Chapter 14 - Daniel Asked To Buy The House The Legal Way
By March, the Christmas assault felt like something from another family.
It wasn't.
My shoulder still tightened when Margaret stood too quickly behind me.
Daniel still had an ongoing criminal case connected to the false filing.
His attorney expected months, not days.
The document contractor had been charged separately.
Margaret had retained counsel after investigators concluded her affidavit contained statements she knew were misleading.
She was not hauled away.
Life was less satisfying than that.
She also apologized.
Once.
Specific.
“I shoved you.”
“Yes.”
“I knocked dinner onto you.”
“Yes.”
“I signed something I knew was dishonest.”
“Yes.”
She swallowed.
“I wanted the house to stay more than I cared what keeping it required.”
I nodded.
“Thank you.”
She looked almost disappointed.
“That's all?”
“That's a lot.”
She laughed softly.
Fair.
She rented a condo six miles away.
Her choice.
Not eviction.
The first night she slept there, she called me at 11:14.
“I hate it.”
“I know.”
“The refrigerator hums.”
“All refrigerators do.”
“This one is smug.”
I laughed.
That was the beginning of whatever our relationship was becoming.
Daniel waited longer.
Then one Saturday he asked to meet at the house.
I said the porch.
He accepted.
He arrived carrying no papers.
Good.
“How are you?”
“Suspicious.”
“Fair.”
He sat on the porch step.
I stayed in the chair.
“I'm selling my condo.”
“You have a condo?”
“Exactly why I should sell it.”
I almost smiled.
“What do you want?”
“To make an offer.”
My body tightened.
“For Carter House.”
“Yes.”
I stared at him.
He continued before I could.
“Real financing.”
“Good.”
“Independent appraisal.”
“Good.”
“Through Hayes if you want.”
“He's my lawyer, not your broker.”
“Right.”
He rubbed his hands together.
“I want to buy it.”
“Why?”
Daniel laughed softly.
“You still ask that like there's one answer.”
“Try several.”
“I love it.”
“Okay.”
“I hate that you own it.”
“Useful.”
“I want to prove I can keep it without stealing it.”
“That one worries me.”
“Me too.”
Better.
“And?”
He looked toward the hill.
“I don't know who I am if this place belongs to somebody who doesn't want me here.”
I thought.
“That sounds like something to solve before a mortgage.”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“My therapist said almost the same thing.”
I stared.
“Therapist?”
“Court-adjacent life has surprises.”
I almost laughed.
“Are you buying it for Margaret?”
“Partly.”
“Did she ask?”
“No.”
“Then don't.”
He stopped.
Right.
“That’s new.”
“It shouldn't be.”
“No.”
He looked toward me.
“Would you consider an offer?”
“Yes.”
His face changed.
I held up one hand.
“Consider.”
“I heard you.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
He almost smiled.
“I'm practicing.”
“What if I sell to someone else?”
He looked at the lawn.
“I'll hate it.”
“And?”
“I'll still be alive.”
That was probably the healthiest sentence Daniel had ever attached to property.
“What if I keep it?”
“I'll hate that differently.”
“Great.”
“I said I was practicing.”
I smiled despite myself.
Then he asked:
“Do you hate me?”
“Sometimes.”
He nodded.
“Do you love me?”
That took longer.
“Yes.”
His eyes filled.
I hated that too.
“Does that help?”
“Some.”
“Good.”
We sat.
Then Daniel said:
“I’m sorry I said I wanted the certificate to be true.”
I looked at him.
“You wanted what came after.”
“Yes.”
“Same difference to the person you erased.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
No defense.
Before leaving, he stopped at the steps.
“Emma.”
“What?”
“If I make an offer and you say no…”
He laughed at himself.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Finish.”
“If you say no, I will not ask Margaret to call you.”
I smiled.
“Strong start.”
He left.
Two weeks later, a legitimate offer arrived through a bank.
Daniel's name.
A real number.
Lower than another buyer's.
Higher than I expected.
May you like
For the first time, he had asked.
That did not mean I had to say yes.
