Page 30 of Wynns of Change
“Bathroom?” Harlow returned inside, making her way across the upstairs catwalk. A spacious main bathroom was at the other end, featuring all the creature comforts she would need—a clawfoot tub, walk-in shower and double vanity. Tucked in behind the shower was another door.
Harlow peeked inside. “Whoa.”
Abby eased in next to her. “Whoa is right.”
“What is it?” Eryn bounced on the tips of her toes, struggling to see over Harlow’s shoulder.
“The largest walk-in closet I’ve ever seen.” Harlow flipped the light on and took a tentative step inside the cavernous room. The faint aroma of cedar mingled with moth balls lingered.
Built-in dressers lined one wall. On the opposite side were custom closet rods and adjustable shelves.
“This closet is larger than the one in my Malibu house.”
Lottie ran a light hand along the empty shelf. “Something tells me you could clear out the closets in all three of your properties and still have room left.”
Meg clutched her chest. “You have three houses?”
“Not three houses.” Embarrassed by her friend’s reaction, Harlow tried to downplay it. “One house, an apartment in New York, and a condo in Florida.”
“Still.” Abby let out a low whistle. “I’m sure you could easily afford this place.”
“Robert and I need to sell the properties. It’s a stipulation of our divorce. We’re splitting everything down the middle, all the debts and assets.”
“Dang, girl. You seem so down-to-earth,” Noelle said. “I can’t even imagine living your life.”
“It’s not all it’s cracked up to be,” Harlow said. “Believe me, there are plenty of negatives.”
“I’m sure this is true.” Lottie stepped over to the stairs. “Well, Harlow. What do you think?”
“I love it. Lighthouse Lane is perfect.” Harlow confided she was hesitant to make a rushed decision, without taking the time to figure out how much work the inside actually needed. “Not to mention my lawyer advised me not to make any major purchases until the divorce is a done deal.”
Eryn patted her shoulder. “If it’s still available and you’re still interested when you have the money to spend, it was meant to be.”
“Agreed,” Harlow said.
“Properties don’t sell very fast this time of the year,” Abby said.
“The fact it needs updating will narrow down the number of buyers who might be interested.”
“But the view,” Harlow said wistfully. “I could sit on the balcony up here or patio downstairs and stare at the water, the bridge, the lighthouse for hours.”
“You would be close to your father, yet not right on top of each other,” Lottie said. “There’s a lot to consider.”
“A lot.” Harlow hugged Abby. “Thank you for working your magic and getting me in here to look around.”
“Like Eryn said, if it’s meant to be, it will all work out,” Peyton said. “House hunting has worked up an appetite. Let’s head back to the fudge shop to sample another cookie and maybe a piece of fudge.”
Chapter 14
Harlow was still thinking about Lighthouse Point long after the Mackies’ dinner party ended. Sitting on the porch, watching the twinkling stars appear in the clear night sky, she pulled the flyer from her pocket and read through the description word for word.
It was everything she’d envisioned when she thought about having a home of her own…one Robert hadn’t picked out. One that wasn’t based solely on how excellent of an investment it was.
Instead, the charming stone cottage tugged at her heart. Clearly, it needed work, not unlike Harlow, who desperately needed a fresh start. She and the house were kindred spirits. Solid and sturdy yet needing some TLC.
If she pursued the purchase, it would be a labor of love, maybe even a welcome distraction from her chaotic life. Although she and Robert appeared to agree on the major issues, she was well aware the divorce could go off the rails at the drop of a hat.
Robert prided himself on being a shrewd hustler, hammering out the best possible deal. In fact, he often bragged about it. She had little doubt his plan was to walk away with the better end of the settlement.
