Stormy Surrender - By Nicole Andrews Moore Page 0,21

watched as Marti flitted from one room to the next. She seemed to be counting aloud. “Wow. That’s a lot of windows to replace.” She looked about and counted aloud again. “A fireplace in every room?”

Minutes later she came skipping down the stairs, testing the railing as she walked. She smiled in approval. It was back to the kitchen she went. And as she walked she named the rooms as she imagined they would be designated. There were five bedrooms upstairs, but only one bathroom. There was one full bath on the main floor that was a Jack and Jill bathroom shared between anyone on the main floor and the master bedroom. She studied that room again.

“Honestly, I think I would make this a study with the ability to become a guest room. Or…,” she glanced around, “maybe I would install a powder room over here under the stairs.”

The wallpaper was peeling off the walls. The ceiling was crumbling down in chunks. There were gaps in the wall where plaster had once been, but now not even a fine powder residue on the floor remained. There was no kitchen to speak of…no modern appliances, a few cabinets, one small section of counter, and a sink that she had no desire to salvage. The kitchen was sunny and bright in the afternoon sun. And even though the garden was ridiculously overgrown, Marti could picture it…wild flowers and herbs, vegetables, and fruit trees. It could be magnificent. Plenty of space for an in ground pool.

Sitting on the back porch with her knees drawn up to her chin, her arms wrapped around them, rocking as she dreamed, Marti knew she had to have this house. She could see it. The vision was as real to her as the iPhone she held in her hand as she made notes and snapped pictures.

“What is the listing price?” Marti asked as she glanced at Deborah.

“This is a bank owned property. I think they had it listed for thirty thousand dollars.” She stopped speaking then and watched for a reaction.

“Hmmm. I know it doesn’t sound like a lot, but it is still a bit steep given that I am essentially paying for a lot. I practically have to demolish the house and start fresh. It would probably be cheaper.” She looked over the notes she had taken. “What if I put in an offer for $19, 900? How long would it take to hear?”

“Marti, this is a small town. Let’s go over to the bank right now if you’re serious and start negotiations.” She motioned for Marti to follow and they belted themselves into the car and drove around the corner. There it was…the bank.

As soon as Marti was introduced to the bank manager, negotiations began in earnest and an agreement was quickly reached. For the price of $21,300, the house was hers. Like a true professional, Marti hid well that she knew Blaine had paid more for her vehicle than she had just paid for the house. And she tried not to let buyers remorse set in as she wondered where to begin.

While she was still at the bank, she called Blaine. They set up an account there in her name and money was electronically transferred. For all practical purposes, the house was hers. Just hers. And she had asked Blaine about that. She had walked out the big double wooden bank doors and down the granite steps so she could pace on the sidewalk while she talked to him on the cell phone. She told herself it was because the reception was better that way, but really, she wanted the privacy. For some reason, Blaine was telling her to put the house in her name and to open the account in only her name and even though she was used to being alone…she was suddenly feeling very overwhelmed, a little lost, and seriously confused. Since when was anything in her name, let alone just her name?

“Well, I’m not there to sign off on papers now, am I?” Blaine’s tone was clipped. He was clearly agitated. “I have a surgery in an hour and you want my attention on a house, on a move? Martha, I can’t do it. You have to start handling things by yourself once in a while. You are a big girl.”

It was his condescending attitude that struck a nerve. She had failed to glance around to see who was in ear shot after that remark. “I’ll have you know that I