Renting to Own

by Linda Rettstatt

  Lily booked the flight and printed out the confirmation and receipt.

  “Lily, I need you to show a property for me tomorrow,” Rick said as he approached her desk. “Can you drive Chelsea to Lakewood on Sunday? You can take Monday off.”

  “But I can’t show a house.”

  “Yes, you can. I have the specs on the house right here. Let them know I had an emergency. All you have to do is refer to this list and let the prospective buyer take a look around. Here are some of the selling points for this place. If they show interest, but hedge on the price, tell them we’ll talk to the owner and present their offer. If they have questions you can’t answer, tell them I’ll call as soon as I return. The keys are in the box behind my office door. Oh, and here’s the contact info for the buyers.”

  “Okay. I booked your flight. This is your confirmation.” She exchanged papers with him and he returned to his office.

  Lily looked at the information he’d given her. She was to meet Mr. and Mrs. Travers at 1622 Ivy Cove at—two-thirty. Oh, no. My interview.

  “Rick, do you think I can reschedule this showing to morning? I have an afternoon appointment I can’t cancel.”

  He looked up from his desk. “I don’t think so. They’re driving out from Pittsburgh and said they wouldn’t be in the area until afternoon. Perhaps they can meet you a little later. Give them a call. Whatever you work out with the Traverses is fine with me.”

  “Thanks.” She returned to her desk and called the number. Her call went to voicemail. She left a message, explained the need to change the appointment time, and left her cell number for call back.

  Rick came out of his office and handed her a sheet of paper with phone numbers and instructions. “I’ve left messages for these people that I need to reschedule their property showings. In case they call in, here’s what you’ll need to know. I have to go home, toss some things in a suitcase and get to the Cleveland airport before seven to get checked in. You have my cell number if anything comes up.”

  “Where are you going?” Chelsea asked, appearing at the counter.

  “My dad’s sick, and I have to go and see him.”

  “Oh. I don’t have a daddy.”

  “Uh…” Rick’s gaze shifted from Chelsea to Lily.

  Before Lily could say anything, Chelsea continued. “Mommy says she needed an angel, so God sent me.” She flashed a pleased smile.

  “I guess God knew what He was doing,” Rick responded. “I hope I get to see you again when I come back.”

  “Me, too.” She turned and walked back to her blanket, sprawling on the floor over her coloring book.

  “Thanks for not making an issue of that,” Lily said.

  He grinned. “She’s an angel. What’s the issue? Call if you need me for anything—the roof caves in, the building burns down. Otherwise, I’ll see you on Tuesday.”

  “I hope your dad’s okay.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate you being so flexible with your schedule. You’ll do fine with the showing. I’m sure of it. I’ve gotta run.”

  The back door closed. On this, her second day on the job, Lily felt as though she’d worked there forever, as though she’d known Rick for a long time. It was all so easy—too easy. When’s the other shoe going to drop?

  She called Helen and explained the change in plans.

  “Lily, I can be there tonight. I’ll spend the weekend and bring Chelsea back with me on Monday.”

  “I hate to have you make the trip on such short notice.”

  “I could stand a nice drive out of the city. I’ll see you around six.”

  Before leaving for the day, Lily tried the Traverses again. Still no answer. “Chelsea, it’s time to go home.”

  No response.

  Lily walked to the center of the waiting room. Chelsea lay sprawled on the blanket, sound asleep, blonde curls spread like a halo around her. Wish I could sleep like that—anywhere. She observed the child’s peaceful expression and even breathing for a moment before waking her. “Wake up, Pumpkin. It’s time to go home, and we have a stop to make.”

  “Where?” Chelsea’s voice was thick with sleep.

  “We need to stop at Walmart.”

  “Okay.” Chelsea stood and gathered her things into the Little Mermaid backpack. She dragged the blanket with her until Lily picked it up, rolled it, and tucked it under her arm.

  Friday afternoon at Walmart—a test of anyone’s stamina and patience. Lily pulled into the first available parking space. She grabbed a shopping cart on their way into the store.

  “What are we buying?” Chelsea asked, latching her fingers onto the cart.

  “Something very special. You were so cooperative, coming to work with me. I want to get you a treat. Besides, I got a check from my last job, so we can afford something nice.”

  “What is it? What’s my surprise?”

  “You’ll see.” Lily looked around for the seasonal department. When she stopped the cart in front of the plastic wading pools, Chelsea shrieked. “A swimmin’ pool!”

  “You bet, kiddo. Which one do you want?”

  Chelsea inspected the plastic pools and chose a turquoise one with brightly colored fish and turtles on the bottom. “This one. I want this one. I’ll be just like the Little Mermaid with the fishes.”

  Lily balanced the plastic pool across the shopping cart and calculated the odds of getting it back to the checkout without clearing items from counters in the center aisle. A clerk walked by and directed her to the checkout behind her, in the lawn and garden section. She could exit to the parking lot more easily.

  She asked the cashier, “Do you have twine or something I can use to tie this onto my car?”

  “That would be in hardware.”

  “Okay. Can I leave the pool here for a minute?”

  “I need to keep the register clear. You can lean it over there against that wall.”

  Lily set the pool in place and took Chelsea’s hand, leading her back into the store to hardware. She picked up a roll of sturdy twine and returned to the lawn and garden register.

  “Where’s my swimming pool?” she asked the cashier.

  “Huh? I don’t know. I’m sure there’s another one in the store.”

  “Mommy, somebody stole my pool,” Chelsea cried.

  “We’ll get another one, honey. Come on.”

  Returning to the aisle, Lily stood before the plastic wading pools, searching for another one with fish and turtles. No such luck.

  “There isn’t one like it,” Chelsea said.

  “No, but there are other pools. Pick out a different one.”

  “I don’t want a different one. I want the one with fishes,” Chelsea wailed.

  Tired and exasperated, Lily gritted her teeth. “Just pick a different pool. We’ll paint fish on it ourselves.”

  Chelsea’s lower lip receded and a smile reached her eyes. “Can I paint my fish like a rainbow?”

  Lily hoisted the plain green pool onto the shopping cart, perspiration running down her neck. “You can paint your fish any color you want. Just not tonight.”

  “Okay. But I can swim tonight, right?”

  “Not tonight. It has to be dry for us to paint in it. Besides, Aunt Helen is coming and I’m going to grill burgers.” She realized she should have shopped for the pool as a surprise when Chelsea came back in two weeks. Too late now.

  “But…”

  “Not tonight.” Lily used her most authoritative voice, the one she hoped meant no further discussion.

  *

  Chelsea sat forlornly in the empty wading pool while Lily stood nearby and fired up the charcoal grill. A car pulled into the drive.

  Racing across the lawn, Chelsea hurled herself at the woman exiting the car. “Auntie Helen.”

  “Hi, sweetie.” Helen Shaw stooped and pulled the child into a hug.

  “I got a new swimmin’ pool.” She dragged the woman by the hand toward the pool.

  “Wow. That’s a great pool. Are you a good swimme
r?”

  “It’s not deep enough to swim in. Mommy says I have to take lessons first, at the Y.”

  Lily walked right into Helen’s open arms, sinking into the comfort of familiarity. “It’s so good to have you here.”

  “It’s good to be here, honey.”

  Her embrace warmed Lily to the core. Helen was the closest thing to a mother Lily had known since her own mother died. She clung to Helen until Chelsea tugged at the older woman’s sleeve.

  “Auntie Helen. Mommy says we’re gonna paint fish on the bottom of my pool.”

  “Well, won’t that be fun?”

  Lily released Helen. “I’m going to put burgers on the grill. You two can catch up. We’ll talk later.”

  “I’ll take my bag inside. Chels, you want to help?”

  “Yeah.”

  Dusk turned the sky a pinkish gray as they returned to the back yard. Chelsea held Helen captive at the pool while Lily prepared their dinner. Lily flipped the burgers and replaced the dome cover on the grill. She looked at Chelsea sitting contentedly in her new empty swimming pool, and at Helen sitting in the lawn chair listening to Chelsea’s chatter. Helen had changed since Lily saw her at Christmas. A little more gray in her hair, a few more pounds. At sixty-one, Helen was beginning to look grandmotherly.

  As if sensing Lily’s stare, Helen looked up and smiled. Lily returned the smile. I wonder what my mother would have been like? She’d have been fifty-four this year. Lily retreated to the kitchen to set the table.

  After they’d eaten, Helen offered to help Chelsea with her bath while Lily took care of the dishes.

  “I’ve been meaning to replace the mattress on that guest bed. Maybe after my next paycheck,” Lily said.

  “Lily, I’ve slept here before. The bed is fine. Now, let’s go sit on the porch. I want to hear about your new job and how you’re doing. Really.”

  On the back porch, Lily lit a citronella candle on the table between them. A chorus of crickets chirped around the yard. Lily filled Helen in on her job and Rick Gardner.

  “Sounds like a nice place to work.”

  “It is. Tomorrow I have to show a house. I’m so nervous. What if I screw it up? I’ve never done anything like that.”

  “You’ll do fine. You’re good with people.”

  Lily told Helen about the transcription job.

  “Don’t spread yourself too thin. You need time to relax a little. Maybe even meet someone and go out once in a while.” Helen smiled and her eyes sparkled.

  “I think paying the rent and getting health insurance take priority over dating.”

  “You need to have a life. You’re young, Lily. You know I’ll help any way I can.”

  Lily shook her head. “You’ve helped in more ways than I can ever repay in this lifetime.”

  Helen reached for her hand. “You don’t owe me anything. I consider you family—the daughter I never had.”

  A golf ball-sized lump rose in Lily’s throat and her eyes filled. “Thank you.”

  Helen stared at the night sky. “Do you ever hear from your father or your brother?”

  “Mason calls once in a while. He got his discharge from the Navy a few months ago. He’s staying in Norfolk. I think there’s a girl in the picture.”

  Helen took a sip of tea and said softly, “I ran into Tyler a few weeks ago.”

  Lily felt her heart stutter. “You didn’t tell him where I am.”

  “I would never say anything to him. He knows you stayed with me until Chelsea was born, though he doesn’t know her name. He did ask about you.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “I told him you moved away over a year ago. I didn’t volunteer any more information, and he didn’t ask.”

  “Thanks. The fear that he’ll one day decide he wants to know his daughter is like a sword hanging over my head.”

  “There’s a solution to that. You can petition to have his parental rights terminated.”

  “I don’t want to open that for discussion. I can imagine the attorney sending him papers to sign and, instead of signing them and letting go, Tyler will decide he wants to try out for father of the year. I can’t risk that.”

  Helen didn’t respond.

  Lily turned to look at her. “You think I’m wrong?”

  “It’s not for me to decide. I just hate to see you living in fear of something you could resolve, once and for all. But, maybe it’s best to leave things as they are, deal with it if it becomes an issue.”

  The discussion left Lily feeling as though she’d swallowed a blender.

  Chapter Six

  Lily emerged from the shower, wrapped a towel around her wet body, and checked her cell phone. No missed calls. She selected black slacks and a tan silk blouse and dressed. Helen was already in the kitchen pouring coffee. “Oh, bless you.” Lily accepted a cup and popped a bagel into the toaster oven. “Is Chelsea still asleep?”

  “She was when I passed her room. You look nice, professional.”

  “Thanks. I’m so nervous. I don’t know what I’ll do if this couple doesn’t call me back. I can’t go to the transcription service and show the house at the same time.”

  “Can you reschedule with the service?”

  “Jeez, I never thought of that. Maybe they can see me this morning. I have to get to the office. I left the phone number there.” Lily wrapped the bagel in a paper towel and carried it with her out the door.

  She parked behind the building and hurried through the back door. No messages awaited her on the answering machine. She found the phone number of the court reporting service and called. After rescheduling the appointment, Lily breathed in relief.

  Just as she was about to leave, a sharp tapping sounded on the door. She peered out to see Mariah. Opening the door, she smiled. “Hi. Rick isn’t here today.”

  The woman narrowed her eyes and pushed inside. “Really. And just where would Rick be?”

  “He had to go out of town on family business.” Lily was unsure of how much detail to offer.

  “I see.” She continued to cast a piercing stare at Lily. “How old are you?”

  “How old? I’m twenty-three. Why?”

  The woman’s smile was shark-like. “You do know Rick isn’t husband material?”

  “I hadn’t considered that. But I’m not looking for a husband.”

  Mariah’s smile faded and her eyes darkened. “The last girl who worked here got ideas and that got her fired. I’m just giving you some friendly advice.” She pointed a well-manicured finger inches from Lily’s face. “Stay away from Rick.” With that, she turned on her spiked heels and slammed out the door.

  Lily stood for a moment, shaking. Did Mariah think something was going on between Lily and Rick? She had only worked there for a week. And no matter how desperate she might become, she had no intention of getting involved with her boss. As she locked up the back door and returned to her car, she wondered if she should tell Rick about this encounter or let it go. She decided not to say anything. The less drama, the better.

  Two hours later, Lily sat across from Michelle at Trans-Scribe. Michelle explained the pay rates. Lily tried to not close her eyes as she calculated the anticipated income. The prospect of the money she could earn gave her an adrenaline rush. She could afford decent health insurance and make extra house payments. Owning her home was at the top of her priority list.

  Michelle continued, “We’re the only transcription service in town, and we serve both lawyers and doctors. Brush up on your medical terminology, and I can keep you busy twenty-four/seven.”

  “I’ll start with what I know, the legal cases.”

  “I’ll get you a few tapes.”

  Lily wiped her moist palms on her slacks and glanced at her watch. She’d have time to grab a quick bite to eat before showing the house—if her stomach stopped leaping around.

  “This is a shorter case, but enough to get you started. Return the transcripts by Tuesday morning. I’m here at seven in the morning. If
you want another case, I’ll have one for you. You decide how much you want to do.” Michelle reached into a drawer and pulled out a stack of half-sheet papers. “These are invoices. You fill it out with the case number, the tape length, and calculate your fee. You keep the bottom copy and return the top two copies with the tapes. We’ll see how you like the work and how we like your work.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Yes. We pay once a week. I cut the checks on Friday morning, and they can be picked up between four and six p.m. or on Saturday between eight and two.”

  Lily’s hands trembled as she clutched the tapes and invoices. “Thanks. I appreciate the opportunity.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m betting you’ll be quite an asset to us.”

  *

  After choking down a chicken sandwich and a raspberry iced tea, Lily pulled out her cell phone and called her house.

  Chelsea answered. “Hello-o.”

  “Hi, baby. How are you and Auntie Helen doing?”

  “We’re fine. Mommy, don’t forget to stop and get paint for my swimmin’ pool.”

  “I’ll remember. Can I speak with Auntie Helen?”

  “Okay. Auntie Hel-en,” Chelsea yelled into the phone.

  Lily held the cell away from her ear and grimaced.

  “Lily, is everything okay?”

  “I’m on my way to show the house, but I just had to call and tell you. I think the transcription job is going to work out, and the pay should be great. I may have to consider doing that job full time. Except I like working with people. I’m stopping to get paint for the pool on my way home. I should be there by five.”

  “That’s wonderful news. We’ll go out and celebrate tonight. My treat—and no argument. We can consider it an early birthday celebration, too, since you’ll be alone for your birthday.”

  “Okay. Thanks. Bye.”

  *

  Lily parked in the spacious driveway at 1622 Ivy Cove and pulled the key from her bag. She exited the car and straightened her clothing, donning the black jacket she’d brought along to lend her outfit a more professional look. She jiggled the key in the temperamental lock until it clicked and the door swung open. Stifling, stale air met her as she stepped inside. Lily opened a few windows to allow fresh air to circulate.