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They were leaving for the Everglades in the morning, and Cass moved toward the wall of windows overlooking that glorious, sparkling blue water.She loved the beach, and she felt it calling to her as she glided toward the glass.She went outside, the breeze tickling along her neck and tugging at her hair.
She gathered her dark locks into her hand and held them as she walked along the stones.Not cement.She doubted such a thing was allowed in a community like this.An outdoor fireplace sat in the middle of the patio, and at the push of a button, Cass could have electric flames.Nothing else sat outside, as no one lived in this house yet.So no furniture inside or out.
Bones was about all the house had, and Cass could admit she liked that.It left everything else an open canvas for her to paint how she’d like.She moved to the edge of the stones, where a set of steps led down to a tiny patch of grass.Then the beach opened up beyond that, the water waving hello as it arrived ashore.
Back inside, she ran her hand along the refrigerator handle.It looked like a cabinet, and she asked, “The appliances come with it?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the realtor drawled.“Did you want to see the bedrooms?”
“Yes.”Cass toured the whole home, from top to bottom and left to right.Finally, she and the realtor stepped out onto the front porch flanked by two tall pillars that extended to the height of the two-story home.“And the flooring can all be changed?”
“To anything you wish,” he said.“Our builders do have a few things the owners have selected from.If you purchase, I can put you in touch with them.”
Cass nodded, drew a breath, and went down the few steps to the sidewalk.“I can have them repaint some things?”
“Absolutely,” the realtor said.His papers shifted and crackled, and he withdrew one that wasn’t a normal sheet of paper.It was glossy on both sides, though one sat blank.The other held all the numbers Cass needed to know.“It’s been appraised already.Inspected.Miss Gladstone will pay closing costs.She wants this home to go to someone who’ll love it as much as she did, and I have to say, Miss Haslam, that seems like it might be you.”
Cass looked at the paper and then the man.“I’ll let you know.”
He nodded, very proper and respectful, and they left the property.Cass drove out ahead of him, and she had nowhere else to go that day.She drove through a coffee spot, got her favorite hot drink, and headed for the beach.
With June days old now, the sun shone brightly.Families had gathered that afternoon, and dogs ran through the sand as owners threw balls for them to retrieve.The wind whipped harder the closer to the ocean Cass went, and she wrapped her arms around herself as she gazed across the water.
She closed her eyes, and suddenly she could feel the movement of the earth beneath her feet.She let it tilt her right and left as she tried to balance against the astronomical speed of the spinning.
Her thoughts collided, and then she opened her eyes.She focused on the horizon, the truth of what she wanted right in front of her.She tugged her phone out of her pocket and dialed.
“No more second-guessing,” she told herself.“Move forward with purpose.”
The line rang, and Cass turned away from the undulating water…the rest of her life in front of her.
