Page 27 of Dreaming Without Heartache

As I pull up, I spot her talking to a boy who looks to be a couple of years older than her. He’s tall with faint facial hair. When she notices me, she breaks away quickly, her eyes fixed on the ground ahead. As she gets in the car, I hold the boy’s gaze a beat longer before he turns away.

“Who was that kid?” I ask, hoping for the truth, but not expecting as much.

“Some guy who just walked over before I left. He’s in my English class and was asking about the homework.” Kara keeps her eyes averted.

“Is he your boyfriend?” Maisie asks, giggling as soon as the words leave her mouth.

“Shut up, Maisie!” Kara hits the back of the passenger seat. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Easy, Kara. You know she’s only teasing.” I already know there’s something up with this boy. Was he the one at the house the night I went out for a jog? I’m going to have to look into this further.

“She needs to mind her business,” Kara huffs.

“Let’s have a good evening,” I say, not wanting to argue with Kara today. “How was school? Anything exciting happen today?”

“Besides Kara’s boyfriend?” Maisie laughs, clearly not done teasing.

“What do you know, Maisie? You’re just a stupid baby.”

“Girls!” I say more loudly than I intend. “We’re not doing this right now. Maisie, stop aggravating your sister. Kara, stop yelling and saying mean things.”

“She started it!” Kara points toward Maisie.

“And I’m finishing it.” I turn the radio up to silence the vehicle.

My phone rings again. The same damn number from earlier. “Hello?” I answer, my tone sharper than I mean it to be.

“Hi,” a female voice says hesitantly. “I’m sorry if I’m interrupting. I was told to call you about my aunt and uncle’s house that I have for sale.”

“Oh, no, you’re not interrupting.” I hurry to cover my ass. I can’t recall her name. “Thank you for calling. Your niece Ginger mentioned that you’d like to keep the house off the market if possible. I’d like to look at it whenever you have time. It’ll definitely save you some money not having to use a realtor.”

“Absolutely,” the woman says, sounding more at ease now. I mean, I did answer the phone a little aggressively, which is not like me. I should have listened to the voice mail earlier.

“When is a good time for you?”

Ginger, someone I had dated briefly, reached out to say her aunt needs to sell the house quickly to help care for her uncle in a nursing home. The house could have enormous potential. If so, I need to act fast.

“I could meet you in about fifteen minutes. I’m on my way home from work and it’s a stop on the way. Would that work?”

Not really. The girls are on edge, but this is something that needs done promptly. Opportunities like this don’t wait. “Sure. Could you text me the address?”

I hung up and turned to my nieces. “Girls, we have to make a quick stop. Please, for the love of all that’s holy in this world, be on your best behavior.”

“Do we have to go in? I’d rather stay in the car.” Kara is clearly agitated by the detour.

“I want to go inside the house,” Maisie says quickly, stating her feelings.

“If you want to go, you can. If you want to wait in the car, you can. Are we all good?” I glance into the rearview mirror to see Kara’s scowl. I thought we’d reached a point where we were working through our differences, though I’m still not sure what those differences are. It would be easier if I knew what I had done wrong so I could fix it. But Kara doesn’t want to open up to me, and now she’s back to hating me for whatever reason. I don’t have the energy for it today.

I pull up to the house exactly twelve minutes after the call. The woman isn’t here yet, which gives me time to survey the property. I like to walk around the outside before going in.

“Who’s coming?”

“Me!” Maisie unbuckles her seat belt, practically bouncing.

“Not me,” Kara says flatly. I figured as much. She still doesn’t have her phone, so she can sit here and be bored if that’s what she chooses.

“Let’s go, Maisie girl.” We both hop out. I take the keys. The weather is mild enough that Kara will be fine for a bit. I’d prefer she join us, but I don’t want to force it.