Page 83 of Seeing Harper

“It’s the right thing,” Clay said.

“It is. Now, where can I send the contract so that you can read it?”

“Send it to [email protected].”

“Oh, do you work there? At MSU?

“No, ma’am. I’m in my last year. Dealing with finals now then never again.”

“Oh, and you’re buying your own land already? Kudos to you!”

“Yes, ma’am. Have plans in place already.”

“Wonderful! Congratulations. And I’ll send the documents right over. Now, because of the nature of these documents, we’ll have to meet in person to have them signed and notarized. Once everyone agrees with everything in the contract, we’ll set an appointment for you and Mr. Bigsby to come to our offices and make everything official. Then we’ll file the contract and land transfer with the courthouse, pay the fees, and you’ll be set.”

“Do you have any idea how much the fees are?”

“I’ll include the anticipated costs and fees when I email you the contract.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Please bear in mind that my offices are about two hours away from the Bigsby property. I do have office appointments available next week on Thursday afternoon, and Friday morning. If neither day works for you, please let me know when it will be convenient for you to come in and I’ll have my secretary do her best to accommodate you.”

“Here’s the thing. Mr. Bigsby is elderly, as you know. His wife can’t be left alone, and she’s not in good health, so it’s not convenient for him to have to load her into his old truck and drive her two hours away to sign papers. Is there a time that it might be possible for you to meet us at his home so that we don’t have to inconvenience him and his wife?”

“Let me check…” she was quiet for a few seconds, before she spoke again. “The only time I’d have available would be Tuesday of next week. I had an afternoon meeting canceled and planned to take the rest of the day off, but in light of the circumstances, I’d be happy to drive out to Mr. Bigsby’s home.”

“Thank you, so much! I’ll be there.”

“Don’t thank me, yet. We have to get all the paperwork in line first. If we can do that, then I’ll meet you on Tuesday. Otherwise, we’ll have to make different arrangements.”

“I understand. I’ll go over the contract as soon as I get it, and I’ll call Mr. Bigsby to make sure there’s nothing else he wants in it, and then I’ll get it back to you.”

“I’ll look forward to hearing from you.”

Clay ended the call, then got up and grabbed his laptop, and headed into the small kitchen of the apartment he and Cruz shared. He made himself a pot of coffee, then sat down at the kitchen table, a notebook beside him to make notes of anything that might need to be revised.

It wasn’t long before Cruz came out of his bedroom, lured by the scent of fresh, hot coffee. “Need coffee,” Cruz said sleepily as he grabbed a cup and poured it full before sipping it and sighing in satisfaction. He looked over at Clay, who was reading something on his laptop and holding a pen at the ready over a blank notebook page.

“What are you studying so early? I thought you only had two finals left, and they’re not that hard. Or at least that’s what you said.”

“I’m not studying. I’m looking at something else,” Clay said.

“Oh,” Cruz said, walking over to read over Clay’s shoulder. He read enough to realize it was a transfer deed to some property, but not long enough to figure out where it was.

“You buying some property?” Cruz asked.

“Yeah,” Clay said, looking up at Cruz with a smile.

“Where?” Cruz asked.

“You know the Bigsby Equine Center?”

Cruz’s brows bunched up as he thought about it. “You mean the place Harper volunteers at?”

“The same. I’m buying it.”

“Why are you buying a horse farm?”