AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m really glad we’re talking again. I know I haven’t been the best at sharing what I’m feeling with you, but I’m going to try harder. I . . . I missed this. I missed you. ”
“Oh, Lucy. It’s not your fault. I didn’t know how to help you, I didn’t even know how to help myself. We’re learning how to live without him, and that takes time. We’ll figure it out together. Call me later, I love you.”
My stomach growls again as I hang up, and I know I need to eat. There’s a small coffee shop not far, so I get in my car and head that way. I get my usual drink and bagel, then call Amanda.
“Hey, it’s Lucy Carter. Are you available now?” I ask.
“Hi, Lucy! Yes, absolutely. Come on up to the office and I’ll get everything ready for you to sign.”
“Sounds good, see you soon.”
After finishing my bagel I drive the short distance to the rental office. I walk in and Amanda steps out of her office, waving me in.
“Okay, so there’s not many forms we need you to sign, and once we have your signature on file and get these documents taken care of you won’t need to drive all the way down here again. Electronic signatures will be perfectly acceptable.”
“Great. What am I signing exactly?”
“Well, this first one is granting our office permission to do all the repairs we think are necessary. In this situation, that’s a new roof and access. You’ll just need to sign and date at the bottom.”
I sign, date and hand the paper back to her. She hands me another and I frown.
“Wait, this one says the house is available for rent all year long.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I know you don’t want to sell, and I understand that, but if you aren’t going to be coming down here, I don’t see a point in leaving the month of September unavailable for renters.”
I tilt my head to the sound. “When did you get the impression I wouldn’t be coming down?”
“I just . . . what with everything going on, I didn’t think you’d stick to your normal vacation routine.”
That’s a fair assumption, I guess. I’m a twenty-three year old receptionist, it’s not like I can take month-long vacations anymore. I get two weeks vacation and five sick days for the year.
“Okay, what about leaving two weeks in September every year available for me to come down, instead of the whole month? That way, if Mom and I want to come down, we can.”
Amanda taps her pen against her lips twice, then nods.
“We can arrange that. I’ll make those changes then have you sign. Would the last two weeks of the month work?”
“That’s fine.” I nod. “What’s next?”
I sign two more documents, then I’m free to go. Amanda says they’ll start the repairs on Monday, so I have the rest of the weekend to relax. She also says she’ll be sure to keep me updated on the process. Before I leave, a thought occurs to me and I hesitate before I walk back out to my car.
“Amanda?”
“Yes?”
“The week of December 5th, is that booked yet?”
Amanda checks the calendar on her laptop, then shakes her head.
“No, why?”
“I want to come down. I don’t know if my mom will come, so it may just be me. But I’ll be here that week, if that’s okay?”
Amanda nods, taps on her keyboard, then smiles up at me.
“It’s taken care of. Can I ask why you want to come down in the winter? There’s not much open down here during the off season.”
“I know. It’s just . . . Dad died on December 5th.”
