“For the memory.”
That stopped me.
She smiled.
“Fifty.”
“You’re overpaying.”
“I’m old enough to waste my money however I like.”
I nodded.
“Fair.”
We agreed.
Then Margaret walked away.
I stood beside the mailbox.
My hand slipped into my shirt pocket.
Vanessa’s house rules were still there.
I had kept the paper.
Not because I planned revenge.
Because I had started collecting information.
Then I looked across the street.
Directly opposite Ethan’s house stood a two-story home.
White siding.
Deep porch.
Large sycamore tree.
Three bedrooms.
Detached garage.
Good roof.
Nice windows.
A FOR SALE sign stood near the sidewalk.
I had noticed it several times.
That day, I actually looked.
Wide driveway.
Smaller than Ethan’s house.
Closer to the ground.
Only two floors.
My knees liked that.
Then the idea became clear.
I took out my phone.
Called the number on the sign.
