Page 60 of On the Line
His mother reached out to squeeze his hand, and he gave her a grateful albeit wobbly smile. This woman had always been his rock, and he was more thankful than ever that he struck gold in the mother department.
“And what’s that, honey? I thought you were going to consult for the Warriors?”
“Oh, I’m definitely still doing that. I can’t pass up the chance to be around the game, even if I can’t play. But I thought I might like to go into real estate.”
“Real estate,” his mother said slowly. “In what capacity?”
“All capacities,” he said, and ticked them off on his fingers. “Commercial. Residential. Buying and selling. Development. Eventually a brokerage. I want to do it all.”
“Don’t you think that’s a bit ambitious right out of the gate? What do you even know about real estate anyway?”
“Mom, I’ve been successfully renting out my loft for years now.”
“You have been? By yourself? I thought the team realtor handled that for you?”
He shook his head. “Nope. I listed it on one of those rental sites. I made sure to block out home game nights since we usually ended up there afterward anyway, but otherwise it was fair game.”
“What kinds of things do people rent it out for?” She asked.
“Wedding receptions, birthday parties, holiday parties for local businesses, baby and bridal showers…I could go on.”
His mother held up her hand, smiling. “Not necessary. I get the idea. So what, you’re going to start buying up more properties to do the same thing? Where? Here in the city? Across the state? Across the country?”
“All of the above,” he said with a grin. “I’ll start by buying a few more properties locally. I’m thinking of more multi-use spaces like the loft.”
“How many?” She asked.
“I’ve been in touch with the Warriors realtor and she’s been helping me out. Right now, I’ve got leads on ten more properties.”
“Ten?” His mother exclaimed. “That’s…a lot.”
“Well I’m not going to buy all of them, Mom,” he said with an eye roll. “I haven’t even looked at them yet, seeing as how I’m not exactly ambulatory.”
She reached out and patted his leg, and he was reminded how lucky he was that he could even feel her touch.
“Okay, fair enough. Then what?”
His eyebrows drew together in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, once you build your multi-use venue empire, then what? What’s next?”
“Well since I’ve been talking to Sherry—that’s the Warriors realtor—she suggested I get my real estate license. So I will start those online classes next week.”
“Oh honey, that’s great!” His mom said.
He gave her a smile. “I think so, too. It’ll be nice to have something to do with idle time while I’m stuck here. Eventually, though…”
“Yes?”
“I’d like to start developing some low income housing. For college students who are surviving on financial aid and bartending tips. For those people who work their asses off and just to turn around and pour every penny they have into rent.” He looked up and met her eyes then. “For single moms who just need someone to cut them a break.”
Exactly like their landlord had done when she and Mitch first moved to Ann Arbor from Georgia in a beat-up Chevy truck with nothing but a few measly suitcases of clothes, Mitch’s hockey gear, and less than a thousand dollars to their names.
Mitch wanted to be there for people on their worst days, even if all he could do was give them a place to live that wouldn’t leave them destitute while they got back on their feet.
“Oh honey,” his mom said, lashing brimming with tears. “I did okay with you, didn’t I?”
“I’d say you did more than okay, Mama.”
