For Sale By Owner

by Marlene Bateman

  “We? So you’re planning on coming with me?” Mandy eyes narrowed, but Kenzie went on, “I know what you mean. Anyway, thanks for the offer, but no thanks. I’ve dated too many sleazeballs who only wanted a one-night stand. So you can stop with the matchmaking.”

  “Listen, your moving back is more than a coincidence. There’s a reason. I think it’s because your subconscious wants to fall in love.”

  “Fine,” Kenzie retorted. “My subconscious can fall in love. In fact, it can do whatever it wants—as long as it leaves me out of it.”

  “You’re leaving your home in Chicago, coming here, and buying a house—all of that means you’re ready to settle down.” Mandy leaned her head to the side pensively. “I can set you up with a lot of guys, but first I need to know what kind of a guy you’re looking for.”

  “I am not looking.” Well, perhaps that wasn’t strictly the case. She’d kept her eyes open. But something in her rebelled at the idea of “looking.” It was too close to “hunting,” and it wasn’t as if she wanted to track and capture some prey.

  “For someone who can be so impulsive, you’re being very cautious about dating.”

  “Shouldn’t I be?” Kenzie replied primly.

  “Of course you need to be careful, but you didn’t answer my question. What do you want in a man?”

  Kenzie sighed hugely. Mandy wasn’t going to let it go. Okay. What was she looking for? “I guess I’d like someone warm, thoughtful, and funny. He needs to be confident, great with kids, and I’d really like it if he was a Mormon.” Her last preference created more problems than all of the rest put together. It was difficult finding a single LDS man.

  Mandy raised an eyebrow. “Do you realize you’ve just described Jared?”

  “Except for the Mormon part.”

  “He’s a member of the Church.”

  Her words took Kenzie back. “Really? I didn’t see him at church on Sunday.

  “Aha! See, you are interested.” Mandy was delighted. “I don’t recall seeing him either, but he’s usually there. Maybe Corey was sick. Anyway, Tom told me that when Jared was little, he had a friend who was LDS and invited him to Primary activities. Then, after he got married, some missionaries knocked at his door, and he let them in. He and his wife were both baptized.”

  Kenzie stretched her legs. “Jared seems nice except for when he’s tormenting me, but I don’t even know him.”

  “Well, I do. He’s a good man.” Mandy sounded firm. “The only thing is you’d have lots of competition. Half the single female population of Lake Forest is drooling over him, although he doesn’t seem to notice.”

  “I’ll find someone when the time is right. Contrary to your belief, I do put myself out there and date once in a while. I’m also praying that one day I’ll meet someone special. That’s all I can do. Now, let’s change the subject.”

  Kenzie looked around the front room. Every inch was familiar. “Tom told me if Jared doesn’t sell his house by the twenty-fourth, he won’t be able to get a loan and then I can buy this house.”

  “Really?” Mandy sounded surprised. “Tom mentioned some kind of time limit, but I didn’t know it was coming up so soon.” Her brow wrinkled. “Jared is really counting on getting this house.”

  “This house means a lot more to me than it does to him,” Kenzie burst out. “How many birthday parties did Jared have growing up here? Did he help his mom and dad plant the apple and peach trees in the backyard? Did he help dig out sod to make the garden bigger?” Stung, Kenzie pointed to an imperfection in the wall. “Did he put a hole in the wall while wrestling with his brother?”

  “Okay, okay, I get the picture.” Mandy held up her hands as if to ward Kenzie off. “I know it holds a lot of memories and means a lot to you. All I’m saying is that it also means a lot to Jared.”

  But her desire to buy this house came from the very deepest part of her. For the last two years, her world had been upside down and inside out. From her husband leaving, to the estrangement with her father, to desperate problems at work—everything had combined and sent Kenzie into a downward spiral. In a world where so many things were out of her control, she needed something solid to hang onto—something stable in her life. This house, where she had spent the first years of her life, was not just a house—it was a return to a time when life was simpler and kinder, a time when the world was not spinning out of control. Perhaps subconsciously she was trying to return to a time when her greatest worry had been getting a passing grade on her book report or finishing dinner in time to watch Full House.

  Emotion tightened her throat as Kenzie gazed around the room. “I’m just so tired. I want a place where I can come home, shut out the world, and catch my breath. I’ve always considered this place home. It’s comfortable; it’s familiar. I want to curl up and be at peace in a place I know—in a place that knows me.”

  Tears stood in Mandy’s eyes. “I didn’t realize this home meant that much to you. And I understand you wanting a place where you feel comfortable, especially after all you’ve been through. It’s been hard, I know.”

  Unbidden tears stung Kenzie eyes. Mandy did know. She’d been one of Kenzie’s lifelines. Three years before, when Kenzie found out her husband was having an affair, she’d called her mother and Mandy. Because Kenzie hoped she and Larry might be able to work things out, she hadn’t told them the full story, saying only that they were having serious problems. Larry was still her husband, and if their marriage was going to work, she couldn’t talk about what had happened and have her mother and Mandy looking at Larry with distrust in the future.

  That all changed after one dark night. She and Larry had gotten into a particularly brutal argument when he got home at three in the morning. All hopes of working things out seemed gone when Larry packed a bag and left. Feeling numb and shocked, like she’d walked straight into a plate-glass window, Kenzie called Mandy in tears.

  However, after a separation of a few weeks, Larry ended the affair and begged forgiveness. Over time and with counseling, their marriage got back on track. Then, a year later, Larry had another affair. This time, he didn’t ask Kenzie to take him back. Larry wanted a divorce. In that harrowing, sinister time when earth had fallen from beneath her feet, Mandy was there for her. And when Kenzie hit rock bottom, took sick leave, and felt like a soul passing out from life, her sister-in-law came to stay with her for a week. Mandy made her eat, took her to see a doctor, then a therapist, and went with her to fill her prescription for an antidepressant. For months, Mandy took her late-night phone calls, helping her through a dark time and proving herself one of Kenzie’s truest friends. One of her favorite quotes described Mandy perfectly: “A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.”

  Mandy came to sit by Kenzie on the couch. Her voice broke as she said, “I’m really sorry we didn’t know you wanted the house before Jared made an offer on it.”

  “It’s not too late—” There was naked hope in Kenzie’s voice.

  “I’m going to have to let Tom handle this. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s all right,” Kenzie whispered through the knives in her throat. After a few moments of recovery and in a stronger voice, she said, “Well, I’d better get back. My parents are going to wonder where we are.” They stood and hugged tightly. Then Kenzie called for Sara.

  “Everything will turn out all right. You’ll see,” Mandy said as they waited for Sara. “You just have to plan what you’re going to do next. You’ve always been one for meticulous planning, so do that now; plan, then take steps to get what you want.”

  Her sister-in-law was right, of course. It was time to take action. She had to do something to get this house, and even though she wasn’t sure what that would be, her resolve was strong. And heaven help anyone who stood in her way. Right now, that someone was Jared.

  Sara and Hillary came in. “Time to go, honey,” Kenzie told her daughter. Then she patted
Mandy’s arm. “You’re right. A big part of my job involves solving problems. So I need to apply what I know to my own personal life and come up with a plan and take steps to get what I want. I’ll work things out one way or another.”

  “Why does it sound so different when you say it?” Mandy’s eyes were worried. “Oh dear. I’ve unleashed a monster.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Kenzie loved her family, but it was good to have time alone to do Christmas shopping. She drove downtown, parked, and walked along Main Street, stopping at a few stores. Nothing caught her eye, though, and she went on, mostly window shopping, until bright travel posters caught her attention. There was something so compelling about the exotic locations that Kenzie stopped, gazing in admiration at the turquoise waters of Cancun, the Eiffel Tower towering above the sparkling Seine River, and the soaring Cathedral of Santa Eulalia in Barcelona. The posters looked like screensavers. How incredible it would be to go to a sun-drenched village in Italy! Perhaps someday.

  A woman with long, straight black hair and loaded down with multiple bags stopped beside Kenzie. She carried a large box tucked awkwardly under her arm. Eyeing the sandy beach, she said, “The Bahamas are fabulous!” The woman was about Kenzie’s age. A cheerful smile showed full lips colored with exquisite red lipstick.

  Kenzie studied another poster, this one of Cancun with its jewel-blue sea, pristine white beaches, and palm trees. “Standing here in my parka, I have to admit those beaches look irresistible.”

  “Oh, they are, believe me. I’ve been there, and those pictures don’t lie.” The box under the woman’s arm shifted and started to fall.

  Reacting quickly, Kenzie grabbed it before it hit the sidewalk.

  “Thanks! Would you mind bringing it inside?” She moved a few feet down to a glass-fronted door, which Kenzie pushed open.

  “You’re a lifesaver,” the woman said, going to a desk in the corner of the small but neat office. The walls were lined with more glorious posters. The woman set her bags down then glanced through an open door into a back room.

  “Hi, sweetheart. I’m back,” she called, waving gaily at a lean, dark-haired man who was working on a computer.

  The man acknowledged her with a pleasant expression, and after a friendly nod toward Kenzie, he returned to his work.

  The woman flashed a dazzling white smile. “Now, were you actually interested in Cancun or the Bahamas, or were you just window shopping?”

  “Window shopping, I’m afraid. You must be Tracy Perez.”

  A finely groomed eyebrow raised. “Yes, how did you know?”

  “My brother, Tom Dahlquist, is a realtor. He was showing me some houses—I’m moving here from Chicago—and he mentioned your name.”

  “You’re Tom’s sister?” Tracy squealed. “What a small world! Well, you’re much better looking than he is.”

  Kenzie laughed. “I’ll tell him you said so.”

  “So you’re searching for a house too? What a break to have a brother in real estate. He can give you all the good inside information.” Tracy indicated a chair. “Go ahead and sit down if you’ve got a minute.”

  Tracy was so friendly that Kenzie sat without hesitation. She eyed the office. “So you and your husband run this?”

  “That’s right.” Tracy nodded toward the back. “Carlos is the good-looking guy in the back office. We’re both travel freaks and decided to put our love of exotic places to practical use.” She studied Kenzie. “So what brings you to Lake Forest?”

  “A new job. I’m going to work at Reliance Software in Mundelein.”

  “Wonderful! Mundelein’s only a few minutes away. I hope you got a promotion.”

  “Not really. It’s more of a lateral move, but I was glad to take it.”

  Tracy appeared sympathetic. “Laid off?”

  “Actually, I quit. A guy at work was being a real jerk.”

  “Ah—too bad.”

  “But I’m excited to come back. I grew up here.”

  “So you know all about Lake Forest.”

  “It’s changed some, but basically, yeah.”

  “I’m so glad we bumped into each other. Knowing about Lake Forest and having a brother in the real estate market, you can give me lots of great advice.”

  It wasn’t as if her brother couldn’t do that. “Tom will tell you anything you want to know. He really knows his stuff.”

  “Oh, he’s been great, but I believe the old saying that two heads are better than one.” Tracy used a manicured hand to fling her shiny hair over her shoulder. “We could pool our information. My time is limited, and I don’t want to waste it seeing houses that aren’t what I want. So tell me, when you talked with Tom, did you find any homes you liked?”

  “He showed me some on his computer that looked interesting.” Kenzie opened her cavernous purse and pulled out extra copies of the printouts.

  Tracy’s eyes brightened. “Oh goodie! Let’s see what you have. And you even took notes!”

  “How many bedrooms do you want?” Kenzie asked as Tracy took the papers and began skimming them avidly.

  “Doesn’t really matter. We don’t have any children. Yet.”

  “If a baby is in the plans, you ought to get at least three. You can use one for an office and have a spare in case a baby comes along. You don’t want to move again in a year or two.”

  “You’re right about that,” Tracy said emphatically. “This house hunting business has been exhausting. It’s not something I’d want to do again anytime soon.” She peered closer and pointed a red-tipped finger at the second paper. “Have you seen this one?”

  “I haven’t looked at any yet.” That’s because Kenzie was only interested in one—Tom’s. “It does sound great though—three bedrooms, not too old. Walk-in closet and two fireplaces.”

  “Oh, I love fireplaces,” Tracy exclaimed.

  “And it has a garage—always a plus in winter!” It was then that Kenzie remembered Tracy and her husband were going to see Jared’s home. Did it have a garage? She couldn’t recall, only having seen it for a few seconds on Tom’s computer.

  “Carlos doesn’t mind a carport.”

  “I’m sure, since he’s not the one wearing a skirt and high heels when it’s freezing.”

  Tracy laughed. “I guess that’s true.”

  “I want a big yard. What about you?”

  “The smaller the better. We’re not really into yard work. What’s important is the living room, family room, and kitchen. My husband and I host a lot of small dinner parties.”

  “Then you wouldn’t want an older home,” Kenzie exclaimed with only a twinge of guilt. “They’re notorious for having small kitchens.” What was that old saying? All’s fair in love, war, and buying a house?

  Tracy’s face fell. “Carlos and I thought we could save money by buying an older home and remodeling.”

  An incredulous expression bloomed on Kenzie’s face. “Don’t believe it. Remodeling is very expensive, unless you do it yourself. Either way, you have to put up with a big mess and having your house torn up. I had a close friend in Chicago hire a contractor to remodel their older house, and she said it was a nightmare. Someone told her later, when it was too late, that a contractor always takes twice as long and costs three times as much as they tell you up front. It was true. My friend said she’d never do it again.”

  The look of undisguised horror on Tracy’s face gave Kenzie pause. It dawned on her that she sounded opposed to older homes, but she rambled on in one of those rambling blue streaks that hit her now and then. “Just be sure you know what you’re getting into if you buy an older home—have a professional check it out to make sure it’s structurally sound. Tom mentioned that one house had foundation problems, but I can’t remember which one.”

  Looking troubled, Tracy said pensively, “Maybe we ought to avoid older homes altogether. Carlos and I thought it might be fun to fix one up.”

  “It’s hard work and takes a lot of time. And unless you have a lot of
experience, things never turn out the way you want. You’d be better off hiring the work done. Or just buy a newer home—it might cost a little more, but then you don’t have to worry about outdated wiring, plumbing, or heating, which can all cost a fortune to replace.” There she was, talking too much again! But Tracy was so interested—she was soaking up every word like a sponge. “Building codes back then were a lot looser—they allowed all sorts of things that aren’t permitted now. I’d hate to wake up in the middle of the night to an electrical fire.”

  Okay, she’d gone too far. Tracy’s eyes widened in alarm. Kenzie flipped through the pages. “Are you into townhouses?”

  “We’ve seen a few.”

  “If you want someone else to pull the weeds and mow the grass, this one would be perfect. It’s only four years old, and the owners just reduced the price.”

  Tracy’s pencil scratched furiously as she wrote down the address. She flipped through the papers again, reading Kenzie’s notes and writing down any that caught her eye.

  As she looked, Kenzie threw in all kinds of helpful information. “This one’s in a good part of town, and that one has a nice grocery store a few blocks away.”

  When they finished, Tracy sat back with a satisfied air. “I’m so glad you stopped by. You’ve been so helpful. I’ll talk to Tom about these homes, unless, of course, you want to see them first.”

  Kenzie stood, and they shook hands. “Don’t worry. Actually, I’m looking for something a little different.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Sounds were coming from the family room, so Kenzie went in and saw her father kneeling by the fireplace. Her mother had gone to run errands, and Sara was playing at a friend’s house.