Читать книгу Close Your Eyes - Amanda Eyre Ward - Страница 11

Chapter 5

The listing was a 2/1 on Texas Avenue. White picket fence, yard that needed landscaping, minimal termite damage. My clients, a day-care worker and her musician boyfriend, were waiting for me, their Vespas parked side-by-side in the gravel drive. I waved gaily as I pulled to the curb.

‘Hey, Lauren,’ said Mitch, touching the top of his hipster fedora.

‘Hello, hello!’ I said, smiling hard. Liz was slim with red hair. On her jeans, she had small handprints in green and yellow paint.

‘I like it,’ said Liz. ‘I like the window boxes.’

‘This is a great street,’ I said. ‘Close to campus, but more young families than students.’

‘Let’s go in,’ said Mitch. ‘Lead the way, lady.’

I smoothed my Ann Taylor pantsuit. I was too old to be called lady by some skinny drummer, but I knew when to keep my mouth shut. ‘Follow me,’ I said, heading up the cement walkway. I found the lockbox, entered my Realtor code, and removed the key.

‘There’s a big crack in the foundation,’ said Liz, pointing.

‘Interesting,’ I said. ‘These old houses . . .’ I couldn’t really think of what to say, so I trailed off.

‘These old houses what?’ said Liz.

I cleared my throat. ‘Some have foundation problems. Some have charm. Some, Liz, have both. Foundations can be fixed.’

‘Oh, okay,’ said Liz, taking Mitch’s hand and stepping across the threshold.

‘The fireplace works,’ I said. ‘Nice light here in the living room.’ I consulted my cheat sheet. ‘Built in 1942. Kitchen renovated last year.’

Mitch looked around, nodding. He was so thin it made me wince. Liz made her way through the house. It was empty and smelled a bit like mold. If the homeowners were my clients, I would have put a simmering pan of apple cider on the stove.

‘Whoa!’ said Liz. We followed her voice and found her in a top-of-the-line kitchen. Stainless-steel fixtures, Corian counter-tops, stained concrete floor. ‘This is amazing,’ she said. ‘Look, hon, if I’m washing dishes, I can see the trees!’ She mimed scrubbing a pot, gazing at the large backyard. Mitch stood behind her and put his arms around her waist. She leaned in to him. ‘It’s wonderful,’ she said.

Mitch kissed the top of her head.

Out of nowhere, I felt a panic attack coming on. ‘I’ll be right back,’ I said. ‘I’ll leave you two lovebirds.’ I walked quickly, finding a bathroom off the master and slipping in, shutting and locking the door. In the mirror, my face was very pale. I sat down and put my head between my knees. I concentrated on my breathing.

‘Lauren?’ said Mitch. He was knocking, hard.

‘Okay,’ I said, standing and brushing dust off my pants. ‘I’m fine. There’s an oversize tub. Chrome-plated faucets!’

‘You’ve been in the bathroom for, like, a half hour,’ called Liz. ‘Um, I’ve got to get back to work.’

‘Right, right,’ I said. I unlocked the bathroom door and opened it. I smiled as brightly as I could. ‘So, looks like we’ve got some Kohler bathroom fixtures.’

‘Have you been crying?’ said Mitch.

‘No,’ I said. But when I touched my face, it was wet.

‘Thanks for showing us the house,’ said Liz. She was holding Mitch’s hand. ‘We’ll, um, we’ll be in touch.’

‘Great!’ I said. ‘Awesome.’ I followed them out of the house and returned the key to the lockbox. I waved as they made their way down the street. Then I called Gerry.

‘I am going crazy,’ I said when he answered.

‘What?’ said Gerry. ‘Where are you?’

‘Texas Avenue and Liberty Street,’ I said. ‘I’m having a heart – or a panic – attack. Maybe both.’ But just being on the phone with Gerry made me feel calmer.

‘It’s okay, honey,’ said Gerry. ‘I love you. Do you want me to come get you?’

I lay down on the lawn underneath a coffee tree. ‘I’m sober, I swear,’ I said. ‘The sky is very bright.’

‘Good God,’ said Gerry, laughing.

‘I’m scared, honey,’ I said.

After a while, I heard a car pull up. When I opened my eyes, Gerry was standing above me, his sweet face blocking the sun. ‘Get up from underneath that tree,’ he said.

‘Or maybe you should join me,’ I said.

Gerry lay down. I rolled on my side and rested my head on his shoulder. ‘What happened?’ he said.

‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘I kind of blacked out.’

‘Are you all right now?’

‘I guess,’ I said. ‘But I’d like to stay here a while, if that’s okay with you.’

‘It’s a Wednesday afternoon,’ said Gerry. ‘I think this is the perfect place to be.’

I lay back and he touched his head to mine. We watched the blue, blue sky.

‘I’m going to therapy,’ I said. ‘I’ll fix this. My brain, I mean.’

‘This is a very comfortable lawn,’ commented Gerry. His lips were close to my ear, and his words made me turn and kiss him.

‘Do you think you’ll still love me when I’m not crazy?’ I said.

‘Yes,’ said Gerry.