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“It’s not like I didn’t know it was coming.” She goes back to her pancake stabbing.
“But you were still upset when the agent came by.”
“You meanBarbara?” She scowls. “Some friend.”
“The real estate agent was Audrey’s friend?” Henry asks, calm again.
Violet hesitates, as if deciding whether she wants to acknowledge his question at all. “Her best friend. Back when things started to go downhill for my mom, Barbara offered to sell the house when the time came.” She focuses on a strip of crispy bacon, twirling it this way and that between her fingertips. It looks like she’s touched—or stabbed—everything on her plate, but I don’t think she’s eaten any of it.
“Well, isn’t this snug.” A waitress with round cheeks sidles up next to our table. “Can I get you something?”
“Coffee, please. One black, one with cream and sugar,” Henry orders for me.
“Coming right up, cutie pie.” She winks at Henry and strolls away, her hips swinging.
“Cutie pie?” I echo, unable to hold my grin. Henry’s been called a lot of things. Anything referencingcuteis not one of them.
He spares an eye roll for me before returning to the conversation. “Selling the house fast is a good idea. It makes it easier for your grandparents, who are dealing with a teenager who likes to sneak out and cause them stress they don’t need at their age. They’re in their eighties, Violet.” There’s that hint of a scolding tone, but not the exasperated one he’s used with me. No, this one reminds me of the time Daddy literally caught me with my hand in the cookie jar before dinner, a fistful of chocolate chip cookies in my grasp.
Henry sounds almost … fatherly.
Violet averts her gaze. At least she’s showing some guilt for what she’s put them through.
Henry sighs. “Houses cost money to maintain. The longer you guys hold on to it, the more Audrey’s estate must pay out in costs. Utility bills, taxes, that sort of thing. Barbara is trying to make sureyouwalk away with as much money as possible once the estate is settled.”
Violet seems to process his words, but I see the moment she rejects them. “No, but that’s not it. She doesn’t care about makingmemoney!” she bursts, earning glances from several tables around us.
“And why do you say that?” Henry asks with eerie calm.
“Because my grandparents wanted to get the house painted and change the bathroom and, I don’t know … other stuff. You know, because people do that when they sell their house and want to get more money for it.”
“They do.” There’s a hint of humor in Henry’s tone, as if he’s amused that she, a fifteen-year-old girl, feels the need to explain this to him, a thirty-two-year-old billionaire business tycoon.
“Then why has Barbara been talking them out of it? She said it would go fast without any of that done.”
“She might be right. I didn’t go into the house so I can’t say. It’s a nice area, and the house is on a cul-de-sac. It’s likely in high demand.”
“No, that’s not it.” Violet shakes her head. “The person who wants to buy the house is Barbara’s sister.”
“Hersister.” That has piqued Henry’s interest.
Violet straightens her back, seemingly emboldened. “Yes. And a few months before my mom died, Barbara brought her sister over and they were walking all over the house, looking at things. I don’t think they knew I was there. I overheard them talking about moving walls and stuff. And then she shows up yesterday with this offer before the house is even on the market, and Barbara keeps telling my grandparents how stressful putting a house on the market is, and how her sister is willing to buy it as is.” Violet grips the fork in her hand. “It feels like they were just waiting for my mother to die so they could take it from us.”
I’m beginning to see why Violet acted out. She’s not wrong to be suspicious. Why else would Audrey’s best friend be touring the house with her sister, talking about renovations, unless she had plans to buy it even then? How long have they been planning this? Like Henry said, it’s a charming house in a cul-de-sac, in a nice, quiet neighborhood.
“Is that allowed? Selling your client’s house to your family member?” I ask instead of voicing my other questions.
“Agents are supposed to protect their clients. That’s hard to do when both the buyerandthe seller are their clients, and that might be the case here.”
“And the buyer’s her sister,” I emphasize.
“Exactly. She’s more likely to work for her best interests than Audrey’s.” Henry strums his fingers across the table. “I don’t like the sound of it.”
“No,” I agree.
“See?” Violet throws her hands up in the air. She hesitates. “You’re the big-shot businessman. Doyouthink my grandparents should take the offer?”
“What’s the offer?” Henry asks.
