Patchwork Paradise by Indra Vaughn

Author:Indra Vaughn [Vaughn, Indra]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Published: 2015-12-28T16:00:00+00:00

I didn’t call Peter, but things almost did return to normal. We found a new bar to hang out in on Saturday nights, and we met up every week. I didn’t dance on tables anymore like Cleo still did, but I did learn a new appreciation for how Thomas must’ve felt being surrounded by two deliriously happy couples all those years. His urge to sleep around suddenly made a lot of sense.

And yet, I didn’t. I got propositioned a few times, but I always demurred. It didn’t escape my notice that Thomas tensed whenever I did give in to some harmless flirting, but I wasn’t bigheaded enough to think he was jealous. He cared, that was all.

At least this business with Stephen always being there did answer one question: I loved Thomas. There was nothing I could do about it, so I didn’t, but there it was.

I went through life with a semblance of, if not happiness, at least contentment. It was more than what I thought I’d ever have a year ago, and I could live with it. Work was going well. I was healthy. I considered adopting a dog, but maybe I’d go on holiday somewhere first. I could take my entire six weeks again and plan that trip to Texas. Or maybe not just Texas, but see some of the USA. Because why not? I had no one to think of but myself. I made tentative plans, bought a Lonely Planet guide on the States, dog-eared the pages of places I wanted to see, and carried on with my life.

One Thursday morning I received a call from Stan, asking if I could come and see him as soon as possible. I made an appointment for the same day after work and left early once I became too nervous to sit around any longer.

He ushered me into his office as soon as I arrived. “How set on keeping the house are you?” he asked me bluntly.

I didn’t even hesitate. “It’s mine,” I said. “It was ours. Sam wanted me to have it. It’s my home. I don’t want to leave.” Panic squeezed my insides when I realized the reality of the situation was I seriously could lose it. I needed the house. I felt like it was the only thing keeping me tethered to earth.

He pursed his lips. “In that case, we have a proposal, and I strongly urge you to take it. If you refuse, they’ll be taking it to court, and the assigned judge—” he sucked air in through his teeth “—let’s just say you’ll want to avoid him at all costs.”

“What’s the proposal?” I asked, mouth dry.

“My guess is they’re having money troubles. They want you to buy them out. You pay them half of what the house is worth and it’s all yours. I think I can reduce that to forty-five, maybe forty percent, because they’re desperate and that works in our favor. However, if they’re desperate enough and we push them too hard, they’ll want to go the whole way.

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