Page 8 of Vow

She had been hoping for a quick sale, really. The house was priced reasonably on the market, and it was in good shape. Not too old, all things considered. She’d done a hell of a lot of upgrades since she moved in, and brought it up to spec.

It should have sold quickly.

So far, there’d not been an offer.

The realtor came around the corner of the hallway, exiting from the kitchen. In his tailored suit with not a speck of dirt to be seen, and his hair slicked back, Haven thought the man seemed more suited to be sitting behind a desk somewhere.

She didn’t assume it, though.

Not anymore.

Andino had taught her not to assume anything about anyone that she crossed paths with in her lifetime. Nothing good came from underestimating who or what someone was underneath their nice clothes, and charming smile.

All that meant was you wouldn’t even see them coming for your heart, and you’d miss it entirely when they broke it to pieces except when you felt it.

And God knew …

God knew Haven felt it all over now.

Funny how that worked.

That lesson she learned … it’d been simple. One person could change your life, and not necessarily for the better. It only took one single soul to rip away yours, and keep it forever. One moment in time could put you on the same path as someone else, and there you would be, entirely ruined.

You didn’t get to choose.

Love didn’t work that way.

This was not the lesson Haven wanted to learn.

Not yet, anyway.

“You’re still firm on the price?” the man asked.

Haven folded her arms over her chest. “Any less, and I’ll be losing out. I’m not doing that.”

“It’ll sell quicker if you drop it even ten grand.”

No, she needed the money.

She wasn’t telling him that, though.

“The market is tough right now on starter homes, which you know—”

“Is basically what this is, yeah,” Haven said. “I know, but that’s my bottom line. It’s the number I want, give or take a thousand.”

The realtor nodded. “How’s your mom, by the way?”

Haven hid the way the frown threatened to dance over her lips. She was doing pretty good with this whole holding herself together thing, even if the only thing she wanted to do was hide away from the rest of the world.

She was too strong for that shit.

Nothing was taking her down now.

“Good—started her first round of chemo last week,” Haven said.

“Praying for her.”

“Thanks.”