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“Well, they aren’t, but I call them that,” she smiled nervously. “I use it in my spiel that I give new clients.”
“I want to hear your spiel,” Ian invited, smiling easily. “Let’s have it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Let’s say a new couple walks up to you and says ‘I want to buy a house’ – how do you start off? What’s your spiel?”
“Oh, um, stick out your hand,” she ordered – and he did so.
She moved to shake it, putting her hand in his, and slipped into her role that she’d done a thousand times. This was something she practiced in the mirror, used with clients, and how she introduced herself at symposiums or speaking events.
“Hello! I’m June Peyton – and I see you’ve already got the princess in your story – so let’s discover your dream cottage… or perhaps a fairytale castle right here in Tyler, Texas? I have a few questions for you so we can get to know each other a little better, because a home should accommodate your needs. We’ll get started with navigating the lay of the land for your new little kingdom right away.”
She started to remove her hand from his – and he held it.
“Sold,” he said openly, not looking away from her and smiling proudly. “I’d buy a place in the Azalea District from you just off of that speech alone.”
“It’s not that easy,” she smiled, pulling her hand away.
“Why not?”
“Because they are expensive homes and don’t come available that often,” she replied, picking up her chopsticks and taking another bite.
“Is that why you don’t live there?” he asked simply – and she glanced at him sharply, expecting to see some sort of judgement or immediate rebuttal… only to see open curiosity.
“I don’t live there because I can’t afford it on my salary alone, and just finished paying off Mark’s funeral expenses. We were young and never thought something like that would happen, you know? No credit built, not much of a savings to speak of, and then he was just gone. A house doesn’t get me impressions with my clients, but how I look, how I dress, what car I drive actually does. I just needed a safe place to rest my head and hide from the world – and I have it now.”
“I see,” he said quietly. “It must be nice to have a place to call home.”
She looked at him, surprised that the laughing man was suddenly gone, and replaced with barren expression that was painful to see… right before he gave her a quick smile, hiding the desolation immediately.
“Tell me more and let’s dream together,” he invited as they continued to eat – moving to pluck a gyoza off her plate, and smiling impishly.
12
JUNE
As they finished eating,they walked back to her car… and Ian took her hand.
She could have pulled away, but didn’t. Just seeing that lost, lonely look on his face that he kept hidden away did something to her. She wondered if he was hiding stuff deep down inside like Mark had once, and maybe she was just smarter now and knew to look for it?
Driving silently, Ian was looking through the windows at the town around them and hesitated.
“How far is the Azalea District? Could we drive through it?”
“Now?”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s sunset and…”
“Do they close the roads or something?”
“No, but…”
“What does it hurt to look? Besides, we could park and walk down the street if you said there were paths and walking bridges.”
She looked at him in surprise.
