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I shake my head as I peruse the fresh basil a couple minutes later. She pulled my info from me so easily, I never felt the tug. That’s a talent.
Ten minutes later, I turn into my driveway and contemplate whether thirty-five years old is too young to make dinner at 4:00. Since I can’t bring myself to say, “4:00in the evening,” I conclude that yes, I’m too young to eat dinner so early.
My phone rings as I kill the engine, and it’s the mortgage broker informing me that I’ve been preapproved for enough to counter the snippy woman’s offer. Barely. But it’s still enough.
My phone rings again as I set my satchel on the counter. Arshneel this time.
“Good timing. I just got my preapproval. I’ll counter with the asking price.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“It’s fine. I can swing it.” I can cut back on expenses. Therehasto be someone on faculty, some future visiting professor who will want a low-key, low-charm, but low-fuss place like the house next door when it’s renovated.
Arshneel clears his throat. “That’s not the only consideration. The expense of the repairs—”
“Arshneel.” If he keeps going, my anxiety will climb, and this is really the only solution. “Just counter the offer.”
“But—”
“I know what I want in a neighbor, and that situation is not it. Go back to the sellers with the offer.”
His answer is a long sigh. “Mate, it’s a bad idea.”
I say nothing.
“All right,” he says. “I’ll keep you posted.”
We hang up, and I stare through the dining room window at the shabby cottage. Nothing stirs except the dry fall leaves, a breeze kicking them up a bit. Everything else is silent.
Exactly as I like it.
Chapter Four
Paige
“Canwegoseeour house, Mama?” Evie asks, dancing up the driveway to our apartment.
“Not tonight, honey. Soon.”
“I want a rainbow room.”
“We can do that. Hey, Lisa,” I say, spotting her on the back patio. She’s in the glider, a pitcher of tea and a juice box waiting for us. “Evie wants a rainbow room. Pretty sure I know where to find some paint.”
Evie rolls her eyes but giggles.
“That sounds pretty, Evie. Why don’t you go check on Poppa Dub and make sure he’s not getting too worked up over the football game?”
“Okay,” Evie says, and darts through the back door to find Bill.
“We may have a problem,” Lisa says, her smile fading. “There’s a counteroffer for the house.”
“What? I thought you said no one else would want it.” I’d bid below asking price because she’d been so sure.
She holds up her hands with an expression of bewilderment. “I was shocked even you did. I didnotsee a bidding war coming.”
“What do I do?”
“Wait for a better property to come up?” But she sighs when she sees my face. “I know. It’s unlikely you’ll find anything with such a good location in your budget.”
