As a young girl, she had admired one house near the edge of town. She remembered that it had the cutest porch, big bright windows, and rich green grass in the front yard. She'd noticed that it was for sale on her way into town upon her arrival from New York. Aqua was certain that this was a sign. At least that was how she wanted to see it. She needed every confirmation she could get that she was making the right decision with moving back to her place of birth.
With her mind made up, Aqua drove up to the property pulled out her phone from her handbag and called the number listed on the sign.
"Good morning, Renatta Stone, how can I bring you home today?" chirruped the voice belonging to the real estate agent.
Aqua’s heart skipped a beat as she realized who the realtor was. Blake's mother? screamed in her head. As far as Aqua could remember, the woman had never worked in her life. She must have decided to pursue real estate after Aqua had moved away.
"Yes, hi… I'm interested in a house and hoped to see it today. Is that possible?"
"Possibly, could I have the address of the property?"
“Yes, the house is just off Main Street, on the corner of Willow. This is Aqua—Aquarius Weaver.
"Aquarius? Aquarius Weaver, is that you? Are you moving back home? That’s wonderful! It's so nice to see many of our young people returning home."
"Thank you. I really like this house, but I'm not sure whether it's in my price range, but there’s no harm in looking and maybe making an offer."
"Well, the place does need some fixing up. I'll meet you there in two hours. Sorry that I can’t make it sooner, but I have some other appointments first. If you have time, reach out to a few mortgage companies in town and they can give you a quick estimate of what you’ll qualify for."
"Good advice, and thank you, Mrs. Stone."
"My pleasure, and its Renatta now." She sang as she cheerily clicked off.
Although her tone was polite and friendly, Aqua didn't detect any actual warmth in the woman's voice. Perhaps she was just busy. When she’d dated Blake, she’d spent some time with Blake’s mother, Renatta. She was the type of mother that baked cookies, tended the garden, and made sure the bedroom door was always open. Even though her behavior was far different from what Aqua experienced with her own mother, Aqua found it refreshing. Renatta was the archetypical American mom—family came first.
To kill some time, Aqua ran a few errands. As she left the hardware store her phone pinged with a text. She smiled at the sight of Blake's name on the display of her smartphone.
“Looking forward to the auction this weekend. I hope you are having a good day.”
Aqua read the words over, and then over again, and then she reread them in the hope of finding some hidden meaning. Finally, she decided that Blake was only being polite or maybe he was fishing for information because his mom had already informed him of her interest in the property.
Aqua immediately sent a message back. Me too. I am having a great day. I hope you are, too. It was a simple exchange, but it made her heart feel a hundred pounds lighter. A glance at her Fitbit revealed that she needed to leave to meet Renatta if she hoped to be on time. Aqua’s hands were clammy, and she rubbed them against her jeans. There was no point in worrying about what it would be like to see Blake’s mother again—it would be what it would be, she thought as she pulled into the drive and parked her Jetta behind a white Mercedes.
"Hello, Renatta," Aqua called as she walked a few steps up the driveway and shook Blake’s mother’s hand. It felt strange to call her by her first name. She had aged well and wore a classic navy dress with navy pumps and pearls to accent. Aqua felt underdressed in her designer denim and Burberry top.
"Hello, Aquarius, it's good to see you again." Renatta looked over her shoulder at the house. "What a beautiful, quaint place you've chosen."
"Well, as I said, I'm not sure about it, but I always admired the house when I was a girl. It might be a good fit. And please, call me Aqua. I prefer it."
"Aqua—I like it. Consider it done. I can see why you would admire it, it's quite different from that rather colorful place you grew up in, eh?" Renatta raised her eyebrows as though expecting Aqua to agree.
"I'm sorry?" Aqua raised an eyebrow back, pretending she hadn’t quite heard her.
"Your parents’ house. It's been patched up so many times with all those paint colors." Renatta laughed and waved her hand. "Such creative people your parents."
Aqua studied Renatta for a moment, it was definitely a veiled insult, but in the end, she decided it simply wasn’t worth pursuing. "Could I take a look inside?" she asked steering the conversation in direction for their meeting in the first place.
"Sure you can. Now keep in mind that what you see on the outside is not what you're going to get on the inside. The owner rented it out a few times, and the last tenants did a number on the interior. I warned him about renting to outsiders, but you know people like to do things their own way."
"Indeed, most do." Aqua agreed. "I'm sure whatever was done inside can be repaired."
"Oh yes, it can be. Take a look and make up your own mind." Renatta unlocked the door and pushed it open. “Please,” she said kindly, indicating with an outstretched arm that Aqua step in first.
As Aqua crossed the threshold, she was surprised by the size. It appeared a bit smaller than she expected it to be. Perhaps she’d thought it would be larger because she was younger when she last saw it. As she walked through the living room and into the kitchen, Aqua felt a sense of comfort wash over her—she liked that it was small. She didn't need a lot of space, and its size would make it a lot easier to manage. "It will need a good and thorough paint job." Aqua trailed her fingertips along some marks on the wall. She hoped that would mean she could negotiate down.
"Yes, as I said there are quite a few things that will need to be improved. However, that is reflected in the listing price. So, I think you will find it is more affordable than you expected."
So much for a low-ball offer.
"What have you been up to over the past few years, Aqua? I always wondered."
Aqua bristled under her scrutiny but continued to walk around the house. "I’ve been working for the government as a CPA--in New York City.
"A CPA?" Renatta laughed, but it wasn’t unkind. "I'm sorry, that's just so surprising. I thought for sure you would follow in your parents' footsteps."
"I think they did too." Aqua smiled as she glanced over the kitchen. "You should have seen their faces when I told them my major was going to be finance and accounting."
"I can only imagine. But it's good that you did something more reasonable with your life. I'm sure it will bring you a lot of success."
Aqua faltered. "Um, yes, well I hope so. I've decided to open an office locally."
"Really?" Renatta cleared her throat.
"Is there something wrong?" Aqua stared at Blake’s mother. Was she really going to be rude to a potential client?
"It's just with your family's reputation, it might be difficult for you to get clients."
"Interesting.” Aqua struggled to keep her voice steady. “I already have one client, with more interested. My credentials and education speak for themselves." Aqua frowned. "I'm quite certain it will not be as difficult as you think…" She let her gaze rest on the empty space next to Renatta. “And besides, I am not my parents, regardless of how much I love them.” Aqua gave Renatta a withering stare. “I am my own person.”
Renatta flinched. "Of course you are and I can see that. Yes, you're probably right…” The expression on her face softened. “It may not be too difficult for you to get clients once people realize you are—different. I just hope that you can create some distance between yourself and your parents. I don’t mean for that to sound harsh, but if you want to be successful in this town, you'll need to be taken seriously. Folks around here don't take your parents all too seriously, I am afraid."
"I’m quite certain some do. Their patients do, and their friends do."
Aqua quietly defended.
"Patients?" Renatta smiled evilly. "Oh right, the people they peddle their oils to. Well yes, there are some people in town that use their services, but keep in mind, reputation is everything."
"I'm aware of that and I will remember it." Aqua lowered her eyes. Renatta's view of her parents wasn't isolated in town. They'd arrived as outsiders, and their views and practices made them even more ostracized. As a child, Aqua was often excluded from things that the rest of the kids in the town were invited to. But over time, and through her mother's sheer determination to be heard and her desire for her daughter to have every advantage the other children had, Aqua was accepted. Her parents, on the other hand, frightened off many of the townsfolk.
"I'd hope that by now people would have begun to open their minds a bit." Aqua slipped her hands into her pockets and frowned "In New York City alternative healthcare is common and accepted."
"Perhaps, but this is not New York City, is it? Anyway, I can draw up an offer for you if you'd like. What do you think?"
Aqua hesitated. Did she really want to commit to staying in a town that could be so intolerant? Then she recalled a conversation she had with her mother after she had been teased at school for her tie-dyed shirt. "Intolerance is a sickness, and the only cure is education and tolerance. If we all run away from it, who will be left to change it?"
Rather than extend a conversation that was going nowhere, Aqua simply sighed. "Yes, I’d like to make an offer, Renatta. I’ll get back to you on the offer price. Thank you for your time today." Aqua looked into the older woman's eyes. "Burnt River is my home and nobody will drive me away." She sighed. “Not even me.”
"Of course, it is. I hope you’ll be happy here." Renatta offered a cool smile. Then she turned and hurried off with her cell phone glued to her ear.
Aqua took another glance around the house. Maybe it wasn't perfect, but she was certain that she could turn it into something beautiful.
Chapter 10
The next few days were a blur of paperwork. Luckily, the homeowner was eager to sell and for a price Aqua could afford, but when all was said and done, Aqua was faced with quite a bit of renovation work. Her days were packed, she'd forgotten about the auction until she received a text from Blake reminding her. All set for tonight? I'll pick you up around six?
Aqua’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn't even thought about the event, or what she was going to wear, and she was a mess. A quick glance in the mirror showed she had paint on her nose, and her house was cluttered with boxes, tools, and cans of paint. She wasn't even sure if she could get to her bedroom closet, let alone find something suitable. With only about two hours before the auction started, she texted him back. If you don't mind, I'll meet you there. I have a few last-minute things to do. See you then!
She held her breath. He had always preferred to pick her up for their dates in the past, but then again, neither of them had actually called this a date. There was no time to stress over the terminology as she took a quick shower and walked into town to buy a new dress. Her current wardrobe consisted mostly of pants suits, denim, and shorts. Although the auction was not formal, she had seen a sign that recommended that people dress ‘corporate casual’, whatever that was. Fortunately, there were some wonderful boutique stores in Burnt River now and she found a dress that could be easily dressed up or down. It was perfect. As she walked up to the counter to pay for it, she overheard a conversation between two customers.
“So, he's on the market again? That man can't keep a woman to save his life.”
“Oh, give the guy a break. He's a doctor. Not many women want to be left waiting when his patients take priority. It’s a tough life being together with a man the whole town wants to see 24/7.”
“Any woman that can't see how important a doctor's job is, isn't worth his time, anyway.” The younger woman rolled her eyes. “If I wasn't with Scott, I'd date him in a second.”
“But you are with Scott. So, hands off. Give the single ladies a chance.” Her voice was a purr.
“Are there any left that he hasn't dated?” laughed the other women. “I guess we'll soon find out. I heard that he's bringing a date to the auction tonight.” Her words were laced with ironic suggestion.
“Really?” hissed the one who’d clearly thought that she had a chance.
Aqua's cheeks burned as she handed her credit card to the salesperson. She was sure they had been talking about Blake. That meant all eyes would be on her tonight as she walked in with him. What had she gotten herself into?
By the time she was dressed and left for the auction, Aqua’s heart had settled into a frantic rhythm of beating at twice the usual rate and slowing down again only to pick up in speed seconds later. Was it a date or not? Would everyone there make assumptions about her and Blake? All the locals in their age group knew that they had dated in their senior year. She guessed by the next day, they would be the town gossip. But what if all Blake hoped for was a good time with an old friend and an ex at that?
With her nerves in turmoil, Aqua parked her car not far from the entrance of the community center. After a few deep breaths and a reminder that she had nothing to be nervous about, besides the fact that her body had a mind of its own when it came to Blake, she took one last glance in the rearview mirror. Okay, that thought was not helpful. She was beginning to think her physical reactions to Blake were not a good thing. Why couldn’t her Achilles be something like chocolate?
She stepped out of the car and by the time she reached the door, she found Blake waiting for her outside. He looked good enough to eat in his tight jeans, white shirt, and blue jacket. Aqua didn’t remember him as a classic dresser. Back in high school, Blake was all slacks and baggy t-shirts, but then again they had all dressed differently then.
“I was just about to send out a search party.” Blake grinned like a tomcat eying the cat as he held open the door for her. “You look amazing.”
As Aqua stepped through the door, she could feel his gaze on her like a magnet to metal. She allowed herself a brief smile of triumph at the look in his eye—her dress had the desired effect—followed by a cringe, What’s gotten into me?
When Blake’s hand came to a rest on the curve of her back, it sent a tingle that started with his touch and worked its way up. She shuddered in response.
“Are you cold?” he asked innocently, but his eyes told her that he knew exactly what he was doing. The sensation was deliriously wonderful, and she lost herself in his eyes, completely unaware of the eyes that turned to watch them.
“No, I’m not cold.” Was all she managed.
After saying hello to a few of their mutual friends, Blake led her to a table and pulled out a chair for her.
"The bidding will start soon." Blake settled at the table beside her and handed her a small paddle. "Anything you have your eye on?"
"I'd love to get that glass statue for my mother. I think it would look beautiful in her office.” Aqua’s face lit up. “The colored lights she has in there would complement it perfectly."
"Sounds like a good fit." Blake nodded and turned his attention back to the options on display.
As the bidding began, everyone became enthusiastic to the point that there were loud shouts and swinging paddles in the air. Aqua was so busy laughing that she almost forgot to bid.
"Here, let me get that for you." Blake raised his paddle to bid before she could when her chosen item came up.
"Hey, I wanted that." Aqua giggled and raised her paddle as well.
"I was going to get it for you." Blake flashed her a smile and raised his paddle again.
"No way, I can get it myself. Besides, it's for my Mom and should come from me." Aqua sat up straighter in her chair and waved the paddle through the air. To her surprise, Blake stood and raised his paddle even higher, then started to wave even more frantically than she did.
"Sold! To the enthusiastic gentleman in row 4! The auctioneer laughed as he pointed to Blake.
Laughter peele
d out of Aqua. It truly was the Blake of old! It was as if time had stood still and they were back in high school, competing with each other, but all in good fun.
Aqua offered him her hand. Blake took it and settled back into the chair beside her. Once he was seated, he didn't let go. The warmth of his touch radiated all the way to her core and she bit her lip to stop the smile that threatened to spill over. This felt really good. Mmmm.
Blake glanced over at her.
Darn, did I do that audibly? She slowly released her lip as the heat began rising in her cheeks and ignored the fact that Blake was still looking at her. Her face burned, she squirmed, and then she elbowed him, refusing to give him the satisfaction of looking back. He chuckled but got the hint.
Being with Blake reminded Aqua of a canoe trip they had been on when they were going steady in high school. With the same determination he’d displayed in the community center tonight, Blake had insisted that they break away from the rest of the group. Aqua remembered how she had eagerly agreed. She had been certain back then that Blake had wanted to whisk her away to a quiet spot where they could make out. A flash of desire raced through her at the memory and settled in her stomach when she realized how ready she had been to take their relationship to the next level—she had so wanted to go from first base straight to third.
Instead, Blake had paddled the canoe down a small stream to an area where he knew a waterfall would be. Then he wrapped his arms around her, and they hung out listening to the sound of the water crashing down into the pool below. It had been the most romantic moment in Aqua’s life. It was a moment that she would never forget. Blake had the ability to transport her away from all the drama and uncertainty of her teenage life into the realms of paradise. He had been so unlike the other guys in high school. Any other teenage boy would have taken advantage of the time alone to make out, but not Blake.
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