Page 80 of Home Team Advantage
“Excellent. You’ll do very well.”
“I hope so.”
“Should I call the realtor today to see about putting the house on the market?”
“No need, dear. I’ve already found a buyer.”
That was quick. “You have?”
“Yes, a lovely young couple, just starting out.”
“That’s wonderful,” Anna said, trying to drum up some enthusiasm.
The truth was, Anna had come to love the house. She loved the patio and the pool and the recently discovered basement. Elsa’s husband had started to finish it years ago, with a half-completed bar, a pool table, even a jukebox, and an ancient pinball machine. After his death, Elsa couldn’t bear to go down there and had eventually forgotten about it.
It was just so perfect. As Anna had lain in bed the night before, Matt tucked up close beside her, she’d entertained a fantasy of buying the house herself. It would solve the issue of her having a place to live. She’d ask Matt to move in with her. They’d be close to his family, and his brothers and sisters could come up and use the pool anytime.
Unfortunately, it looked as if that wasn’t going to happen.
“They’re coming by later this evening to tour the property.”
“Oh, Matt and I were going to go out to dinner tonight.” It was the one-year anniversary of their night on the boat, and they were going to re-create it. Anna had been looking forward to it for weeks.
“That’s fine, dear. I won’t be here either. Faith has invited me over for a movie night. A private agent will be handling everything.”
* * *
“You seem distracted,” Matt said later as they lay on the deck, looking up at the sky.
Unlike the year before, the sky held more clouds than twinkling stars. Their edges lit up with a silvery glow as they passed in front of the nearly full moon. Her body was still humming with pleasure aftershocks, but her mind couldn’t relax.
“I can’t stop thinking about the people buying Mrs. Campbell’s house. They’re doing a walk-through tonight.” Probably right now, Anna thought. Looking at each room, deciding what they would keep, what they would get rid of.
He pressed his lips to her shoulder while his hand rested possessively across her waist. “Why does that bother you?”
“It shouldn’t, I know, but after she told me she was selling it, I got to thinking I might put in an offer myself.”
“Ah,” he said.
“It’s ridiculous. It’s Mrs. Campbell’s house. It’s her decision. I just wish I’d had a chance at it, you know?”
He kissed her again, unknowingly lending the support and strength she needed.
“We should get the boat back to the dock.”
“Already?”
“Judging by the way those clouds are moving, the front is going to be here sooner than predicted. We don’t want to be out here when it does.”
She couldn’t argue with that. They got dressed, packed everything away, and returned to the private dock. The drive home was quiet. As they pulled into his driveway, Anna spotted an unfamiliar car in Elsa’s driveway, and every light in the house was on. The ache of missed opportunity flared again. It would have been so perfect.
Movie night was still in progress; apparently, it was a double-feature event. The lights were turned down low, and the mouthwatering scent of buttery popcorn was strong. They paused the movie when Matt and Anna came in.
“How’d it go?” Faith asked.
“Amazing,” Anna said with a smile. Date nights with Matt always were. Well, any time she spent with him was, if she was honest.
“Any idea how the walk-through is going?” Anna asked. She’d thought they’d be gone by now.
