Page 103 of Seeing Harper

Just before 11:00 A. M. a sleek Lexus sedan drove up to the Bigsby’s home. Mr. Bigsby looked over at Clay. “You ready to be a land owner, son?”

“You have no idea just how ready I am to get everything about our next chapter started.”

“Let’s go say hello, then,” Mr. Bigsby said. He and Clay both stood from the rocking chairs they were sitting in and walked over to the porch stairs, then down into the yard to wait for Ms. Griffith from Rune and Rune to make her way over to them.

They watched as she got out of the car — a very well put together young woman wearing a very expensive ladies suit and Italian heels, carrying a matching attache case and purse. She smiled as she approached. “Mr. Vega? Mr. Bigsby?”

“I’m Clay Vega, and this is Mr. Robert Bigsby. Welcome.”

“Thank you. I’m pleased to be here.” Ms. Griffith stopped before she went up the steps and onto the porch. She looked around at the land that would be changing hands today. “This is certainly a beautiful piece of property. And the horses grazing in the pastures just make it a picture perfect place to be in.”

“Thank you,” Mr. Bigsby said. “We’ve loved it here for many years — more than I care to count sometimes,” he said with a chuckle. “And now because of Clay, we’ll get to live out our lives here without the stress that has ridden us of late.”

Ms. Griffith nodded and smiled easily. “I have to say, this is the easiest contract of land exchange that I’ve ever had the privilege of working on. I can’t honestly say I’ve ever seen a contract that benefits both parties equally, nor have I worked with a set of land owners who are each more concerned about the other party more than they are themselves. It is refreshing in the climate that I usually work in.”

Mr. Bigsby nodded and lifted a hand to pat Clay on the shoulder. “This is an unusual young man. I’m pleased the place will go to him and remain intact as it is today.”

“I’m thankful that Robert has agreed to sell me this place. He knows the whole reason is to gift it to my girlfriend as an engagement gift when I propose. She’s loved this place and the Bigsbys all her life, so it just seemed like the most logical thing to give her to begin our lives together.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you two come to this agreement?”

“I just couldn’t see it being a good thing for Harper and me, if it meant that the Bigsbys were going off to begin a life alone in a different state where they had no one. So, I offered a compromise. We’ll buy it for a fair price, but they retain use of their home and the land as needed, as long as they were okay with us living here in our own home as well. Harper’s been helping them run this place and it would mean the world to her for them to remain here and help guide us if we needed it. And in addition, we’ll be here if they ever need our help in any way. They won’t have to worry about living so far away from medical facilities.”

“They won’t need to be guided. The plans he’s got for this place, it’ll be more successful than we’d ever hoped for,” Mr. Bigsby said. “But we do love Harper, and we’ve gotten pretty fond of this young man, too. This is a really good thing for all of us.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Again, I’m pleased to be part of such a wonderful arrangement, and happy that you both thought to make it legal and lay everything out clearly from both sides so that there will be no confusion or misunderstandings in the future.”

“Come on, Ms. Griffith. Let’s get this all finalized so we can all sleep a little better,” Mr. Bigsby said.

“Is that convenient for you? I could just as easily take care of it all out here on the porch. I don’t want to disturb your wife.”

“Oh, she’s fine. She’s inside watching her stories on the television. I told her that you were coming to finalize some paperwork for Clay to buy one of our horses. She’s not as clear minded as she used to be and as long as nothing disrupts her routine, she’ll be just fine.”

Ms. Griffith smiled and nodded. “If you’re sure I won’t be that interruption, I’d appreciate the air conditioner inside.”

“It is hotter than I remember this year,” Mr. Bigsby said, leading the way inside. “Y’all come on in and have a seat. This is my bride, Mrs. Bigsby, but we won’t interrupt her stories.”

Ms. Griffith smiled at Mrs. Bigsby who waved at her as she focused her big blue eyes on her, before she held her finger up to her lips and gently shushed her.

Ms. Griffith nodded and returned the gesture as she tiptoed to the kitchen table and took a seat across the table from Clay and Mr. Bigsby. She opened her attache case and took out four copies of the contracts she’d drawn up. “I’ve made all the changes you both asked for, and I just need you both to read them carefully to be sure that they are to your acceptance. Once you’ve read them and agree that everything you want laid out has been addressed, we’ll sign them. I’ll notarize them, and then the exchange will be official.

“You made sure that the land becomes the property of Clay Vega and Harper Vitrano the moment we sign these documents?” Mr. Bigsby asked.

“Yes, sir, it’s right there,” Ms. Griffith said, turning the pages to show him the passage that said just that. “It also indicates that a down payment of $100,000 and monthly payments of $2,300 a month until your death will be sufficient as purchase rather than the original agreed upon purchase price.”

“Wait, I didn’t agree to that. I can’t do that. This land and the buildings and animals are worth so much more,” Clay objected.

Mr. Bigsby smiled at Clay. “And that is why I will accept nothing more than this. You’re too fair, too good, and I don’t need anymore than that.”

“Mr. Robert…”

“You and Harper will be living here and taking care of the land won’t you?”

“Well, yes, sir,” Clay said.

“And you said that you would be taking care of the house, and us as needed when we need you.”