Renting to Own

by Linda Rettstatt

  “Who?”

  “Rick. I swear the man is psychic.” She hurried down the stairs, opened the door and stepped outside before he could enter. “Hi. What’s the occasion?”

  “Whoa, you look nice. Going out?”

  “Yes. What can I do for you?”

  “For me? Oh. Sanders called. Seems we’re having difficulty finding a buyer for this house, since both Beau and I backed out. So he wanted me to let you know I’ll be handling the rent for now. He’s moving to Florida in a few days.”

  “Okay. Is there some reason you couldn’t have called or simply told me this on Monday at the office?”

  He grinned. “I thought you’d be happy and want to know right away.”

  Lily felt a tug, but held the doorknob tightly. The door jerked and the knob slipped from her fingers.

  “Rick!” Chelsea squeezed past her mother.

  “Hey, Shortstop. I haven’t seen you for a while. You’re getting big.”

  “Mommy says I grew an inch since she bought my school clothes.” Chelsea looked up at Lily, grinned broadly, and shifted her gaze back to Rick. “Wanna come to dinner to say goodbye to Auntie Helen?”

  “I think maybe your mommy wants just the three of you to go to dinner tonight. But thanks for the invitation.”

  “She doesn’t care, do you, Mommy?”

  The excitement in her daughter’s eyes outweighed Lily’s own irritation. She looked from Chelsea to Rick. “Would you like to join us for dinner?”

  “Are you sure I won’t be in the way?”

  “Not at all. Come inside.” Lily ushered Chelsea through the door and Rick followed them.

  Helen smiled as she reached the bottom of the stairs. “Hello, Rick. Joining us for dinner?”

  “If you don’t mind. I’ve been invited.”

  “I don’t mind. The more, the merrier.”

  “Thank you. Why don’t I drive? Just tell me where to go.” He looked at Lily.

  She bit her tongue and suppressed a smile. “We have reservations at Martines.”

  “Fancy. Mind if we stop by my place so I can grab a jacket and tie?”

  “That’s fine. We have plenty of time.”

  Rick drove across town and parked in front of an older, well-maintained home. For some reason, Lily had imagined him living in an ultra-modern bachelor condo. “I’ll just be a minute, but you’re all welcome to come inside.”

  Before Lily could respond, Chelsea was out of the car. “I wanna see Rick’s house.”

  Helen opened the other door. “I’d like to see it, too. I love these older homes. You coming, Lily?”

  Lily sighed and climbed out of the car. The Victorian house, with its wrap-around porch, seemed to smile at her.

  “I grew up in this house. My mother’s family owned it. After my grandmother died, Grandpa moved into a nursing home and gave the house to me.” Rick held the door open for Chelsea and Helen. Lily walked around the porch. Rick let the door close and remained outside. “I love these porches, don’t you? Great place for families to gather in the evening.”

  A lump rose in Lily’s throat. A distant memory shot to the surface. She’d sat across from her father on a porch much like this one, while visiting her great aunt in Pittsburgh. They played checkers, the board resting on a table made from an old tree stump. He’d let her win every game. She knew that, even at six years of age. And she’d loved him for that very reason, and for the delight in his eyes when she’d yell, “I won!”

  “Lily? Are you coming inside?”

  “What? Oh, yes.” She walked toward him.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Old memories of a porch similar to this one. I’m fine.”

  Rick headed to the winding staircase. “I’ll be right back. Make yourselves at home. Look around.”

  Chelsea and Helen were already exploring the living room. Lily wandered through the dining room and into the kitchen. The appliances appeared to be new. Pots and pans hung from a rack suspended above a butcher-block counter. A window over the double-bowl aluminum sink revealed a manicured, fenced in back yard. It was a kitchen most women would kill for.

  “Next year, I may plant a garden out there. I was impressed by yours.”

  She turned at the sound of Rick’s voice. He’d changed his shirt and added a matching tie and jacket. Lily linked her fingers together behind her back. Why can’t he manage that one renegade lock of hair?

  Dinner was easy. Chelsea did most of the talking. Rick insisted on sharing the cost of the meal. Lily didn’t argue. At least he knew better than to insist on paying the entire check.

  Rick eased the car to a stop in Lily’s driveway and nodded toward the backseat. “I think we lost one.”

  Lily looked back to see Chelsea slumped in the seat, her eyes closed. “I thought it was awfully quiet.”

  Helen smiled. “Two minutes after we got into the car.”

  Before Lily was out of the car, Rick came around and opened the back door. “I’ll carry her inside.” He released the booster seat belt and lifted the child. Her head rested on his shoulder, her golden curls brushing his chin. Lily noticed the protective way he held her, as if she were fragile.

  “I’ll get the door.” Lily walked ahead of him, pulling her keys from her purse.

  “Why don’t you point me toward her room?”

  “Okay.” Lily ascended the stairs ahead of him and flipped on the lamp beside Chelsea’s bed.

  Rick supported the child’s head and eased her onto the Little Mermaid comforter with matching pillow shams. Chelsea opened her eyes and blinked in the light. She grinned up at Rick. “Will you read me a story?”

  He sat on the edge of the bed. “I don’t think you need a story, kiddo. You’re ready for sleep.” He stood, then bent and kissed her forehead.

  The tenderness of his action caused Lily’s heart to thump in her chest. He’d clearly announced his intention to remain single. He expressed no desire to have children. And yet, he was a natural when it came to Chelsea.

  Lily shook her head to clear the next thought that threatened. “Thanks. I’ll just get her undressed and under the covers. I’ll be downstairs in a minute.”

  “Goodnight, Shortstop.”

  “G’night, Rick,” Chelsea said as she fought sleep.

  After tucking in her daughter, Lily descended the stairs. The murmurings of Helen and Rick took the form of words.

  “I’ve encouraged her to take the classes to become a real estate agent. She’s great with people, a real saleswoman,” Rick said.

  “She can accomplish just about anything she sets her mind to. Lily’s…”

  “Okay, change the subject. I’m here,” Lily called on her approach.

  “Did Chelsea fall back to sleep?” he asked.

  “Before I could get her pajamas on her. Consequently, she’s sleeping in her underwear. She’s getting too big for me to lift and dress at the same time.”

  Helen yawned and stretched. “If you two will excuse me, I think I’ll turn in. Rick, thanks for joining us. I’m glad I got to see you before I leave.” She squeezed Lily’s shoulder on the way past. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Goodnight.”

  Helen headed for the stairs, leaving Lily and Rick alone on the sofa.

  Silence hung like a cloud between them.

  “So…thanks for helping with Chelsea. She’s an armload now.”

  “My pleasure.” He laughed. “She certainly can keep the conversation going. I don’t know how she managed to eat her dinner.”

  His laugh rippled through her like a stone dropped in still water. “Practice. She’s like that here, too. I think she may have a future as a ventriloquist.”

  “She’s a great kid, as far as kids go. Reminds me a little of my niece.”

  Lily grinned. “You’re such a fraud. She has you so tied up.”

  “She’s going to break hearts one day.”

  “I’m not ready for that. I hope she takes her good, sweet time.”r />
  “Are you kidding? Kindergarten boys are going to be falling over one another a week from now.” He glanced at his watch. “I guess I should be going. It’s getting late.”

  “Yes.”

  “Thanks for including me in dinner. I know that wasn’t what you had planned.”

  “It was fine.” She walked him to the door, flipped on the porch light, and followed him outside. “I’m glad you let me know about the house. Takes some of the pressure off.”

  He shrugged. “Must not be what folks are looking for right now.”

  “Hmm. I’ll see you Monday. I’ll be a little late, though. I’m taking Chelsea to school, and I want to stick around for a few minutes, see that she’s okay.”

  “Take your time.” He looked down at her under the dim light with eyes darkened with desire. Wavering, he stepped back. “Well, see you Monday.”

  Lily folded her arms across her chest and stood there under the light until he waved and slid into the car. Careful, Lily.

  Back inside, she reached to turn off the lamp when she noticed the answering machine flashing. She pressed the play button.

  “Hi, Lily. It’s Da…it’s your father. I made your brother give me your phone number. I’m sorry I missed you. There’s something I need to discuss with you. It’s important. Would you please call me? You have the number, but here’s my cell number, too. Call any time. I don’t care how late or early. Please.” He rattled off a phone number and hung up.

  The mechanical voice announced, “End of messages.”

  She glanced at her watch, then switched off the lamp and headed for the stairs. It was too late to call. Too late, in so many ways.

  *

  The morning sun kissed her eyelids. Lily slipped out of bed and was sipping her second cup of coffee on the back porch when Helen joined her. “I was going to surprise you with breakfast, but you beat me to it. Have you been up long?”

  “About an hour.”

  “Couldn’t sleep?”

  “Not very well.”

  “Lily, you’re going to be fine, both you and Chelsea. You’ve overcome most of the major obstacles of life already, and you’re only twenty-four.”

  “It’s not that. Well, it is, but there was a message on the phone last night. From my dad.”

  “Oh. Want to talk about it?”

  “He left his cell phone number and asked that I call him. He said it’s important, and he needs to speak with me.”

  “Are you going to call?”

  Lily shrugged. “I haven’t decided. I mean, where was he when I had important things to talk about? Like going out with Tyler? Or buying a dress for the prom? Or needing my father to assure me I’d be all right, and to help me take care of Chelsea?”

  “You’re right about those things. But it’s all water over the dam. You can’t change any of it.”

  “Why should I care what he needs to talk about that’s so important?”

  “Aren’t you just a little curious?”

  “I am. But I figure I’ll call Mason and see if he’ll tell me what’s up.”

  “Anger and resentment are strange things, Lily. We hold onto them to punish the person who’s hurt us, and we end up punishing ourselves.”

  “I should never have called him. What’s that saying about sleeping dogs? I should have left it alone. And now I’m rattling Tyler’s cage.”

  “All things happen for a reason. I believe that. You’ll know in time what those reasons are.”

  The door squeaked open, and Chelsea stumbled out, barefoot, wearing a purple cotton nightgown and her tiara, clutching her stuffed monkey.

  Helen smiled. “Good morning, princess.”

  The child rubbed her eyes and frowned. “Where’s Rick?”

  “Rick went back to his house last night. You want some juice?” Lily asked, already heading for the kitchen.

  “Yes, please. And Grilla wants some, too.”

  Lily returned with two small glasses of juice and set them on the café table. “You should ask Auntie Helen about taking Grilla to school with you. She’s a teacher, you know. She can give you the best advice.” Lily had already tried to convince Chelsea to leave the monkey at home when she started school, but it had been a futile conversation.

  Helen winked at Lily, then turned to Chelsea. “Are you thinking of taking Grilla to school?”

  Chelsea nodded, clutching the monkey even tighter.

  “Hmm. Well, it’s been my experience that monkeys don’t do well in school. You know why?”

  The child shook her head.

  “I’ll bet Grilla will be the only monkey there, and he’ll be lonely. Here he has all your other animals to play with and talk to while you’ll be in school. But if he’s the only monkey in the class, he’s going to be sad.”

  “But maybe one of the other kids will have a monkey, too. And he’ll have a friend.”

  “That’s a very good point. You know what I would do, if I were you?”

  “What?”

  “I’d check it out first, before I took him with me. I’d wait and see if someone else brings a monkey to school. Then you’ll know for sure if there’s someone for Grilla to play with. If not, you can leave him here with your other animals.”

  Chelsea frowned. “But what if I miss Grilla?”

  “I’ll bet you’ll be too busy making new friends at school to miss him. And you can tell him all about your day when you come home.”

  Lily leaned over and put a hand on the child’s back. “Tell you what. How about if Grilla goes to work with me? When you come back to the office in the afternoon, you can have juice and tell him about your day at school?”

  Chelsea’s face brightened. “And he could visit with Rick, too?”

  “You bet. Rick will be very happy to have Grilla to talk to, I’m sure.”

  “Okay. But if somebody else brings a monkey to school, I might want to take Grilla with me sometimes.”

  “I think sometimes will be fine.” Lily looked over the child’s head and mouthed, “thank you” to Helen.

  Lily cleared away the breakfast dishes while Helen retrieved her bags from the front hall.

  “Time for me to get on the road. Come here, Chels, and give me a big hug.”

  The child threw herself into Helen’s arms and clung to her. “I wish you could live with us forever, Auntie Helen.”

  “I do too, sweetie. But I have to go back to my house and go to work. I’ll see you soon for your birthday. And you’re coming to visit for Thanksgiving. That’ll be fun.” She kissed her cheek. “I’ll call you on Monday after school, and you can tell me all about your first day. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  When Helen faced her, Lily felt the same impulse to throw herself into the woman’s embrace. “I can’t thank you enough for these past weeks. What would I ever do without you?”

  “Oh, you’d survive. You’re stronger than you realize.”

  “I love you.”

  “Love you, too, honey.” Helen rubbed a comforting hand over her back. “Now you call me if you need anything. And I do mean anything. Promise?”

  Lily nodded. “If you hear any news about you know who, would you call me right away?”

  “I will.”

  Lily stood with her hand on Chelsea’s shoulder and watched until Helen’s car was out of view.

  Chelsea looked up at her mother, squinting in the bright sunlight. “Why are you crying?”

  “I’m sad that Auntie Helen is leaving.”

  “But we’ll see her again.”

  “We will. Hey, what do say you and I go to the park, then get ice cream?”

  “Okay.”

  “You go upstairs and put on a pair of shorts and a tee shirt.”

  “Can I wear my tiara?”

  Lily smiled. “Absolutely. A princess never goes out without her tiara.”

  Chelsea raced up the stairs. Lily sat for a moment in the shade. She closed her eyes and summoned a memory, any memory, of herself and her mother. It
was getting harder to recall those times. Her mother’s face had long since faded to a shadow. The sound of her voice had become a whisper.

  She wiped her fingers across her eyes and went into the house. Her heart lay like a brick in her chest. As she picked up the car keys, her eyes rested on the red glowing ‘1’ on the answering machine. She hadn’t erased her father’s message, but she didn’t think she could return the call.

  “Come on, Chels. Let’s get out of here.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lily tightened her grip on Chelsea’s hand, feeling as if it were her own first day of school. She located the door marked K-1 and faced the entry, unable to move.

  “Mommy? Is this my room?”

  The lump bobbed in Lily’s throat. Her legs went numb.

  “Mommy?”

  A woman stood at the blackboard. She turned and smiled, then set the chalk in the tray and walked toward Lily. “Good morning. I’m Mrs. Higgins.”

  Lily forced a smile but couldn’t speak.

  “I’m Chelsea Champion and this is my Mommy. I’m in kindagarten.” Chelsea’s voice shook Lily from her coma.

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” Lily released her grip on Chelsea’s fingers and extended her hand to the teacher. “Lily Champion.”

  The woman appeared to be in her late-fifties. Short brown hair, lightly salted with flecks of grey capped her head. Kind hazel eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled. “Well, Chelsea, welcome to kindergarten. Why don’t you come inside and look around, meet a few of your classmates?”

  Chelsea grinned up at her. “Okay.” She looked at Lily. “I have to go now, Mommy. I’ll see you later. Don’t forget to take care of Grilla.”

  Mrs. Higgins smiled at Lily. “The first day is usually harder on the parents than on the kids. She’ll be fine, and so will you.”

  “Should I stick around for a bit, maybe wait down the hall? Just in case?”

  Mrs. Higgins looked back into the classroom, urging Lily to peek inside. Chelsea stood across the room, her back to the door, chatting with Amy and two other little girls, all four giggling. “She seems to be fine. The principal has your emergency numbers, if anything comes up.”

  Lily swallowed hard, her mind already imagining what could “come up.” “Okay, I…uh…I guess I’ll go to work now. Should I say goodbye once more?”