Page 2 of Love It or List It
Keller and Associates was housed in a strip mall in central Windsor, industrial beige inside and out.Joe let the receptionist know he was there for a meeting with Ms.Kelly at two thirty and took a seat in one of the beige pleather chairs.The room didn’t have any other occupants, so presumably his co-owner had not arrived yet.Which made sense, because Joe was stupid early.
Why had he come inside?He could’ve sat in his truck and listened to music or something.Now he was in a public space.It wasn’t like he could just flip through TikTok for twenty minutes; he hadn’t brought headphones.
He should’ve known that the kids would never let him be bored… or give him a moment’s peace.He hadn’t even had time for his butt to warm the cold plastic before they started blowing up the family WhatsApp.
Meg Mitchell:Okay, so who is this guy?How did they finally track him down?
Gavin Chalmers:Yeah, and what the hell took so long?I am DYING to go explore that place
Alex Jones:Dude.Too soon
Gavin Chalmers:Oh shit, sorry Meg.
Meg Mitchell:Whatever, Grandma DeeDee would’ve laughed.Also, same, no one from the family has been in there in 20 years
This was news to Joe, who suddenly heard alarm bells going off in the back of his brain.
Joe Romano:Wait, for real?She died 4 months ago!
Meg Mitchell:Yeah, and Dad says we’re not allowed in because the house and all its contents belong to you and this Austin guy EVEN THOUGH HE’S THE EXECUTOR.He could totally go in, he’s just chicken
Gavin Chalmers:What if there’s like
Gavin Chalmers:Mummified rats in there
Will Wiebe:Ew
Will Wiebe:Don’t speak that evil into the universe, Gavin
Yeah, Gavin, Joe thought.Keep that shit to yourself.He made a mental note to buy a respirator mask and a Costco-size box of disposable gloves.
Joe Romano:None of you gremlins are getting in there until it’s been declared safe by some kind of public health authority, okay?
Meg Mitchell:boo
Will Wiebe:boo
Gavin Chalmers:booooooooo
Alex Jones:Have you met the other owner yet?You have to tell us what he’s like
Joe didn’t know why any of them cared.It wasn’t like he planned to keep the house with this guy.From the sound of things, it was in rough shape.They’d probably just agree to put it up for sale and split the proceeds.Joe could use some extra money to tuck away.Meg was likely to land a scholarship or two, what with the swimming thing, but Gavin, Will, and Alex might want to go to college one day too.Joe couldn’t afford to just send them, but he could help.And he could stand to put some money away for himself, since winter tended to be slow on the whole tree-trimming-and-landscape-work front.
Meg Mitchell:Yeah, how’d he know Grandma DeeDee anyway?
Gavin Chalmers:Maybe he was her boyfriend!
Alex Jones:Gross
Gavin Chalmers:Yeah sorry didn’t think that one through
Alex Jones:Is he a senior citizen?
Meg Mitchell:Is he a serial killer?
Will Wiebe:Is he hot?
All three of them reacted to that with the finger-pointing emoji.Et tu, Meg?Joe thought.Evidently being uninterested in ever having a love life of her own wouldn’t stop her from meddling in his.Who raised these hellions?
