by Lydia Rose
THE COUNTRY GIRL
By
Lydia Rose
Edited By
Holly Schneider
FOR LINDA WHO WILL ALWAYS HAVE MY HEART AND WHO INSPIRES MY WRITING
CHAPTER ONE
Jane Richards looked around her office and smiled at what the three women had accomplished. The practice that she started with her friends was now running smoothly after two years. The women had done their residency together and it was Jane that suggested that they start a practice together. Shelly Ledger was oral surgery, Jane general practice and Laura Carmen was their orthodontist. It had been a slow start when their first doors opened, but after two years they had a healthy practice. The three women lived in an apartment nearby, but it had begun to feel too crowded over the last few months. Shelly’s boyfriend spent several nights a week there and Laura’s girlfriend did the same. Those were the nights that Jane felt like the fifth wheel.
Sunday morning with her other roommates tucked into their beds with their respective significant others, Jane left the apartment. She stopped and picked up a breakfast sandwich and coffee and decided to stop at one of the farm stands for some fruits and vegetables. She parked in the parking lot and reached for her empty bag and coffee cup. As she got out of the car, she dropped the trash in a nearby garbage can. It was a comfortable morning for the end of July and Jane walked over to the outside stand. Jane began putting corn, tomatoes and peaches into the plastic bags provided. Her small basket was becoming filled as she walked along now looking at the other vegetables.
The woman at the cash register offered, “You can put those bags over here while you choose your other things.”
Jane looked at the girl and smiled. “Thanks.” She walked over to the cash register and handed the bags to the young girl. The tight fitting jeans and curve hugging t-shirt gave the appearance that the girl was a teenager, but her face couldn’t hide the years. Her hair was pulled into a messy pony tail and
her green eyes seemed darker against the green of her shirt. “I’ll go see what else I can use.”
“Take your time.” Nicole watched the well-dressed woman walk around the farm stand picking up and inspecting the vegetables before she placed them in a bag. The tan sandals clapped against the wooden floor as Nicole watched the woman reach to a higher shelf. Her eyes immediately admired the view she now had in front of her. Shaking her head, she moved her eyes so she wouldn’t be staring when the woman turned around. Calm yourself Nicole, she’s way out of your league and probably straight.
Jane walked back to the cash register and placed the new bags on the counter.
Nicole began ringing up the sale and stared at the dark brown eyes that had captured her attention. The woman reached into her purse and lifted her wallet. As she opened the wallet for her money, Nicole noticed the doctor’s identification. Oh yeah, way out of your league.
Jane handed the money to the woman and began to pick up her many bags.
“I’ll help you carry these to your car,” Nicole offered, taking most of the bags from Jane.
Jane led them to her Lexus SUV and opened the back. Nicole lifted the bags and gently placed them down. She noticed Jane reaching for her purse.
“No charge, doc,” Nicole said with a smile, hoping her teeth were white enough standing in front of a dentist.
“Thank you Ms…” Jane felt awkward.
“Nicole,” she added, holding out her hand.
Jane accepted the hand and said, “Jane Richards.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“You too. Thanks for your help.”
Nicole held up her hand and walked back to the stand where she had a few new customers.
Jane was about to get into her car when she noticed the house next door and the For Sale on the front lawn. She closed her car door and walked toward the house. The lawn was nothing more than weeds and dirt. Jane walked toward the porch and could see that most of the wood was rotted. She walked down the driveway to the back yard. She could see the house wasn’t very large, but it was far enough from the roadway and against the property line was a massive amount of fruit trees. Nicole approached Jane as she walked toward the front of the house.
“Do you know who owns this property?” Jane asked.
“My parents do. It used to be my grandparent’s house. They passed away five years ago and my family thought it was time to sell.”
Jane looked up at the side of the house and frowned knowing how much work it would take to put this house into shape.
“My grandmother always thought I would move into this house with a husband, but that’s never going to happen,” Nicole said with a laugh.
“Hey, you never know.”
“Oh, I know,” Nicole said with a wink.
Jane laughed understanding. “I know exactly what you mean.”
So she is gay. “Would you like to see the inside?” Nicole asked.
“I can’t let you leave your stand,” Jane pointed.
“Give me a minute.” Nicole went back to the stand and picked up her cellphone.
“My brother is on his way and he’ll bring the keys to the house with him.”
Jane looked at Nicole. “Do you live with your parents?”
Nicole nodded embarrassed that at her age she was stuck on this farm and still living at home. “When you work on a farm, you have to be close by.”
“Do you enjoy farming?” Jane asked, trying to sound interested.
“It’s a living, I guess.” Nicole shrugged. “Here’s Mark now.” She walked over to him and took the house keys. Nicole walked back to Jane and said, “Let’s go in the back door. I’m not sure the front porch will hold much longer.” Nicole unlocked the door and stepped through the doorway first.
Jane’s mouth dropped open as she stepped into the large kitchen. She felt as if she had stepped into the early 1900’s. The kitchen appeared as though it hadn’t been touched in all those years. Nicole led her to a large pantry, mud room and small den.
“Is this house on city water and sewer?” Jane asked.
“Yes. It has an above ground oil tank, but there’s gas in the street.” Nicole now led her to the living room.
Jane was amazed that the wooden floors looked in great shape and the wood burning fireplace had the original stone work.
“My granddad built this place,” Nicole added as she led Jane to the staircase. “There’s four bedrooms and a bathroom up here.”
Three of the bedrooms were large and a smaller room was next to the master. Jane thought that room would make a nice master bath and closet. “How much are your parents asking?”
“$170,000.00,” Nicole answered.
“Do you think your parents would mind if I had a friend come out and inspect the structure?”
“I don’t see why not,” Nicole said with a shrug.
“Can I get your parents number so I can make arrangements?” Jane asked.
“I’ll give you my number.”
Jane took out her phone and entered Nicole’s number. “I appreciate you taking the time to show me the house,” Jane said with a smile.
“No problem.”
Nicole walked Jane back outside and said, “Just give me a call when you want to come back.” She waved before walking back to the stand.
Jane got into her car and drove away.
“So is she interested?” Mark asked.
Nicole shrugged. “She’s going to have a contractor check over the structure. That place is a wreck and should be torn down. We’ll have to see.”
Jane got back to the apartment and found her roommates making breakfast.
“Where did you disappear to this morning?” Shelly asked.
Jane held up the bags. “I went to a farm stand.”
“Do you want breakfast?” Shelly asked.
“Had it already,” Jane said walking toward her bedroom. “She took her cellphone from her purse and pressed a name in her contacts.
“Hey, doc. How are you?”
“I’m fine Millie. How are you and Alice?”
“We’re both good. To what do I owe this call?”
“I can’t just call and say hello?” Jane asked with a laugh.
“What’s up?” Millie asked.
“Would you have time next week to check out a house for me?” Jane asked.
“You bought a house?”
“Not yet. I want you to see if it’s going to fall down on me before I can remodel it.”
“Is it that bad?” Millie asked.
“It’s an old farm house. A lot of character, but it needs a lot of work.”
“You’re serious?” Millie asked.
“Very. I’m thirty-eight years old and it’s about time I buy a house.” Jane insisted. Both her parents were gone and living with two other women in their thirties was becoming a joke. It was time to grow up and be on her own. Maybe once she started acting like an adult, her love life would fall in line too.
“When do you want me to be there?” Millie asked.
“How about Wednesday around six o’clock?” Jane asked, not knowing if this would work out with the owners.
“Okay. Give me the address. See you then.”
“Thanks Millie,” Jane said disconnecting the call, and then dialed Nicole. “Hi Nicole, its Jane Richards.”
“Hi,” Nicole said surprised to hear from Jane so soon.
“I spoke with my friend and she’s going to meet me at the house at six o’clock Wednesday evening. Do you think that will be okay with your parents?”
“Sure. I’ll meet you,” Nicole offered.
“That’s great. I’ll see you then. Thanks again, Nicole.”
“No problem, doc,” Nicole said with a smile.
Nicole hadn’t even had time to tell her parents that they had an interested party in the house finally. She knew her family could use the money and she hoped Jane really was interested in buying the house.
****
At six o’clock, Nicole shut the stand down and drove back to the house. She came into the house from the back door and washed her hands and face in the sink in the mud room. Her mother was at the stove finishing the preparations for dinner for the family.
“Hi, Mom,” Nicole called as she came into the kitchen.
“Did you wash up Nicole?” Karen asked as she faced her daughter.
“Yes, Mom.” Nicole shook her head because her mother asked the same thing every day.
Mark and her father walked into the kitchen and took their places at the table while Karen placed the meal on the table.
“We’ve got someone interested in granddad and grandma’s house,” Nicole said as she took her seat.
“Who?” Hank asked.
“She’s a dentist and she’s bringing a contractor on Wednesday evening to check out the place.”
“Is she married?” Karen asked.
“I’m not sure. I don’t think so,” Nicole said not wanting to divulge too much information to her parents. “She looks like she can afford to buy the place.”
“It’s going to take a lot of work to get that house livable again,” Hank said.
“Yeah, that place should have been torn down years ago,” Mark added.
Her father gave Mark a stern look. “She sounded like she wanted to do work to the house and not knock it down.” Nicole offered to calm her parents’ worries.
“Can you be there when they inspect the property?” Karen asked.
“Yes. I already told Jane I would and if she is going to make an offer, I’ll give her Dennis Kramer’s business card.”
“That’s her name?” Karen asked.
“Yes. Doctor Jane Richards,” Nicole advised.
“We can use the money,” Karen said. “I hope her contractor doesn’t find too much wrong with the house.”
Nicole was used to hearing her parents say all her life that they could use more money. The farm did well, but to them it was never enough. They had the labor that she and Mark did for nothing. It was her idea for the farm stand so she could have money in her pocket. She sold fruits and vegetables in the summer, pumpkins and gourds in the fall and Christmas trees in the winter. It gave her enough to support herself and her car. Like her parents, she needed more to move out on her own.
CHAPTER TWO
Nicole and Mark worked with their dad in the fields in the morning. After lunch, she went to the stand to sell her fruits and vegetables. What she enjoyed most at the stand was the quiet which allowed her to sit and read while she waited for customers.
Wednesday evening she closed the stand as she saw Jane pull into the driveway next door. She approached as Jane got out of the car. “Hi,” Jane called to Nicole with a wave.
Nicole’s hand went up in a wave as she looked at Jane. Today she wore a pair of worn jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers. “How are you?” Nicole asked as she approached.
“Excited and scared at the same time,” Jane said clasping her hands.
Nicole laughed at the look on Jane’s face.
“I’m afraid Millie is going to say this place is…” Jane caught herself before insulting the owner’s daughter.
“You’re afraid she’ll think it’s a real dump and you’re out of your mind?” Nicole said with a chuckle.
Jane nodded and said softly, “Yes.”
“If I was your friend, I might tell you the same thing. This house needs a lot of work and it’s going to take a lot of money to bring it back to its glory days.” Nicole said as she watched a pickup truck pull behind Jane’s car.
“There’s Millie now,” Jane said walking toward the truck. “You found it.” Jane smiled as she hugged her friend. “Millie, this is Nicole. Her parents own the property.”
Millie stuck her hand out to Nicole. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Nicole said.
“So this is it?” Millie asked looking up at the house. She reached into her truck and pulled out her tool belt, flashlight and a collapsible ladder. “Let’s check her out.”
Millie went through the house from top to bottom and made notes as she went along. An hour later, they were back outside.
“Nicole, can I have a few minutes with my friend?” Millie asked.
“Sure. Take your time,” Nicole said and walked away.
“Are you looking to buy this house for the house or for the girl next door?” Millie asked.
“Who?” Jane asked then laughed. “Believe me I have no interest in dating a farm girl. Tell me about the house.”
“It’s sturdy. Not a lot of rot, but it needs everything updated including the electrical and plumbing. You’re going to want central heat and air and it needs a new roof. The list goes on and on, Jane.” Millie showed Jane her list.
“But is it a good buy at $170,000.00?” Jane asked.
“$170,000.00 to buy and another $100,000.00 or so in repairs.” Millie rubbed her chin. “Offer them $150,000.00.”
“Really?” Jane said hugging her friend.
“If you can get it for that price, it might be worth it.”
“You’ll do the work, won’t you?” Jane asked.
“Yes Jane. I’ll do the work. You will keep my business going with this project.”
“After you get the house, give me a call and we’ll work out all the details.” Millie hugged Jane and walked back to her truck. “It was nice to meet you, Nicole.”
Nicole waved and walked back to Jane. “Did Millie think you were crazy?”
“Not quite. Do your parents have an attorney?” Jane asked.
“If you make an offer, here is their attorney’s business card. I’ll call him in the morning and let him know.”
“I appreciate you taking the
time to meet us here. I hope I can work something out with your family. Good night, Nicole.”
“Good night, Jane.”
****
Thursday afternoon Jane got a call from her attorney. “Really? They’ve accepted my offer?” Jane said feeling giddy.
“Yes, Jane,” Carol Harrison answered her client. “We should be ready to close in two to three weeks.”
“Thanks, Carol. Call me if you need anything.” Jane hung up the phone and went in search of her business partners. She met Laura in the hallway. “Hi. Meeting in my office at five.” Shelly entered the hallway. “Meeting at five in my office,” Jane said before going to see her patient.
“I wonder what that’s about,” Shelly asked.
Laura shrugged. “I guess we’ll know soon enough.”
At five o’clock, Jane waited in her office for the other two women. They walked in together and took a seat.
“So what’s up?” Shelly asked as she sat down.
“I bought a house. I won’t be able to live there for six to eight months, but I wanted to let you both know.” Jane watched the two women’s faces for their reaction.
“Oh, thank god,” Laura said as she sighed, “I thought you were leaving.”
“This is probably going to work out fine,” Shelly said. “Paul wants us to get an apartment together.”
“That’s wonderful, Shelly. I didn’t realize that your relationship had progressed that far. What about you and Sandy?” Jane asked Laura.
“No,” she said holding up her hands. “We have not progressed that far,” Laura said firmly.
“So a house?” Shelly asked. “Are you ready to take on that kind of responsibility?”
“Shelly, I’m thirty-eight years old. It’s time I live like an adult,” Jane chuckled.
“So Laura, you’ll have to decide if you want to get new roommates when we leave or keep the place for yourself,” Shelly said looking at Laura.
“I might get a smaller apartment and live alone.” Sandy smiled.
“Our lease is up February 1st. That should give us enough time to work out our living arrangements,” Jane said to the group.
“Okay, so we are all in agreement, we’re out by February 1st?” Shelly held her hand out.
