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“Welp, let’s go find the skeletons in the closet,” I suggest, trying to lighten the mood. I love Halloween, but I’m actually a wussy when it comes to things like this.
“I’m good.” She nervously laughs. “Totally not that desperate. I’ve watched way too many horror films.”
I shrug and snort. “Just know, I would’ve walked in and gotten possessed for you.”
“You’re a true friend.” She snorts. “But I’m too chicken.” Katie sighs, and we continue down the list. The next is on the outskirts of town, so it takes us fifteen minutes to get there. It’s cute and needs a lot of love, but it has potential. An older lady’s selling it and she walks around with us, nearly explaining her life story and why she’s moving. Apparently, her husband passed away and she wants to move closer to her sister in Texas.
“Not in the house, right?” Katie asks, and my eyeballs nearly bug out of my head.
“No, but that would’ve been something.” The woman smiles, keeping the conversation lighthearted. “Gonna be real honest with you, honey. This house is adorable, but it’s a damn money pit.”
“I appreciate the honesty. I’m trying to find a forever home for my son and me. I’m a single mom and want to give him the best life I can,” Katie admits.
The older woman’s demeanor softens, and I wonder if she’s aware of Katie’s story. Lawton Ridge is small, and news travels fast, but it happened so long ago that many people have forgotten.
“You’re gonna need to install new plumbing and have gas lines run again. There’s an electrical issue in one of the bedrooms that I’ve never been able to have sorted out. I’m sure it will eventually cause a house fire or at least that’s what my late husband always said, bless his soul. If you’re willing to spend a lot of money, but I wouldn’t feel right letting you buy it without understanding the full picture. My conscience would kill me, and I still have a few good years left in me,” she says, placing her hand on Katie’s shoulder.
“Thank you,” Katie tells her. “But you’re never gonna sell this house if you keep explaining to people why they shouldn’t buy it.”
“Oh, I know. Eventually, someone will offer me a price I can’t refuse, then doze it down and rebuild on the lot.” The old woman frowns. “But that’s not here nor there.”
I give her a sad smile.
“If you want the house, I’m sure it will still be here,” the woman assures her.
Katie and I thank her again on our way out.
“She was really nice.” Katie gives me a half-smile.
“She was,” I admit. “And honest.”
“No kidding. Cross that one off. I’m okay with spending money to fix whatever I can, but big issues like that scare me. Electrical. Plumbing. Gas. Those are all huge things. Plus, it needs to be leveled too. She’s right, it’s a money pit, and I appreciate her telling me because I thought it was cute. So, you’ve seen Tyler every night this week?” She quickly changes the subject.
Just hearing his name gives me heart palpitations. “Yep, since last week. He’s been so helpful and actually listens when I talk. Prepares the most delicious dinners ever. I swear I’ll finally be able to gain that twenty pounds I’ve always wanted if he keeps this up. We talk about everything and don’t hold back on anything. Last weekend, we went to visit Noah, and it was like a dream.”
Katie snaps her eyes to mine and I swallow hard. “Wait, he saw Noah?”
I hate that I stupidly slipped and mentioned him. “Yeah, we did. I only asked Tyler to join me because Robert always refused. I wanted Tyler to talk to him about life after prison, so Noah could have some idea what to expect, “I explain, and the mood turns sour. “I’m sorry, Katie.”
“It’s okay. I’d go with you, but your brother is such an asshole, he refuses to let me visit. It’s ridiculous. Fuck him.” She grabs the steering wheel tighter and exhales. “But I’m glad Tyler went with you. That’s really nice of him. We talked about Noah at the bar that night after the double date. I explained everything, how Noah refused to see me, and the way it all made me feel. Tyler actually made me understand the situation from Noah’s perspective a little more, but I’m still pissed. If your brother knows what’s good for him, he better never ever, ever reach out to me. Not after how he cut me off when I needed him the most.”
“I’m not sure if I should warn him or just allow him to get his ass kicked by you if he gets brave. And I completely understand.”
Katie clenches her jaw. “He deserves it after what he did to me and the way he made me feel. While he might be behind bars, the loneliness I’ve experienced is more like being in prison than anything he’s experienced.”
