Renting to Own

by Linda Rettstatt

  He dropped into one of the cushioned folding chairs in the waiting area. “What’d you do, blow the deal on the lake front property?”

  “Huh? No. It’s…well…A woman came in while you were with the Wylands. She introduced herself as Mariah and said she’d meet you at Malone’s at noon.”

  “Damn.”

  Chelsea frowned at him. “You sweared.”

  “Swore. It’s okay.” Lily turned her focus back to Rick. “I’m so sorry. She left two messages on the machine, and I think she’s really angry. I’ll explain to her that it was my fault. I forgot about the message.”

  “I should’ve remembered. She’s always reminding me of our plans. I’ll straighten it out. Any other calls?”

  “None.”

  “Good. Give me a few minutes, then we can meet and talk about the business, what I do and what I need you to do.” He glanced at Chelsea. “Did you have fun today?”

  “I’m bored.”

  He laughed. “At least you’re honest. Do you think you can handle a business meeting if we have it over ice cream?”

  Chelsea’s face broke into her hundred-watt smile. “Yeah.”

  “Give me ten minutes.” He looked at Lily as he walked to his office. “You don’t mind, do you? I never thought it might spoil her dinner.”

  “It’s fine. Besides, if I say ‘no’ now, I’m the bad guy.”

  “Good point.” He grinned, one dimple deepening in his right cheek. “My sister tried to teach me that with her kids, but I guess I like being the ‘fun uncle’.”

  Her heart thumped against her ribs. Get a grip, Lily. You’ve got to work with this guy every day. Don’t let yourself fall for a sexy smile and great eyes. And stop thinking that way.

  Lily cleared the desk, shoving the unsorted stack of papers into the bottom drawer. She turned off the computer.

  Rick emerged from his office. “All set? You can leave your things here and get them on the way to your car. Ready to go, Chels?”

  His use of the abbreviation of her daughter’s name hit Lily like a lightning bolt. It bore the loving familiarity of a father.

  “Ready. Hey, Rick, what’s your favorite flavor?”

  “Hmmm, that’s a hard question. I like pistachio and chocolate chip. But I think my favorite is Swiss chocolate almond. How about you?”

  “I like the vanilla one with fudge swirls.”

  He turned to lock the door behind them. “I may have to try that.”

  Lily took Chelsea’s hand, and Rick moved to the other side of the child. Chelsea reached up and took hold of his hand. He didn’t seem to mind. The three of them walked hand in hand down the block for ice cream, just like any family. The scene brought a lump to Lily’s throat. It had been hard raising a child alone. She was often concerned about the effect it had on Chelsea, not having a father or a grandfather in her life. Rick is my boss. He cannot be Chelsea’s father figure. Get that out of your head. Though it is time I dove back into the dating pool and found a suitable candidate.

  Chelsea kept busy with a huge banana split made with fudge swirl ice cream that was sure to destroy any plans of dinner. But it allowed Rick to explain the realty business to Lily and outline her job duties—something that probably should have occurred that morning.

  She set down her spoon. “I know I got off to a rough start today with phone messages, but I really am competent and a fast learner.”

  “I believe you. It takes time. I should have oriented you before throwing you to the wolves. You’ll learn the job as you go. Basically, you take phone messages, handle walkins, keep track of inventory. Callers might have a question about a particular property and if you click on the address in the listing, you get a property profile that should help. Any other questions can be referred to me. I’m always available on my cell. Well, except for when I forget to turn it on. Like today.”

  She smiled. “I’m sure I can do this job. I just had first day jitters.”

  “No problem. You should know I’m a don’t-sweat-the-small-stuff kind of guy. By the way, did you find out about health insurance?”

  “Yes, I have two quotes at the office for you to review.”

  “Good.” He leaned back in his chair. “So, tell me about yourself.”

  Lily gulped a mouthful of ice cream, giving herself a brain freeze headache. She squinted one eye. “Myself?”

  “Yes. Where’d you grow up? What about family?” He knit his eyebrows together. “Why are you winking at me?”

  “Brain freeze.” She fluttered her eyelid a few times and pressed her fingertips above her right eyebrow. “I grew up in Lakewood, near Cleveland. My mom died when I was seven. That left my dad to raise me and my older brother.”

  Rick shook his head. “That must’ve been tough, being so young and without a mother, and the only girl in the house.”

  “My Aunt Natalie, my mother’s younger sister, helped us out. But she got married when I was ten. She and her husband moved to California, then to England. My dad didn’t cope with things very well, so I kind of raised myself.”

  She watched his eyes move from hers to glance at Chelsea, and back again. The question hung between them.

  “First and only boyfriend. He got college, and I got…I’m not complaining.” She ran her fingers lovingly through Chelsea’s curls. “She’s a blessing.”

  Chelsea looked up, ice cream covering most of her face. “Me?”

  “Yes, you,” Lily said, taking a napkin and wiping the child’s face. She looked back at Rick. “We’ve managed fine. It’s been hard at times. My high school English teacher took me in. She probably saved my life and Chelsea’s.”

  “I’m gonna visit Auntie Helen for two weeks and then she’s comin’ to stay with us for the summer,” Chelsea announced.

  “Well, I’ll have to meet Auntie Helen some time.” He glanced at his watch. “I’d better get you back to the office. Don’t want to keep you late. You all finished, kiddo?”

  Chelsea nodded, wiping her mouth and dropping the napkin into the empty plastic boat-shaped bowl. “Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome.”

  He cleared the table of trash and held the door while they exited. He reached for one of Chelsea’s hands as if he’d done that very thing every day of her life.

  Lily’s chest tightened, and she cleared her throat. “You’re good with kids. You have any?”

  “Me? No. Oh, no. I’m not the family type. I have nieces and nephews, though.”

  “Did you always live here in Leesport?”

  “Yep. Born and raised. A small-town boy. My grandfather started Gardner Realty before my father was born. He passed it on to my dad and, now that Dad’s retired and he and Mom are living the good life in Florida, it’s all mine.”

  “Did you ever want to do something else?”

  “Nope. Well, I played football in high school, but I wasn’t that good, just big. I guess because I grew up around the real estate business, I love it. I’m a natural born salesman, so I’ve been told.”

  Lily made note of his self-proclamation. What might he try to sell her on?

  As they approached the office, Lily looked up to see Mariah, pacing on the sidewalk. “Uh-oh.”

  “Oh, shi…sugar.” He corrected himself. “I’ll take care of this. Don’t worry. You and Chelsea go on home. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Chelsea frowned and stared up at Rick. “Is that lady a stripper?”

  Rick choked. “A what?”

  Lily grabbed Chelsea’s hand. “Nothing. She watches too much TV. Come on, Chels.”

  They reached the office and Rick removed his keys from his pocket, all the while smiling at Mariah. “Hey, sorry I missed lunch.” He opened the door for Lily and Chelsea to go inside and then turned back to Mariah.

  Even with the door closed, Lily heard the woman’s screeching voice. Hurricane Mariah makes landfall.

  “That lady’s loud,” Chelsea observed.

  “It’s not polite to listen. Come on. W
e’ll go out the back door to the car.” She ushered Chelsea ahead of her, glancing back over her shoulder. Mariah paced in front of Rick, her arms flailing, her jaws flapping. Rick stood there, calmly nodding, his hands in his pockets. Lily wondered what a nice guy like Rick was doing with the likes of that woman.

  Mariah pointed to Lily, locking eyes with her. Rick stepped in front of Mariah, blocking the line of vision. Obviously, Mariah was blaming Lily for Rick’s failure to show up for lunch. Lily turned and hustled Chelsea out the back door.

  *

  After changing clothes, Lily went outside to water the garden. Mrs. Glenn waved from her back porch and, when she’d finished her task, Lily walked over to her.

  “How was your first day on the new job?” the elderly woman asked.

  “It’s always a little unnerving to start something new, but I think it’ll work out.”

  “Where are you working?”

  “Gardner Realty.”

  “Oh, yes. I knew Paul Gardner. His son owns the business now, I think. He handled the sale of a few homes on this block. Is he nice to work for?”

  “Very nice. He let me take Chelsea in with me today. She’s going to stay with her Aunt Helen for a few weeks. Then Helen is coming to spend the rest of the summer with us, so she’ll watch her during the day.”

  “How wonderful. Is this your sister or her father’s sister?”

  “Neither. She’s not really Chelsea’s aunt. She’s a family friend. Thanks, again, for helping me out yesterday.”

  “Any time, dear.”

  Lily walked back to her house, taking a moment to breathe. Questions about Chelsea’s father still unsettled her. Chelsea seemed to have accepted the explanation Lily had given her when she had come home from daycare one day and said something about Amy’s daddy. She had asked, “Where’s my daddy?”

  Lily had pulled her into her lap and held her close. “God knew how much I needed an angel, so He gave you just to me,” she’d whispered in the child’s ear. The subject had not come up again. Eventually, she’d have to tell Chelsea the truth.

  She returned to the house and found Chelsea snuggled with Pepper on the sofa, watching cartoons. For now her daughter was happy and healthy. The new job came out of nowhere and would provide financial security. Maybe by the time she turned twenty-four, Lily could even start to think about dating again. Life was good. The foundation settling beneath her feet seemed tangible.

  Chapter Five

  Arriving at work early, Lily went into Rick’s office and grabbed the morning paper from his desk. “There must be something I can do a few evenings a week to pay for health insurance.” She ran her finger down the help wanted list: Administrative Assistant, Bookkeeper, Nanny, Transcriptionist. Her fingertip rested on the last job title—work at home transcribing court hearings and testimony. Must have own computer with current software programs and internet access. Excellent spelling, grammar, punctuation skills. Familiarity with legal terminology a plus.

  “Perfect.” Lily picked up the phone and punched in the number. “Hello. Yes, I’m calling about the job opening for a transcriptionist. I have experience in a legal office.”

  “Can you fax me your resume? Once I review it, I’ll call you if we’re interested in interviewing you. The fax number is 216-555-4356.”

  “I’ll send it right now.” She hung up, realizing she didn’t have a copy of her resume.

  Rick has a copy. I’ll check the personnel file. She went back into Rick’s office and looked for a file marked personnel. Nothing. She hesitated before looking in his desk. Her letterhead caught her eye as soon as she opened his center desk drawer. She removed it and closed the drawer.

  She read the yellow sticky note Rick had attached to her resume: young, four-year-old daughter, single, desperate, inexperienced, eager. Desperate? Did I come off as desperate?

  The phone rang fifteen minutes after she’d sent the fax. “Ms. Champion, this is Michelle at Trans-Scribe. Can you come by our office around two o’clock tomorrow and pick up some court hearing tapes?”

  “You mean I’m hired?”

  “Based upon your resume and work experience, yes. We’d like you to transcribe a few hearings. If that goes well, you’re hired. Of course, we’ll pay you for the work.”

  Lily thought about the drive to Lakewood. They’d get a late start. But she needed the extra income. “Thank you. I’ll be there.”

  “Where, Mommy?”

  Lily turned to face Chelsea. “Mommy has an appointment after work tomorrow. You’ll have to come with me, then we’ll drive to Auntie Helen’s. Now, I need you to watch one of your videos while I work.”

  Chelsea settled in the corner on the blanket she’d insisted on bringing along, her arms wrapped around Grilla. Lily started the DVD, returned to her desk and printed out the information for the health insurance plan she’d found. The no waiting period clause sealed the deal for her. She’d received a curt note from the law firm informing her that their plan would remove her from the rolls as of July first unless she paid a king’s ransom every month. They’d enclosed her last paycheck for a measly eighty-six dollars and forty-seven cents.

  Lily finished the last of the filing and found a cloth to dust off the top of Rick’s desk.

  “Do you do windows?”

  She startled and looked up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you come in.”

  Rick tossed his jacket on the sofa and walked toward the desk. “You don’t have to clean my office, you know.”

  “I know, but I wanted to erase the outlines of the stacks that used to be here so you wouldn’t feel a need to fill them in again.”

  “You filed it all? I’m impressed. Any calls?”

  “Just those two messages.” She smiled and pointed proudly to the two pink slips centered on the desk.

  “Very professional. Names, phone numbers—everything.” His crooked grin exposed his one dimple.

  “Only took me a day to figure it out.”

  “Friday’s tend to be slower. Everyone’s ready for the weekend. How about you? Plans?”

  “I’m driving Chelsea up to Lakewood to stay with her aunt for a few weeks.”

  “So, you’ll be all on your own for a while?”

  “And not looking forward to it. Chelsea and I have never been apart, not even for an overnight.”

  “She’s not thrilled to go, I gather?”

  “Oh, she’s excited about going. It’s me.” Lily bit her lip to still a quiver.

  “Scared of the dark?” He grinned.

  “The quiet. You’d be surprised how much more quiet there is when Chelsea’s not around.”

  “I think I get the picture. Do you want to have dinner one evening?”

  “Oh. Um…Is that a good idea?”

  “Dinner? Well, it’s a generally known fact that a meal later in the day is a good idea.”

  “I mean with us. You’re my boss. Should we go out together?”

  “If it makes you feel better, we’ll discuss business and call it work. It’s not a date. Just dinner. Think about it. You’ll be alone, I’m almost always eating alone, and it gets old.”

  She nodded. “How about you? Big weekend plans with Mariah?” Lily bit her tongue, but too late. Nice. That was inappropriate.

  Rick didn’t seem to mind. “Nope. We’re off again.”

  “Was it my fault for not giving you her message?”

  He laughed. “Fault? No. I should thank you. I was trying to find a way to end it without hurting her feelings. She gave me an ultimatum, and that gave me an out. I’ve known Mariah since high school, and we’ve been on and off for a long time between marriages. Hers, not mine. I think I’m getting too old for Mariah.”

  “I thought you were the same age?”

  “Yeah, well. I’m afraid I’m growing up. Mariah, on the other hand….”

  “Too much for you, huh?”

  Her casual comment drew a startled expression from him.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have s
aid that.”

  He laughed. “Are you kidding? I love that you don’t hesitate to say what you’re thinking. It says you’re self-confident, and you’re comfortable with me. I like that. I feel like I know you.”

  “Self-confident? I’m working on that one.”

  He gazed at her. “But you admit you’re comfortable with me.”

  “I like my job here.” And she felt like she knew him, too. Like coming to work for Rick was the natural next step for her. “And you’re…you’re a good boss.”

  He raised a brow. “Add diplomatic to your resume.”

  “Why don’t you simply tell Mariah you want to break up? That you don’t want to date her anymore?”

  He furrowed his eyebrows. “Does that really work with women? I thought you all preferred to be let down gently or liked to think it was your idea to break things off.”

  Lily shrugged. “Personally, I prefer the truth.” The phone rang and Lily excused herself to return to her desk. “Gardner Realty. May I help you?”

  “This is Liz Gardner. Is Rick available, please?” The woman sounded harried.

  “Please hold. I’ll check.” Lily walked to the doorway and tapped. “There’s a Liz Gardner on line one for you.”

  “Thanks.” He picked up the phone and Lily heard his cheerful, “Mom. Hi.”

  A few moments later Rick came to her desk, his face drained of color. “My dad’s in the hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. I have to get a flight out as soon as possible. Can you see what’s available?”

  “Sure.” She turned to the computer. “Is it serious?”

  “They don’t know yet. Looks like a heart attack, but he has other problems, so they’re doing tests. I have to make a few calls to rearrange some showings. Let me know what you find.”

  “When do you want to return?”

  “Make it Monday evening. I can change the return, if I need to.”

  Lily printed out a list of possible flights and took them in to him. “Looks like the earliest flight you could make is at seven-thirty out of Cleveland. It gets you there at eleven-ten with one stop.”

  “Great. Would you book it, please? Here’s my credit card.” He pulled a Visa card from his wallet and handed it to her.