“There’s a back door off the kitchen but not much of a back porch. There’s a path into the woods and a stream back there. Oh, and there’s bear repellent under the kitchen sink…”
“Bear repellent?” she nearly shrieked.
He laughed. “And you were worried about the dogs. By the way, I rarely get a dog who doesn’t play well with others. I mean, it has happened, but… Enough said, the dogs won’t be a problem for you.”
“What’s the rent on this house?” she asked, a little afraid of the answer.
“Oh, I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve gotten five hundred before, but I’m willing to consider an offer. It’s been sitting empty for a while.”
Five hundred? she thought in shock. That wouldn’t get a one-bedroom and closet in Newport. In fact, she couldn’t rent a room in a house for that! “That sounds more than fair,” she said. Even without a fireplace it was so much bigger and nicer than the places the Realtor had shown her. Here, she could put her laptop on the dining table or sit in the living room with it on her knees. She might even get an outdoor chair with ottoman and do some work on the front porch. “You’re sure about the dogs? Because I don’t know anything about dogs except that they make me uncomfortable. I have friends who put their dogs outside or send them to bed when I visit…”
“It’s guaranteed. I could put it in the lease if you like. By the way, I didn’t hear how long you need a rental.”
“Through the rest of the year. I’m renting out my house in Southern California and they plan to stay through Christmas because they have grandchildren nearby. But we’re both flexible on when in January we return to our original places.”
“But through Christmas. That’s nice. This little town really lights up at Christmastime. For myself, I kind of hate it.”
“You do?” she asked, wondering if she might have found a kindred spirit.
“Well, yeah,” he said. He pulled off his hat and ran a big hand through his hair. “The people I’d most like to be with on a holiday are gone and seems like the ones I’d least like to be with are around. I find holidays really awkward. Except the food. I end up eating a lot of really good food because of Christmas. There isn’t much more to recommend it.”
She almost said, I hate it, too. But she used to love it. Then her mother was dying as Christmas approached and she thought she’d never again have a survivable holiday. “Well, I think I’d like to rent your house. If you’re sure about the—”
“I’ll be extra cautious,” he said. “I don’t want you to be scared.”
“Thank you, because I don’t want to be. I guess that’s it, then. When would you like me to move in? I mean, when is it available?”
“Whenever you like.” He dug around in his pocket, pulled out a key ring and wrestled a key off. “This is for the front and back door, but don’t panic if you forget to lock. We don’t have burglars around here.” Then he grinned and added, “Too much barking, for one thing.”
“Great,” she said. Then she startled and said, “Oh, I guess pets are allowed?”
He just lifted both eyebrows.
“I found a kitten hiding under my car.” She formed that little cup with her hands to indicate her tininess. “I couldn’t leave it. So I bought food, kitty litter and toys. If it doesn’t work out, I hear there’s a no-kill shelter nearby.”
“Don’t give up on him,” Landry said. “Pets bring a lot of comfort. As long as they’re fluffy and not slimy.”
“I’ll be back tomorrow morning, then,” she said.
* * *
Meredith used to say that Kaylee was stronger than she realized. “I think it’s a combination of being very clever and also lucky, but you always land on your feet.” It was true she always seemed to come through in the end. She didn’t get into a couple of writing programs she really wanted to try, but she actually wrote anyway and sold her first book at a very young age. She fell in love, had a great wedding, had her heart broken within a year, and though it was one of the most painful things she’d ever been through, she came out of it stronger, more independent, and had learned some valuable lessons about trust. And about men. Lesson number one, when you know someone is lying, trust yourself, not him!
She’d been only twenty-four when she married and divorced, yes, in the same year. She had her share of wonderful experiences and successes and no shortage of disappointments to survive. Now, at thirty-five, there was but one thing she hadn’t bounced back from. She could hear her mother’s voice telling her to be patient. “Give yourself some time to heal but don’t be self-indulgent. You don’t need forever. We’ll still be together anyway. We’ll always be together.”