kate said. “I didn’t know it was just house-hunting.”
“It’s not. I mean, I…don’t want it to be.” She glanced at her sister, ready to open up. “I really like him, Kate. First man in a long, long time I’d like to seriously think about settling down with.”
Kate’s jaw dropped. “Tessa, that’s wonderful.”
“Not really. We actually have our own philosophical impasse. He’s widowed two years, and after all that caretaking? He just wants ‘fun’ and, usually, that’s where I come in. But this time, I want more.”
“And you should have more,” she said. Of course Kate, her counterpart since conception, immediately got all that and needed no detailed explanation.
“I hope he’s here today,” Tessa said as she turned onto the street. “I actually miss him and haven’t seen him for a few days.”
She drove down a shaded street lined with low-slung ranch houses, their yards peppered with oaks and scrub palms. And, sadly, no sign of that upscale truck she liked so much.
“I still can’t believe you’re buying a house,” Kate said. “It’s such a commitment.”
“Right?” Tessa scoffed. “I know it’s a big move for me. But I’m ready. I’m ready for a lot of things, actually, but…” She glanced around. “I don’t see one of them here.”
Surprised at how deep her disappointment was, Tessa parked in front of a brick ranch with a weathered front porch and three mismatched lawn chairs.
“I already don’t like it,” she admitted.
“Then why look?” Kate asked.
“I don’t know. Truth is, I haven’t liked most of the houses we’ve looked at. Dusty is more forgiving, and handy, so fixers have an appeal. I want something bright and beautiful with no need for a new floor or bathroom counter…and a view of thewater.” She snorted. “That’s my impossible dream, but I simply do not have a million-plus at my fingertips.”
“Have you found anything close?” Kate asked.
“A few, but nothing I’d commit to. I have found Dusty…” She gave a sad smile. “And apparently I don’t have whatever that would cost, either.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Tess. It’s early and he’s probably falling just as hard for you. If he has eyes and a brain, he is.”
“I really hope so,” Tessa confessed. “Because I really like this guy.”
Kate looked past her, over her shoulder. “Lorna?” she guessed.
Tessa turned to see the Realtor striding to the car, dressed in flowy linen pants and a loose floral top, smiling like she had the keys to heaven.
“Ready to see it?” she asked as Tessa opened her door.
“Always. Let me introduce you to my sister, Kate.”
They all greeted each other, then Lorna led the way with chatter about good bones and functional layout and “so much potential.” Tessa managed not to ask about Dusty, hoping that maybe he’d driven with Lorna and was inside.
No such luck. Even worse, the place was cute, but dark and dated.
After they’d done a quick tour, Tessa stood in the doorway of the kitchen, eyeing the ’80s-style walnut cabinets and imagining what could be done to them—but not by her.
