Page 17 of A Family Affair: The Ring
Grandma
10
After Pop’s visit, Melanie had a lot of time to think about her grandmother, the disappointment and sadness she must have felt from their moving.Families were supposed to stick together, love each other, and never give up.Melanie vowed she’d trust her grandmother’s words,andshe’d listen to Pop Benito.The man had told her toOpen your eyes and live your life, not the one everyone thinks you should have.Find out what you want, not what others want for you.Grandma and Pop were right.It was time to find out what she really wanted in life, and then go after it.
There’d been so many years of running that she’d lost her way, lost her ability to find joy and peace.Since she’d returned to her grandmother’s house, she’d slept better than she had in years, an odd claim to make in a house with questionable insulation, an old mattress, and clutter.So much clutter in the form of photo albums, figurines, cookbooks, and knickknacks, all part of what Grandma Esther called memory makers.I can tell you the significance and the history behind each one of these,she’d once said.Ask me and I’ll tell you.
Melanie had been sorting through cooking and house magazines circa 1978 when the doorbell rang.She set the magazines aside, made her way to the screen door.A tall, attractive blonde in a killer outfit and perfect tan stood on the other side, a briefcase clutched in one hand, a business card in the other.The smile revealed white teeth and lots of confidence.
“Melanie Russell?”She held up a business card.“Tara Ambrose.I’m with Cornwall & Angus Realty.May I come in?”
She might have been gone eight years, but Melanie recognized the name of the real estate firm that had been in Magdalena forever.She opened the door, and the woman stepped inside.“I’m not sure how I can help you.”
Tara Ambrose held out a hand, the smile spreading as she ignored Melanie’s question, slathered on charm.“I’m glad to finally meet you.”
The firm handshake and assessing gaze said she was on a mission, and that mission involved this property.Well, the place wasn’t for sale, not yet.It was much too soon to think about someone erasing Grandma Esther’s presence from this home.Did this woman think she could just walk in here with her fancy clothes and big smile and try to convince Melanie to sell the place?She could think again,and again, because Melanie wasn’t letting some stranger stick a For Sale sign in the front yard and then tell her how to make the house “more appealing.”“What do you want?”
Those pink lips flattened the tiniest bit.“You don’t know why I’m here?I thought your father would have told you.I’m the real estate agent on this property.”
“He’s putting it up for sale...now?”Other than a tepidAt some point, we’ll have to decide what to do with the place, he’d never mentioned specifics such as when that “some point” would be.The time was not now, not with all the memories waiting to be relived and stored away.And Melanie wanted to do right by her grandmother, show the proper respect and reverence as she dismantled a lifetime.
Yet her father wanted to just sell it?
The woman moved to the living room, peeked into the kitchen and heaved a big sigh.“Whew.This place needs a complete overhaul.”She turned back to the living room, pointed to the stacks of magazines on the couch and coffee table.“I’d start with those.Who reads magazines these days?This is going to take concerted effort, but we’ll get it done.I told your father I could send someone to help, and I’ll have a dumpster delivered.”
“A dumpster?”She wanted to reduce Grandma Esther’s life to a dumpster?
Tara Ambrose must have realized her misstep and offered another smile, a softer approach.Compassionate, understanding...almost caring.“I’m sure she was a lovely woman and I’ll do right by her, but it’s already fall.We need to get this place on the market so it doesn’t sit all winter.Winters here are brutal on empty houses, especially the older ones.”She glanced at the ceilings, took in the hardwood floor and the cracks on the walls.“You really want to get it sold before the first snowfall.”
She tilted her head, took a few steps toward Grandma Esther’s curio cabinet.“Families with children have already made their moves so this might be real estate income or—”
“Is this coming from my father or are theseyourrecommendations?”Why had her father said nothing about a real estate agent putting the house up for sale days after Melanie arrived?Or had that been the plan all along?
The faintest pink crept beneath the woman’s tan, settled on her cheeks.“It’s my job to make recommendations to the client.I offer suggestions and they can either accept, amend, or decline.Your father accepted.”
“I need to speak with him before we go any further.I’ll get back to you, but don’t be surprised if there’s a change of plans.”
The woman stood in the middle of the room, studied Melanie as though assessing her ability to override the situation.“Of course.But please, don’t let emotion take over.I’ve seen this happen too many times, and in the end, the client is left disappointed and empty.”
Melanie replied politely but firmly.“And I’ve been in situations where people didn’t trust their gut,orthe emotion tied to it.They went on what someone else wanted or said they needed.That’swhere a person really ends up disappointed and empty.”
A tight smile, a brief nod and then, “I guess we’ll be in touch.Call me after you speak with your father.”The woman made it to the screen door, had her handle on the knob before she turned and said, “I’m sure it’s hard to let the past go, but it’s gone.Hang on to the memories, discard the rest and move on.It’s all a person can do.”
Melanie waited until the woman pulled out of the driveway to call her father.“Hello, Dad.”
“Melanie?How are you, dear?”
Ward Russell was the kindest, gentlest soul she’d ever known.Also, the most gullible.“Dad, how could you?”
Worry filtered through the line, grabbed her.“Melanie?What’s wrong?”
“I just had a visit from your real estate agent.When were you going to tell me you put grandma’s house up for sale?”
Long pause, a longer sigh and then “We don’t want to be sitting on an empty house when winter sets in.”
No doubt Tara Ambrose had told this story enough times to make the listener believe her words.While an empty house in winter wasn’t ideal, it shouldn’t be the only reason to sell.“Did the real estate agent sell you on that story?”
A clearing of his throat and a quiet “What she said made sense.”
