big city like Jacksonville or Tampa. Clearly, Papa understood Mr. Addington’s call meant he would be moving to town. Would there be yet another argument discouraging him about changing addresses?
“Well, I think you’re man enough to do it. Certainly old enough now. ’Bout time if you ask me.” Papa nodded and crossed his arms over his chest, as if daring anyone to refute him.
James chuckled. He hadn’t thought about it exactly in birthday terms, but as far as presents go, a house was a solid gift. And, he was old enough, staring at thirty-one. Most parents wanted their kids out of the house when teenage-itis struck, or when college time arrived, but not his. He’d been a good farmhand since he learned to gather eggs from the hens as a kid, though since college, he’d lived in a single-wide mobile home on his grandparents’ farm.
“Son, I’m curious. How’d you find this house?” his father asked.
“A couple of weeks ago, I was out running errands and drove along the lake. A “For Sale” sign stopped me, and the owner happened to show up while I was looking around. She showed me the inside of the house.”
“I hear Meredith grew up to be a real looker.” A sly smile and a wink came from his grandfather.
Surprised that Papa knew of Meredith, he stood straighter and focused his attention on the conversation.
“Yes, I’m an old man, but I still know a lot of folks.” His grandfather raised one eyebrow as if to caution James about challenging him, then grinned, “Back in the day, I sold meat to her grandmother. I’ve known Meredith since the day she was born.”
“So were you think’n about do’n this all by yourself?” Cedrick asked.
“Well, sir, I don’t know. Meredith wouldn’t tell me her asking price. Turned the deal over to her cousin, Wade-the-attorney. We’ve been going back and forth. I won’t know if the project is doable until I have a contractor’s final inspection report...and the final asking price. I’m waiting on the report, though I did make a contingent offer. It was a low one.”
“The two of you just looked at the house together?” his grandfather asked.
He hid a grin and ignored the jab. His grandfather had always been too nosey. “We did a walk-through. Meredith showed me around and gave me the history of the house. There was another woman along. Pretty, but very aloof. Couldn’t discern if she was a prospective buyer or just along for the ride. She didn’t tour the house with me.”
But he hadn’t forgotten the pulsing sensations when he held her hand in his. She might not have looked him in the eye, but he’d bet money she had experienced the pulsing, same as he. More than once a day, his thoughts had drifted to her. Maybe she wasn’t ignoring him that day, maybe ignoring the attraction? It didn’t matter really, she absolutely wasn’t his type. She probably liked opera and belonged to the country club. Her perfectly manicured nails said a lot about what she didn’t do in life. No sense in expending time and energy on something doomed from the start.
His father motioned him over to his easy chair, then held up a pad and pointed. Wade’s name, a phone number, and a dollar amount scrolled neatly on the paper. He shook his head in confusion.
“This is her asking price,” his father said. He circled the number with the pencil he pulled from behind his ear.
“What? You sure?” He looked hard at his father. “That can’t be right.” He looked again at the circled numbers. Two-hundred thousand.
“Seems she wants to be rid of the house pronto and you’re the buyer for her. Wade muttered something about you and your family moving in as soon as possible. All you have to do is call and accept the offer. Your family? What did he mean by that?”
“Hot damn,” James snorted.
From the dining room, Granny called, “Language becoming of a gentleman, please. We’re almost ready to eat. Well, those of us whom are clean.”
“The house is at least four thousand square feet. Sits on over an acre. I’m sure it will appraise for more than that amount, even in these real estate times. The family thing. Meredith says the house needs a family. I told her if I bought the house, someday I’d have that.”
“Shower. Now.” His mother’s fists were planted firmly on her hips as she stood between the dining and living room.
“I’m going,” he told her.
His father tapped him on