SEAL the Deal(34)
“It’s not just that. It’s the way we met—at a funeral where I was trying to get real estate business. Some people might find that… distasteful.”
Maeve snorted. “That’s one word for it.” Noticing Lacey’s wounded expression, she followed up, “Creative is another word. Or savvy. That’s what your sister would say, right?”
“Well, I’m not my sister, as I prove time and again. Besides, that house means so much to him. He’d hate thinking that I was trying to sell it behind his back.”
Maeve batted a hand hastily through the air. “But you aren’t. She hasn’t shown any interest in selling it, right? So, just come clean and tell him.”
“Yeah, but then he might let it slip to Edith that I crashed her husband’s funeral. She’d never list her house with me if she ever did decide to sell. She might even call the funeral home and complain. Or complain to my broker at the office.”
“That’s a lot of what-ifs, Lacey.”
Lacey sighed. “You’re probably right. Maybe I will fess up.”
Maeve took the last bite of her omelet and fought the urge to ask Bess for another. “Speaking of funerals, are you going to that one I found for you in last Sunday’s obits? It is today, right?”
“Yeah. It’s got some promise, actually. I’m covering phones in the office this morning and then I’m taking a newlywed couple around town to see some homes at noon. Then I’ll drive straight there. It starts at two. I think I’ll make it in time.”
Maeve raised her eyebrows to Bess. “She works hard for the money.”
“Except that the money’s not coming in yet,” Lacey grumbled. “I better go get ready. There’s a black suit upstairs with my name on it.” She loaded her plate into the dishwasher. “Thanks for breakfast, Bess. It was incredible. For every omelet you make, I promise to change one diaper.”
“Then I better see you for breakfast every morning.”
At the ring of her cell, Lacey snapped her phone open. “Hello? Oh, hello Edith. How are you? … Yes, I did make those calls about auction donations and got lucky with four of them. … What? … No, I wouldn’t mind at all, though I really think you might want to wait before you make any decisions like that. … Well, okay. I can draw up some comps and stop by. … Thursday’s fine. … No, don’t you dare feed me brunch. … All right then. Thanks, Edith. See you then.” She slid her phone into her purse.
The silence in the kitchen was deafening.
Visibly flustered, Lacey let out a slow breath. “That was Edith—you know, Mick’s old sponsor. She wants to talk to me about listing her property.”
Maeve glanced over at Bess. “The plot thickens…”
CHAPTER NINE
When Lacey walked up to Edith Baker’s house this time, she could no longer envision the “For Sale” sign in front of it. Even carrying a heavy folder filled with marketing information and comparable real estate listings under her arm, she knew that this house was simply not meant to be sold.
But she was not a mind reader. She didn’t know what might be driving Edith to consider selling the sweeping lot crowned with a too-perfect-to-be-true home. So she squared her shoulders and knocked on the door.
Edith greeted her with a gentle hug that made Lacey feel like part of the family. “Lacey, it’s so good of you to come.”
“Thanks for having me, Edith. I brought those papers you were interested in seeing.”
“Wonderful. Come in and have some breakfast, dear.”
The scent of frying bacon consumed Lacey’s senses the moment she stepped in the door. She nearly visibly salivated. “That smells delicious. I didn’t get a chance to eat anything because the workmen arrived so early this morning. I wanted to get out before the noise started.”
“Maeve’s solarium, right? What a lovely idea. I’ve always wanted a place to grow more plants indoors. At my age, it’s not as easy to get outside to do the weeding.”
“You know, I know some great landscaping companies who might be able to help. I could get their information for you.” Lacey sat on a kitchen stool, and could picture a younger version of Mick sitting on the very same stool catching up on his studies or talking with the Bakers, with the scents of home-cooked meals wafting through the air. No wonder he didn’t want to see this place sell.
“That’s a wonderful idea, Lacey. Thank you.”
Their conversation weaved around light topics as they ate, until Edith set her eyes on the packet of information brought by Lacey. “Ahh, so this is what I’m interested in,” she said, giving it a light tap with her finger.