Page 79 of Pity Play

My mom positively beams with joy. “I’m glad to have my boys back together.”

“I’ve been a real idiot, Luke,” my dad says. “I promise to never pressure you about where you work again.”

A feeling of warmth circulates through me. I love having my dad back. I just wish we hadn’t lost so much time. “I’m still coming back to Elk Lake and we’re going to have some throw downs. I’m thinking our first one should be meatloaf, but our second should be catfish.”

“My money’s on your dad for the catfish,” my mom says loyally.

“How can you say that?” I want to know. “You’ve had my catfish at Capon.”

She rolls her eyes. “I’ll refrain from voting until I try them together,” she says. “Now scoot. I want to enjoy my dinner, and I can’t do that if you keep yapping.”

As I walk back into the kitchen, an image of Lorelai pops into my head. I finally see why she likes living in Elk Lake so much. I’ve spent so much time away from home in the last several years, I forget how it feels to be so easily accepted. There’s no need to prove yourself here. There’s no pressure to be more.

Getting back on the line, I throw several burgers and chicken breasts on the grill while contemplating my future. Not too long ago, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted, and nothing was going to get in my way of having it. But now that my dad and I have mended fences, I finally see that there’s more to life than leaving. Coming home has been pretty sweet, too, and I look forward to spending a lot more time here.

Which of course, brings me back to the topic of Lorelai …

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

LORELAI

I’ve done a fabulous job revamping my family home. So much so, that I’m not sure my mom and dad will even recognize it when they see it in a few days.

When the doorbell rings, I hurry to open it. “Wait until you see!” I tell Anna, who’s stopped by to check out the progress.

Pushing past me, she responds, “I can’t wait.” As soon as she walks into the entryway, she adds, “You took out that wall!” She’s clearly as excited about the change as I am.

“I figured it was the easiest way to modernize the space.”

Clapping her hands together, she declares, “I absolutely love it!” Then she walks into the living room. “The gas fireplace is a great addition, too. People love an easy fire, and they hate cleaning up ashes.”

“Preach,” I tease. “I just can’t bring myself to go to all the effort to build a fire for just me, so I usually go without. But ever since I put in the gas, I light a fire all the time.”

Anna shuffles through a stack of papers before handing them to me. “Here are the comps.” Pointing to the top of the first page, she adds, “And here’s where I think you should list.”

My eyes pop open at the number. “Seriously? That much?” Not only am I delighted, but I’m suddenly nervous that with prices like these, I’ll never be able to afford a home in Elk Lake.

As I follow her into the kitchen, she says, “The changes you’ve made have added a lot to the bottom line. I predict you’ll more than triple your money back on those improvements.”

Shaking my head, I tell her, “I can see why people flip houses now. I mean, I knew they made money, I just never realized they could make so much.”

Running her hand over the navy cabinets, she tells me, “You don’t make this much everywhere, but in a resort town, you can’t lose. People don’t mind spending money when they know their investment is secure.”

“I wish I had the money to invest in a place to flip.”

“Don’t we all,” she says. “That’s the hardest part of the whole thing—making the mortgage payments until the reno is over and you can recoup your cash.”

Walking up the stairs, Anna says, “You have a real eye for color. Most people paint everything the same shade of beige or white. I love the subtle varying shades you’ve used. If you’re interested, I’d like to give some of my clients your number. I think you could really help them capitalize on their homes.”

I feel a sense of pride fill me. I’ve been artistic for as long as I can remember but until now, I’ve never realized that it could be converted into a business. “I would really love that, Anna. Thank you.”

“You changed the vanity!” Anna declares while walking into the hall bathroom.

“There was a deal at the hardware store,” I tell her. “I couldn’t resist.”

“Did you do that in the main, as well?”

Nodding my head, I assure her, “It was ascreamingdeal.”

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