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TEN
WILL
Caroline and Sophie are thrilled about the prospect of living full-time at Marsh Point. Even though we’re not moving until the weekend, they eagerly stuff all their belongings into whatever tote bags and suitcases they can find.
Sophie appears to feel fine, but I insist she stay home from school on Tuesday to make certain she’s fully recovered from rotavirus. She’s bursting with energy, and I can’t hold her back on Wednesday morning. After dropping the girls at school, I make the rounds to my job sites, explaining to each of my project managers that I’ll be taking the rest of the week off to tend to personal business.
“Good for you,” Maurice says when I tell him I’m moving in with my sister. “Miss Ashton will take good care of you and the young’uns. I hope you’ll talk to your sister about your problems. She’s a good listener. Let her help you.”
I grumble, “You, of all people, know how much I like having help.”
“Keeping your worries bottled up inside ain’t good for your soul, Will. Your wife left a big hole in your life. If you don’t fill that hole with good stuff, the bad stuff will get inside you and eat you alive.”
“That’s excellent advice. I’ll keep that in mind.” I slap his back. “You’re a good friend, my man. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“God willing, you won’t find out anytime soon,” Maurice says with a chuckle.
The girls and I grab sandwiches from Custom Crust on the way home from school. After we eat, I turn on a movie for them while I wander aimlessly around the house, attempting to wrap my mind around the daunting process of moving. I understand the logic in not making major decisions after the death of a loved one. And while my initial plan was to rent the house while we’re living at Marsh Point, I don’t ever want to come back here. This was Tracy’s house. She made her mark on every room. To move on without her, I need a fresh start.
I call the best real estate agent in town, who happens to be my sister’s old high school friend. I catch Sadie between appointments, and she arrives at my door in less than ten minutes.
“I would be thrilled to list your house, Will. But are you sure it’s a good idea so soon after Tracy’s death?”
“I’m positive.” I tell her my reasons for wanting to sell the house and explain that I’m moving in with Ashton so she can help me take care of the girls.
Sadie claps her hands. “In that case, give me the tour,” she says and follows me from room to room with blonde curls bouncing around her shoulders and high heels clickety-clacking on the hardwood floors.
I end the tour in the primary bedroom.
Sadie runs a hand along a row of hanging dresses in Tracy’s walk-in closet. “Your wife had excellent taste. Who’s running the boutique for you?”
“Her assistant, Mollie. She’s doing a great job. I’m hoping she’ll eventually offer to buy it.”
Sadie fingers the sleeve of a faux fur jacket. “What will you do with all these clothes?”
“I’m not sure. They’ll be out of style by the time my girls are old enough to wear them. I guess I’ll donate them to charity.” I give Sadie the once-over. “Unless you want them. You’re about her size.”
Sadie retracts her hand from the faux fur jacket. “No way! I couldn’t take her clothes.”
“Why not? You’d save me from having to donate them to charity. Besides, Tracy would love for someone as fashionable as you to have them.”
She hesitates. “How about if I share them with my friends? Do you think Tracy would be okay with that?”
I smile. “She would love that.”
We leave the primary bedroom and head back towards the foyer. “So, when were you thinking of putting it on the market?”
“As soon as possible. We’re moving to Marsh Point this weekend.”
“That’ll work in your favor. You won’t have to worry about keeping it clean for showings. Leave the furniture if you can. Houses show better furnished.” She retrieves her purse and opens the front door. “I’ll gather some comps, and we’ll set a price. Mariner’s Landing is hot right now. You should do well. Yours is one of the nicest homes.”
“I built all the houses in the development, Sadie. This one is the nicest.”
Sadie’s face lights up. “Right. I forgot. You being the builder is an excellent selling point. I’ll be in touch soon,” she says and hurries out to her SUV.
She’s no sooner left than I receive a call from my sister. Ashton doesn’t give me a chance to say hello before she blurts, “I found you a child custody attorney. Or I should say, Sully found you one. Her name is Vanessa Longhorn, and she lives in Charleston. I’ve set up a Zoom call for you at five o’clock today. The link should be in your inbox. Vanessa has a long waiting list of clients. She’s doing Sully a favor by talking to you. He designed the cabinets in her gazillion-dollar home on Kiawah Island. She’s interviewing you, Will. You’ll have to convince her to represent you.”
“I’m not sure I want someone so exclusive representing me.”
