“No, baby.I’ll come to your door.You’re never to open doors if I’m around.Do you understand?”
She stared at him for a moment and then nodded.
He exhaled silently.He’d been afraid she would fight him on it, but it was one thing he wouldn’t compromise.Call him a caveman, but he’d always had a dominant personality.It had grown the older he got.He was put on earth to care for the women and children in his life, and he wasn’t ashamed to admit it.The two walked up to an older woman and Trent.
Trent smiled.“Mrs.Benson, this is Damon, the man I told you about.”
Damon stepped forward and shook her hand.“It’s a pleasure to meet you.I hope he said nice things about me.
Mrs.Benson chuckled.“As a matter of fact, he spoke highly of you.”
“I didn’t think she needed to know about all the times you got me in trouble as a kid.”
Damon snorted.“It was the other way around, bud.”
“I wish I could stand here and talk to you all, but I have a hair appointment,” Mrs.Benson said.
“You’re sure about letting us look around inside?”Trent asked.
“Oh, my, yes.I don’t have any skeletons in my closet,” she said and laughed.“Peek in every corner.I want you to really be sure you want this place.I’d like to know the people living here after I’m gone.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Trent said.“We’ll lock up before we leave.”
“That would be wonderful.Call me this afternoon with your decision.I know I’m rushing, but I’d like to move closer to my sister and daughter.”
“I’ll have an answer for you,” Damon said.“Have you gotten the market value of the place?”
“Yes, Trent has all that information.Bye now.”She waved as she drove out of the driveway.
“Where do you want to start?”Trent asked him.
Damon studied the front porch.He could see him and Emma sitting in rockers, watching their kids and maybe grandkids as they played in the yard.“Let’s walk around outside first.”
Although the outside and barn needed work, it was doable, and he was anxious to start.
They looked in every closet and crevice, and then the basement and attic.The attic was large and had a window that let in light.Boxes of things were scattered everywhere, even a few old-fashioned suits hanging by a cord.
The basement had a plain concrete floor and walls.They wouldn’t use it for anything besides storage, so it didn’t bother him.
“Well, what do you think?”Trent asked.
Damon looked down at Emma.“What do you think?”
Her eyes flew to his.“Oh, well.It’s not my decision...”
“You know better than that.This will be your house, too.Fight it all you want, but the result will be the same.”
He smirked at the frown on her face.
“I love it,” she finally said.
“Good.So do I,” Damon said.“Let’s talk about prices.”
Trent handed him a sheet of paper.
“She wants to sell it to you for this price.She knows she could get more if she had a realtor sell it because there is sure to be a bidding war for it.”
“I would guess that, too.I feel like I’m taking advantage of her.”