Chasing Bailey, page 13
part #3 of Lake Harriet Series
“He can’t run away, can he?” Lisa looked concerned.
“Nope. It’s fenced in. You just can’t tell there’s a fence because it’s hidden behind shrubs and trees.”
Lisa looked at Avery curiously. “The living and dining room furniture doesn’t really look like your style.”
Avery cocked his head. “And what style is that?”
“I don’t know. You dress so casual with flannel shirts and T-shirts and you wear cowboy boots when you do dress up. I figured you would be more of a lodge or country style. This furniture looks like something a decorator would choose.”
“Well, you’re right about that. Melissa chose most of the furnishings with the help of a decorator. Like the living room. It’s all white. I would have done natural tones. But the kitchen is beautiful, don’t you think?”
The kitchen cabinets were an antique white with dark quartz countertops and a mahogany wood floor. It was large—a lot of counterspace and cabinets with a huge island that also had a sink and second oven. To the side of it was a good-sized family room with a stone fireplace, a big bay window, and leather sofas and chairs.
“I love the kitchen,” Lisa said. “And the family room is more casual, which I like. But jeez. I could fit my whole house in these two rooms.”
Avery laughed. “Not quite. But it’s roomy.”
They went through the home gym at the back of the house and then into the office which had dark woodwork, built-in shelves, and large windows. Lisa admired the view of the park and lake. “I’ll bet you enjoyed this view while you worked better than the view you have now.”
Avery grinned. “It is a beautiful view, but so is the one I have now.” He winked and saw Lisa’s cheeks grow pink.
From there they circled around into the formal living room that, as Avery had mentioned, was done all in white.
“Any questions yet?” the realtor asked as they came back to the stairs.
“Not yet. Can we go upstairs?” Avery asked.
“Of course. Go ahead and I’ll wait down here.”
They toured the upstairs where Lisa continued to look around in wide-eyed wonder. Avery felt proud of the fact that he’d owned this beautiful house, and he really wanted Lisa to like it. When they stopped for a moment in the master bedroom, that had a brick fireplace and a four-poster bed as well as a huge master bath, Avery led her to the bay window.
“Now, that’s a view. Don’t you think?” he asked. Out the window was a gorgeous panorama of Lake Harriet, the surrounding trees in shades of red, orange, and yellow.
“It’s beautiful,” Lisa told him. “Absolutely amazing.”
He took her down the back staircase that led to the kitchen and showed her the pool in the backyard. It hadn’t been drained yet for winter, and the water sparkled in the afternoon sunshine.
“Wouldn’t Abby love swimming in that all summer?” he asked.
“She definitely would,” Lisa said without enthusiasm.
Avery was disappointed that Lisa didn’t sound very excited.
Bailey came running to them and Avery snapped his leash on. They went back to the front where Candace was waiting.
“Thank you for showing us the house,” Avery said, shaking her hand again. “Do you think there’s any chance the owner would sell for a little less?”
“It never hurts to place a bid and try.” Candace handed him her card. “Let me know if you’d like to look at other houses around here or bid on this one.”
“I will,” he said. They left and began walking toward the lake.
“Do you think you might buy it back?” Lisa asked as they walked.
Avery shrugged. “I’m not sure. If Melissa knew it was me, she’d be a bear to deal with. Besides, I’ll have to wait and see if my publisher signs me again after this book is turned in. I doubt the house will sell anytime soon.”
Lisa nodded. She slowed to a stop and looked at him. “Do you mind if we just walk home? I have a lot to do today and I’m a little tired.”
“Oh. Okay. Sure.” They turned back in the direction of their houses. Lisa was quiet for much of the walk and Avery didn’t press her. He wasn’t sure if she was overwhelmed by seeing the house or thought that maybe he was bragging. He hadn’t meant to sound that way; he’d only wanted her to see where he’d once lived. As they came to her house, she took Bailey’s leash.
“Would you like to grab a burger later? Or maybe we could order in pizza,” he said. He had hoped to spend the evening with her.
“Ah, okay. Maybe. Why don’t you text me later then we can decide,” she told him.
“Lisa? Is something wrong?” He wasn’t sure what he’d done for her to turn cold on him.
“No. I just have some things to do. I’ll talk to you later.” She waved and entered the house with Bailey following behind her.
Chapter Fifteen
Lisa worked around the house all afternoon doing laundry, changing sheets, and cleaning out the fridge. But the entire time, all she thought about was that amazing house and the fact that Avery earned seven figures. Seven figures! She couldn’t even imagine earning that kind of money. She’d known he was a successful author, but hadn’t really thought about the amount of money he earned. Seven figures was way out of her league.
When she’d first seen Avery move into the bungalow a year ago, she’d thought he was the same as everyone else in this neighborhood. A hard-working, middle-income kind of guy. This wasn’t a fancy neighborhood, but it was a nice one where people were friendly and everyone took pride in their homes. But now she knew he was used to the finer things in life, and for some reason, that bothered her. It made her look closely at herself, and she found herself lacking. She wasn’t beautiful, she had never been rich, and she wouldn’t have the faintest idea what to do with a house that large. So why was a guy like Avery interested in her?
Kristen knocked on her kitchen door later that afternoon, bringing a jar of her homemade chicken dumpling soup. “I suppose this is Andrew’s weekend with Abby,” she said as Lisa let her into the kitchen.
“Yes. I was a little scared of letting her go after having been so sick, but I had no choice.”
“I saw you and Avery walking earlier today. Did you have a good time?”
Lisa invited Kristen to sit at the small kitchen table and offered her a soda, which she accepted. “Yes and no.”
Kristen’s eyebrows rose.
“We went on a tour of his former house. It’s for sale. His wife got it in the divorce and is now selling it.”
“Oh. That’s terrible. Does he want to buy it back?”
“Maybe. He’s thinking about it. It’s one of the mansions across the street from Lake Harriet,” Lisa said.
“Wow. That’s neat. What did it look like?”
Lisa shrugged. “Like a beautiful mansion. It had tons of room, antique woodwork and light fixtures, a huge kitchen, and a pool.”
“Goodness.” Kristen looked impressed. “I never thought he made that kind of money, but I suppose he does. It just never occurred to me.”
“Me neither. He was just the hermit across the street, living in the cute bungalow house.”
Kristen looked at her curiously. “I take it you weren’t impressed.”
“I was,” Lisa said. “But it was overwhelming, too. I mean, it wasn’t like he was trying to impress me; he was so used to living that way he was just showing me the house. Like it was natural for him. But for me, it seemed over-the-top.”
Kristen smiled. “So, you’re thinking: Why does a guy like him want an everyday woman like me?”
Lisa’s eyes grew wide. “Yes. How did you know? Is it so obvious I don’t belong in a place like that?”
Kristen shook her head and placed her hand on Lisa’s arm. “No. It’s not obvious. I can see it in your eyes, though. I was in the same position once. When I first moved into this house, I was dating a very successful surgeon who was older than I was. He and I dated for a couple of years. He lived the high life and I never really fit in. But he wore his money on his sleeve, unlike Avery. He seems to act more like an everyday guy.”
“So what’s the moral of the story?” Lisa asked.
“There is no moral. I picked Ryan because we both had the same ideals about life, and plus he’s adorable.” She laughed. “You have to choose someone based on who they are, not what they have. If you’re comfortable with Avery, and you like who he is, does it matter what he owns or where he lives?”
“You’re right. It shouldn’t matter. And I do like Avery. He seems like a good guy. I guess I just let everything overwhelm me. I do that sometimes.”
Kristen stood and hugged Lisa. “You’re doing a pretty amazing job of everything from what I’ve seen. You’ve only been divorced a few months, and you’ve been a working mom for a little over a month. You’re doing great.”
“Thanks. Sometimes, I feel like I’m drowning.”
“Call any time you need a life preserver. I’ll be here. And speaking of life savers, I’d better get back home and save Ryan. Marie had him playing princess as I was heading out the door.”
Lisa laughed at the thought of Ryan in a princess dress. “You picked a winner there, that’s for sure.”
“I like to think so.” She waved and left.
Lisa thought about what Kristen had said, and she agreed with her. She’d put too much emphasis on what Avery owned and not on who he was. So, when he texted an hour later, asking if she’d like to grab a burger at the local pub for dinner, she said yes.
***
Avery picked her up at six and they drove the couple of blocks to the pub where they’d eaten together the first time. Lisa sat silently in the car, not sure what to say to break the ice. So, neither of them said a word. Once they were at a table and had ordered their drinks, Avery finally spoke.
“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable today or if I came off as bragging by showing you the house. I was just excited for you to see it, but once I thought about it, I realized you may have thought I was being a jerk.”
Lisa was shocked. She felt bad because she’d made him feel that way. “Don’t apologize. I didn’t think you were bragging at all. I was the one with the problem, not you.”
He looked confused. “Why?”
Lisa sighed. “You were right about me feeling uncomfortable, but it wasn’t your fault. The whole time we were looking at the house, and you were so excited about it, I was just trying to wrap my head around the fact that you had owned that house. I’ve only seen you as the guy in the bungalow across the street. An everyday guy, not a rich one. I had trouble picturing you living such an extravagant life, but you seemed so comfortable about it. It brought out all kinds of insecurities in me.”
“You? Insecure? You’re the strongest person I know.”
She gave him a small smile. “No, I’m not. Kristen is strong. And so is Mallory. I know at least a dozen women who are so much stronger than me. I’m trying to be strong, but I feel like I’m failing every step of the way.”
The waitress approached their table with their drinks and took their food order. After she left, Avery leaned in closer across the table. “You’re not failing. You’re doing a great job with Abby and you’re handling going to work every day like a pro. You’re also being strong dealing with Andrew.”
Lisa shook her head. “I needed you to fix my yard so Bailey wouldn’t run away. I needed Ryan to save me from the evil hermit across the street, and I needed Kristen today to show me that my issues with your wealth were unfounded. I can’t seem to do anything on my own, no matter how hard I try.”
Avery laughed. “I’m glad Ryan came over that day and told me off. If he hadn’t, I wouldn’t have gotten to know you better, nor would I have stepped out of my protective shell. You did that. You, and Bailey.”
She smiled. She wasn’t sure if that was true, but it was a nice thought. “Anyway, I’m sorry I acted so weird today. And I do think your house is beautiful. You’d be lucky to have it again. Anyone would be lucky to live in such a nice house.”
Avery studied her a moment as he took a sip of his beer. “You know, we kind of started this whole friendship in the middle instead of at the beginning. We don’t know that much about each other. Tell me about little Lisa and how you came to be who you are. Did you grow up here in Minneapolis?”
Lisa thought it was a good idea to share their stories. She knew so little about who Avery was and where he’d come from too. “I grew up in La Crosse, Wisconsin actually. My dad was a high school science teacher and my mom worked in a home for the disabled. My sister is five years older than me, so we were never very close. She’s married and lives in California now.”
“You said your dad was a teacher. Is he retired now?”
She nodded. “My mother died of cancer when I was fifteen. She’d been sick for a few years. When I graduated, I wanted to go to school away from home, so I went to the University of Minnesota. While I was in college, my father met another woman. Janice. She’s nice, and I get along well with her. He retired after thirty years and moved to Sedona, Arizona. I only see them about once a year.”
“I’m sorry about your mother,” he said. “Is that why you became a nurse?”
“I’m not sure. Everyone thinks that, even my father, but I never related becoming a nurse to helping care for my mother. My mom was so strong, and she tried to stay independent of help for as long as she could. I always admired her strength. It couldn’t have been easy. My sister is strong like that. I’ve never been like them. I feel like I’ve always had to lean on someone, and it’s not my favorite trait.”
Their burgers and fries came then, and they took a few bites. “This is good,” Lisa said. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”
“Me, too. It’s been a long day.” He smiled at her. “You know, I don’t think of you as someone who needs to lean on people. You let people help you, but that’s okay. That’s not the same as always needing someone to lean on.”
“Maybe.” She turned the focus back on him. “What about you? Are you from Minnesota?”
“Yep. Born and bred.” He laughed. “I grew up in St. Cloud, had a normal childhood playing baseball and basketball until high school. My parents both worked. My father owned his own construction company, and my mom was an accountant in a local CPA firm. They spoiled me rotten and encouraged me to do whatever I wanted. When I said I wanted to go to college for journalism, they thought it was a good idea.”
“Wow. The perfect childhood. Did you have any siblings?”
He shook his head. “No. I’m an only child. My parents were older when they had me. They had given up on ever having children when I came as a surprise. That’s why they spoiled me.” He grinned.
“You don’t seem that spoiled,” she said. She took another bite of her burger, then asked, “What college did you attend?”
“I went to UMD.”
“Really? Why Duluth and not Minneapolis?”
“I liked it there. It has the feel of a small town, yet it’s big, too. Plus, like you, I wanted to go to school away from home.”
“Ah. I get it. What about your parents? Are they still in St. Cloud?”
“No. They headed for a warmer climate. They live in Panama City, Florida. I try to get down there a couple of times a year. They’re both in their late seventies now, so they don’t come back here anymore. Not that they’re old—they walk the beach all the time and keep busy. I can’t keep up with them when I visit.” He chuckled.
“They sound great,” she said, smiling.
“Well, maybe you’ll get to meet them someday,” he said, winking.
After they finished eating, they sat for a while as the conversation flowed. Avery asked her about Andrew. “How did you two meet?”
“At a college party,” she said.
“I’ll bet he was a frat boy.” Avery grimaced.
“No.” She laughed. “But he did the party circuit. I went with a couple of girlfriends to a party at someone’s house and he was there. He was actually a gentleman. When my friends didn’t want to leave, he offered to walk me to my place. He was a junior and I was a sophomore. We didn’t actually start dating seriously until his last year of college.”
“So, before you finished college, you knew already that you were going to marry him?”
“I guess so,” she said. She’d never really thought of it that way before. “We started living together in my last year of college. He was working, and after I graduated, I was hired on at the hospital. We just kind of stayed together and then one day he proposed. It was a surprise, but I guess I’d figured we’d marry eventually. We just seemed to work well together.”
“It’s weird how relationships fall apart. You think you’re together for the long haul, then one day, it’s over.”
Lisa thought back to the day she realized her marriage had fallen apart. It had seemed like it happened all at once, but when she thought back, it was a slow progression. She never really knew why Andrew had started looking at other women, or why he’d hooked up with Katrina. When he’d left, she’d been blindsided.
“What about you?” she asked, not wanting to talk about herself any longer. “How did you meet Melissa?”
“Ah. Melissa. I was working for a newspaper and also freelancing, selling articles to magazines and websites. I wasn’t doing too bad, income-wise, but my dream was to write a novel. I’d just written my first novel that no agent wanted when I met Melissa. She was a hostess in a fancy restaurant downtown. The type of restaurant where you have to call for reservations months in advance. An agent invited me to dinner to talk about my work, and that’s when I met her. That long, silky hair and those gorgeous legs threw me for a loop. I admit it, her looks attracted me first, her personality second.”
Lisa snorted. “Isn’t that the way it is for most men?”
“Probably. Anyway, the agent didn’t pan out, but he gave me some advice. He suggested I try writing romance. I thought he was crazy, but it was worth a try. That same night, I asked Melissa out, right there in the restaurant, and she actually said yes. I fell madly in love, I wrote my first romance, and the rest is history.”
