Page 46 of Convincing Him
Chapter Nine
Aringing came from his pocket. Gabe slipped out his cellphone, noting the realtor was calling.
The house.
Gabe groaned. He had forgotten all about the house and the crazy offer he had insisted the realtor make just yesterday. He had been so busy catching up on work when Candi had called him, he had though it would be a nice surprise for Britney if they had the house ready for when they came back from the honeymoon now the inspection had come back with nearly perfect results.
Gabe quickly accepted the call. “Candi, I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner – “
“You got the house!” squealed Candi. “It’s so exciting. The owners were so pleased by the offer you made they decided the inconvenience of immediately moving out was well worth it. They are going to live it up at a hotel until they find their new home. I have got the keys and the paperwork. All you need to do is the final payment and the house is yours! Britney is going to be so happy! I’m so happy for both of you.”
Gabe closed his eyes in pain over the realtor’s misplaced enthusiasm. He tried to say something but couldn’t think of what to do. Did he tell her Britney had left him?
“Gabe?” enquired Candi. “Are you still there?”
“Yeah,” he managed. “Just a little overwhelmed.”
“I know exactly how you feel!” enthused Candi. “Your first home with the soon to be missus. Did I tell you, I have also sold Britney’s condo! This is a whole new start to your life. Would you like to meet me at the house? You can have the keys tonight if it is convenient to you.”
Suddenly a thought came to him. Britney loved this house. No matter what she chose to do with her life, she would always love the house. She had sold her condo and didn’t have a place to stay. Gabe could give her the house. It was a chance to make her happy.
He was going to do everything he could to make her happy. Gabe would show Britney how much she truly meant to him.
“Candi, you have connections in the construction and landscaping industries, right?” Gabe asked, excitement churning within him. He had a game plan to try to win Britney back.
“I know some reliable contractors who would be able to help,” Candi promised.
“Anyone who can be at the house by tonight?” questioned Gabe. “I have some work which needs to be done immediately. I want this house perfect before the wedding. I’ll need a decorator too. Someone who can get things done quickly. I already know what Britney wants.”
“I might be able to make it happen,” said Candi thoughtfully. “A rush job will likely cost more but I’ll call around to see who is available.”
“Perfect,” replied Gabe. He hung up with the promise to meet her and the contractor at the house. Grabbing a sheet of paper and a pen, Gabe set to making a list of all the things Britney had mentioned during their tour.
If he put a few extra items on the list he knew she would enjoy, then it was all to her benefit.
Short hours later, Gabe had two sets of keys in his hand, the signed paperwork and a contract with a contractor. The designer Candi had managed to scrounge up had been great. She came with all sorts of magazines and right away, Gabe and Candi had managed to tell her the vision that Britney had for the house. Everything was coming together.
Tuesday, four days before the wedding.
Gabe knocked on his father’s door. While the doorman had let Gabe into the heritage building, and the maid had let Gabe into the large condo where his parents lived, Gabe still maintained the habit enforced by his father to knock on the closed study door. The four bedroom condo was a rare find in the city, with the old world charm architecture and large windows. As kids, Gabe had hardly paid attention to the scarred wooden floors, or the impressive moldings. It had simply been home. Now, Gabe supposed it would pass on to Parker.
“Come in,” came James’ raspy reply.
Gabe opened the door to find his father sitting behind the large wooden desk. The antique was from the captain’s quarters of an old ship which had ferried over the original Ramesly family, however many generations back. Gabe hadn’t paid much attention to the details of the stories his father had told about the family. Perhaps he should have. Soon, James wouldn’t be there anymore to ask. Even now James had a nasal tube for oxygen seated below his nose and looped over his ears. His color was a dull grey.
“You going to keep staring at the oxygen line or have a seat?” challenged the old man as he sorted through papers on his desk.
“I was staring at the mess on your desk,” lied Gabe as he sat in one of the two leather chairs across from his father. “What’s all this?”
James batted Gabe’s hand away from the sheaf of papers strewn about. “Don’t you worry about it. I’m just organizing a few things to make it easier for Dotty to find. While I’m at it, I’m doing a little purging.”
“If you need any help, I have got a little time on my hands,” offered Gabe.
“Why would you have time on your hands?” grunted James. “Don’t you have some hospitals to run?”
“Not really,” Gabe cleared his throat. “I resigned to the board today.”
James stared at his oldest son before exploding. “Now why would you go and do a fool thing like that?”
