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“You should start a blog. You know, document your journey. Put it out on social media,” Fiona suggests, and I stop short.
“That is a great idea,” I tell her, kicking myself that I hadn’t thought of that earlier.
“Make sure you take a heap of before photos, of the inside and outside, of each room,” my mom says.
“I can see it now, city girl turns country. Hashtag Whisperwoman,” Fiona says, making all three of us laugh.
“I love that idea.” I already see it coming to life in my head as I take more notes.
“How’s everything in the city, Fiona?” I ask her, even though I only flew out a few days ago.
“I saw Josh at the café down the street, if that is what you are asking. He was on his lunch break. Natalie was with him, although he didn’t look pleased about that fact. He jumped up when he saw me and came straight over, asking why you won't take his calls.”
“What an idiot. What did you say?” I ask, knowing she would have told it to him straight.
“I told him that you were traveling. That you were having the time of your life with the various men you are meeting and to stop calling you.” She sounds so proud of herself, and I bark out a laugh.
“Good thing that he is in the past and this fantastic house is your future, darling. Josh is not worth the timethinking about,” my mom says, and I agree. I have already spent too many weeks thinking about it all and have moved on. We were only together for a year, and if I am truthful with myself, I knew he wasn’t the one. And since he so easily cheated on me with another woman, I didn’t mean much to him either. That thought sparks another idea of how this house could be used in the future.
“Totally agree, Ms. McArthur,” Fiona says as the two of them start talking about me like I am not even on the call.
“Alright, I need to go out and get Garry,” I tell them, breaking up their chatter, wondering how I am going to get the goat back into its pen.
“Garry? Don’t say you have met a man already?” my mom asks playfully. I instantly think of my neighbor. The tall, dark, brooding man who wants to buy my property. Tension builds in my shoulders, and my heart does a weird flip-flop at the thought of him. He makes me equal parts angry and intrigued.
“Well, if by man, you mean a four-legged goat that bleats at everything, so much that I barely sleep at night, then yes. Garry is my new boyfriend, and I need to get him back into his shed for the night.”
“Oh look, she is already one with the animals,” Fiona says, laughing.
“Garry and I are now friends. He followed me into the shed last night, no problem. Very obedient.” My tone is full of sarcasm, but I smile to myself with pride that I actually figured it out myself. Even if it took me an hour last night to get him into the shed, and in the end, I had to coax him with food.
“Can goats be obedient, or do you think he just liked the smell of you or something?” Mom asks, and since neither of us have the answer, we just end up in fits of laughter at this weird and wonderful situation I have found myself in.
Ending the call, I sigh, looking around the place, then grab my laptop to make some notes about a new website and blog. Operation Hashtag Whisperwoman starts now.
After gettingthe truck started and stalling it in the driveway three times, I am relieved to finally be in town and gathering all the things I need. I have no idea how I managed to start it, but I do hope that I can get home without any more issues. With another quick dash to the grocery store for more food, I am now walking around the hardware store, the cart I am pushing almost full when my cell vibrates with a text message from Josh.
Where are you?
Why won’t you answer my calls?
You are being childish.
My screen fills with his rant, seemingly frustrated that I am not giving him the response he thinks he’s entitled to.
“Can I help you there, miss?” a voice asks, and I startle as an older man walks up to me in a pair of overalls and a small smile.
“Well, I think I’m taking most of the store home with me, so I hope that means I am doing okay,” I say with a small chuckle at myself as I slide my still vibrating phone into my pocket. I push Josh and his persistence to the back of my mind and refocus on why I am here. I have no idea what the hell I am doing with the house. At this point, I am relying on the internet for my renovation education.
“I haven’t seen you around here before; are you Marie’s niece?” Boy, news does travel fast around here.
“Yes. I’m Victoria,” I say, putting out my hand.
“I’m Bob. Jerry told me that you might be in this week. I was sad to hear of Marie’s passing. She kept to herself a lot but was always a nice woman to me. I hear there is a fair bit to fix out on the property?”
“Thank you. There is, but it is mainly cosmetic,” I say, trying to remain upbeat. “So I do need to get some paint.” Looking around, I’m not able to see it.
“Sure thing. What are you looking for, inside or out?” he asks, already walking down the aisle, and I follow him.
