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CHAPTER TEN
The following morning, Carine scowled at the incoming scheduling notification on her phone. She had to read it twice and verify that she was looking at her work device, not her personal one.
Heidi Dowd’s name was on the appointment list withnothing wallwritten in the memo field.
She brought up a new text bubble on her personal phone and let it autofill Heidi’s number.
Carine rarely did her best work first thing in the morning. Her reading comprehension didn’t generally clock in until around noon. Regardless, she would have to work hard to misinterpret the message.
Did you mean to submit that?she sent to Heidi.I just got a scheduling ping from you.
Ever efficient, Heidi responded immediately.Yes, I meant to submit that. I’m not so ancient that I don’t know how websites work.
“Ha ha,” Carine murmured and dialed Heidi directly. “You know, you gotta be careful putting your name into the appointment system here,” she said when Heidi answered. “Lipton did their research on the area. If they see a Dowd name in the system, they’ll think you’re a relative of Valerie’s. And if you’re a relative of Valerie’s, you’re looking to shake them down and make them suffer on her behalf because they actually do have a tiny bit of self-awareness about how much they suck. Alternately, they’ll think you’re a relative of Tim’s and that you, therefore, have deep pockets. If the latter, they’ll start sending you fruit baskets, gift certificates, and sundry other bribes to try to warm you up to investing.”
“Well,” Heidi said in her usual low, drawn-out way. “I suppose I could have put in my maiden name, but I’m no maiden. And I earned the name I have. So.”
“You may be the single most practical person I know.”
“Life’s easier when you can be that way. I do want to see a house, though. I have no ulterior motives. Turns out that I thought I was comfortable at my place, but I got home after work yesterday and decided I deserve to have walls that aren’t shared with strangers.”
“Well, in that case…” Carine perked up at her desk and dragged her planner closer. She had a busy week ahead with tours, community events, training sessions, and closings. If Heidi needed a consult, though, Carine would make the time. At least with Heidi, she wouldn’t have to worry about toeing the line of propriety and making sure she never uttered a single negative thing about her employer. With both Carine and Valerie passing on news, Heidi had heard most of the gripes already, anyway. “I imagine you don’t want to consider a townhouse, then?”
“No. Are there any lots left near the lake?”
“Near thelake?” By habit, Carine’s focus snapped to the poster-sized map of the community plan. The area nearest the manmade lake was supposed to be pushed heavily in the next phase because, technically, the lake wasn’t there yet. It was all marshland, and there was a strong chance the acreage would stay that way if the flood map updates changed the insurability of the properties too much. “There’s nothing over there. You’re looking for a foundation-up build?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“What did I hear about lots?” That was Tim’s voice in the background.
Carine looked at the clock and cringed. She hadn’t realized how close to lunchtime it was. Thanks to her pet hyperfocus demon, the ten minutes of paperwork she’d sat down to do had turned into two hours of admin.
Not daring to breathe lest she drown out the Dowds’ conversation, she pushed back from the desk.
Heidi explained to Tim that she was considering a move.
“You’re looking at Shora?” Tim balked, but his tone was softer when he added, “Actually, maybe that’s not the worst idea. Valerie said the first retail parcel sold, and there’ll be a grocery store out there within a year.”
“Grocery store and also a bait and boat supply kiosk,” Carine said in a volume she hoped was too soft for Tim to hear. He may have had suspicions about who Heidi was talking to. Carine wouldn’t do him the favor of easily confirming them. “And depending on the population a year from now, the district’s next elementary school could get slated for build across the highway.”
“That doesn’t affect me so much,” Heidi said. “This shop’s closed, but I’m sure Valerie has considered what that might mean for Naomi five years from now. She could drop her off on the way to work.”
“Assuming she’s still here five years from now. In theory, we’ll be totally built out by then.”
“Oh, she’ll be there. Knowing how talented she is, Lipton will fuck themselves sideways to pay her firm to keep her local, regardless of what she’s working on.”
“That’d be great for her. Lord knows where I’ll be, though. Anything here that’s re-entering inventory at that point will be resales handled by outside agents.”
“Are you talking to Carine?” Tim asked.
“Did you need something, Timmy?” Heidi asked.
After a pause, Tim said, “All right, then. Just wanted to plan dinner for Friday. Kevin said he would be open to us buying him a steak.”
“That sounds like something Kevin would say. Is he coming alone, or is Kalimah coming, too?”
“Depends. Are your parents coming?”
