For Sale By Owner

by Marlene Bateman

  “Building a fire?” Kenzie asked. She was going to offer to bring in firewood until she saw the tall stack against the wall.

  “Nothing like a fire on a cold winter day,” Allen said, stacking small pieces of wood on top of crumpled-up newspaper. He added a few bigger logs then twisted some newspaper. Lighting one end of the newspaper, he held it inside the box near the flue to force the heavier, cold air up and out of the chimney. That way, the smoke would go up the chimney instead of out into the room. Allen lit two corners of the crumbled newspaper inside the wooden teepee on the bottom of the fireplace and shut the door.

  He rose a little stiffly, then took a chair by the fireplace so he could keep an eye on it. “There we go. We’ll have this room toasty in no time.”

  “Dad, I wanted to ask you about the offer Tom got on his house.” She sat nearby on the couch.

  “What about it? Are you still upset Jared bought the house before you did?”

  Something in his tone or words—maybe both—irritated Kenzie, and she ignored the question. “Is there any way Tom could get out of it? I mean, I know he signed the offer, but I’m wondering if there was any way around it.”

  “I don’t know of any.”

  Her father didn’t seem to be trying very hard to be helpful. “I thought that since it was only an offer, there might be some kind of loophole somewhere. Surely there’s something I could do!”

  “Talk with Tom—he’d know if anybody would.”

  “I did, and he says there’s nothing.”

  “There’s your answer, then. Besides, Tom lives up to his agreements. He has integrity.”

  Kenzie’s spine stiffened until she was sitting ramrod straight. “And I don’t. Is that what you’re saying?”

  Her father ran a hand through his silver hair. “I swear! You’re touchier than a bear with hangnails. I only meant that Tom signed an agreement, and he’s living up to it.”

  “But it was just an offer. I thought the house would always stay in the family. And I’m Tom’s sister. Shouldn’t family come first?” Kenzie threw out her hands palms up to make her case.

  “Integrity comes first,” her father said.

  She should have known better than to ask him! Kenzie huffed. He was no help at all. Not only didn’t he understand how badly she wanted the house, he didn’t even to try to understand. “So you’d rather have Tom sell the old family home to a stranger than to me.”

  “Not at all, but if you had used the brains God gave you, you’d have spoken up a long time ago. You knew the house was for sale—what were you waiting for?”

  “I had a lot going on,” she shot back. “For one thing, I had to make sure I had a new job before I said anything to Tom. If I’d told him I wanted the house before I got hired at Reliance, you’d say I was irresponsible.”

  “There you go again, being defensive. I was simply asking a question—a reasonable one, I might add.” Allen went to the fireplace, poked at the logs, and threw on another one. The flames crackled and danced.

  He settled back in his chair. “I couldn’t help notice that you decided to move back to Lake Forest when you thought your mom and I were leaving.”

  “I didn’t plan it that way—it just happened.”

  “Like the way you just happened to be too busy the last couple of years to come and visit?”

  “Look, I brought Sara down for two weeks just last summer.”

  “Dropped her off and hightailed it home. Oh, I know you were busy at work and it was hard when Larry left, but what I don’t understand is why you cut us out of your life. Your mom and I wanted to be there for you—but you didn’t want anything to do with us. Most people rely on family during hard times, but not you. Why?”

  Was he really asking her that? Her father couldn’t possibly be that clueless. There was no way he could he have forgotten saying such outrageous and hurtful things about her and Larry. Kenzie’s chest hurt just thinking about it. Working hard to control herself, Kenzie stated flatly, “You know why.”

  Allen’s head jerked back a little. “I wouldn’t be asking if I did.”

  “It was all those horrible accusations you made.”

  Her father sat very still, brows knit together in puzzlement. The only sound in the room was the crackling of the fire. Kenzie dared not say any more—else the volcano inside her erupt.

  The side door opened, and Elaine walked in, carrying sacks of groceries, which she set on the counter. “Sorry I’m late.” Then she frowned at them. “You two look cozy, but do you realize what time it is? We’ve got to get going.”

  Glancing at the clock above the fireplace, Kenzie remembered. Tonight was the Relief Society activity where they were taking Christmas baskets to needy families. She’d totally forgotten—what with the tense conversation. Since it would be dark when delivering the baskets, the Relief Society president had asked to have at least one priesthood holder go with each group of two or three sisters.

  Kenzie pulled out her cell phone. “I’ll call Sara and tell her to come home. She wanted to go.”

  Going into the kitchen, Allen started putting groceries away. “What time do you need me to come over?” he asked, pulling out a bunch of bananas from a sack.

  “Why don’t you drive over with us.” Elaine put the milk in the fridge. “It won’t take long to assemble the baskets.”

  Her father threw a regretful glance toward the fire and his chair, then put apples and oranges in the vegetable bins. Kenzie was putting on her coat when Sara burst through the door with Kaylee, a pink-cheeked little cherub with long brown hair.

  “Can Kaylee go with us?” Sara begged her grandmother. “You said I would see some Christmas magic tonight.”

  “I suppose so,” Elaine replied, “but we’ll need to check with her mother to make sure it’s all right.”

  “I already asked my mom, and she said it was fine,” Kaylee burst out.

  Kenzie had been caught in similar situations before, only to find out later the mother was unaware of her child’s plan. She called Kaylee’s mother to confirm, and they were soon on their way.

  At the ward house in Gurnee, tables had been set up in a long line in the cultural hall. Women and men formed assembly lines on either side of the tables with each person adding cookies, fruit, or canned goods to a basket and sliding it along to the next person. On other tables were blankets, quilts, coats, and other items tagged for certain families. There were also brightly colored gift bags that contained items for specific families, such as diapers, formula, school supplies, clothes, and other things chosen based on home and visiting teachers’ suggestions. As the baskets were completed, men carried them out. Supervisors made sure each group had the correct gift bags and specialty items for the families on their list.

  Tom arrived late, and Kenzie was surprised to see Jared and Corey with him. She busied herself packing apples and oranges, and when the apples gave out, she went to the kitchen to see if there were any more. While there, Esther, a friendly older woman with a reddened face and wearing wire-rimmed glasses, asked about Kenzie’s family. Esther could have talked all night, and it took a while before Kenzie could break away. Returning to the cultural hall, she saw that quite a number of people had already left. She went over to her mother, who was packing the leftovers into boxes. Kaylee and Sara were helping.

  “Where did Tom go?”

  Waving a hand around vaguely, Elaine said, “I don’t know. He must have left with one of the groups.”

  Rats. She’d hoped to go with him.

  “Sara and Kaylee wanted to go with Sister Taylor, me, and your dad, but Melanie and Becky could use someone else in their group.” Kenzie looked toward the doorway where the two ladies were waiting, coats on. She knew them well.

  Although in her late fifties, Melanie had retained the slender figure of a young woman. She saw Kenzie looking in their direction and waved her over. “Come with us, Kenzie,” As they went outside, Melanie checked her list and directed them toward an SUV. “Over
here. Jared Rawlins is going to be our driver.”

  Oh no! Kenzie glanced around, hoping to see some other group she could join, but it was too late. Many vehicles had left, and others were backing out, red lights shining in the darkness.

  Melanie and Becky, a handsome woman with coffee-colored skin, beat Kenzie to the backseat. “Go on and sit up front with Jared,” Becky directed. “We’ll sit by this handsome young man.” They slid in beside Corey.

  “Nice to see you, Kenzie.” Jared sounded amused as she clicked her seat belt. “Glad you decided to come with me.”

  His teasing rankled a bit, and Kenzie turned her head so she could roll her eyes without him seeing. She didn’t look forward to the ride, but Melanie and Becky were bright and chatty, and soon all of them were laughing on their way to the first of three stops they would make in Gurnee.

  When Jared parked in front of a small square-brick home, the five of them poured out of the Ford Explorer. The women pulled their scarves tighter against the cold wind as they arranged themselves in a semicircle around the front door and sang, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

  Mr. Keeler, an elderly man wearing suspenders, opened the door. He had an expression of utter delight on his wrinkled face as he called in a reedy voice for his wife to come. Mrs. Keeler, a frail-looking woman with thin hair, shuffled to the door in worn slippers. She clutched at her sweater with one hand and held onto the door frame with the other as the group sang another carol. The elderly couple exchanged rapturous looks with one another, and to Kenzie, their smiles seemed brighter than the stars. She no longer felt the cold. There was only a warming inner glow. When they finished, Mr. and Mrs. Keeler eagerly invited them in. They oohed and aahed over their gift basket, then unpacked the gift bag, which held new sweaters for both of them.

  Tears shone in Mr. Keeler’s rheumy eyes. “I’ll make good use of this!” he said, taking off his own worn sweater, which was missing a button. He put on his new blue sweater and smoothed down the front. “How did you know I needed one?”

  “Santa must have got your letter,” Jared told him with a smile.

  Becky handed a blanket to Mrs. Keeler, who rubbed it against her cheek in wonder. “It’s as soft as a kitten,” she exclaimed.

  “Oh my gosh, I nearly forgot,” Jared cried. Hurrying outside, he returned with a large sack of dry cat food.

  “You thought of everything,” Mrs. Keeler said. “I’d ask Mittens to come and thank you, but she always hides when we have visitors.” They chatted for a while, and when it was time to go, the Keelers reluctantly bid them good night.

  As Jared headed for the Nesrin home, Melanie and Becky filled Kenzie in on the family’s circumstances. The father had been laid off. While trying to land a new job, he worked nights at a warehouse. They pulled up in front of a modest white stucco home. Kenzie and the others stood at the bottom of the porch, and as they started to sing, four bright-eyed children of assorted sizes came to stand on the porch, their faces wreathed in smiles. Their mother joined them in wide-eyed wonder. After several carols, Mrs. Nesrin invited them in. Tears sprang to her eyes when she saw them carry in gift bags, coats, and an overflowing basket.

  The children could hardly contain themselves, eying the basket and trying to peek past the tissue paper into the holiday bags. Standing close to the mother, Becky told her in a low voice, “There are a few presents for each of the children in the bags. You can open them now or on Christmas, whichever you’d rather.”

  Mrs. Nesrin appeared torn, but finally she whispered, “I think we’ll wait—Billy and I don’t have a whole lot for them.” She told the children, “Put the bags under the tree; they’re for Christmas. But you can have the coats and the basket now.”

  There were only a few groans before the children started trying on coats. Two of the boys dug into the basket, taking out candy, fruit, and cookies and holding them up to show the others. A shaggy-haired boy of ten pulled out a canned ham, looking thoroughly puzzled.

  Mrs. Nesrin took it from him with a laugh. “This is for Christmas dinner. Then she reached for a package of cookies while asking the group, “Would you like to have some?”

  “That’s very nice of you, but we’re good,” Melanie said warmly, sitting on the blanket-covered couch. “We’ll just visit a minute before we head to our next stop.”

  Kenzie’s chest tightened as she viewed the tree, a tall version of Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree. A little girl around Sara’s age zipped up her coat then spun in a circle for all to admire the pretty pink fabric.

  “It’s beautiful!” Kenzie said, making the girl beam. She wished they didn’t have to go. A tiny girl with black braids toddled over to an orange that had fallen out. Picking it up with great effort, she handed it to Kenzie before wobbling off toward the basket.

  Kenzie’s heart melted when Jared took time to speak to each child, asking them their name, age, and what they wanted for Christmas. When he put the littlest girl on his lap, her dark eyes peered up at him trustingly as if he were Santa Claus himself. Kenzie yearned to leave more than a basket, coats, and a few presents, yet the Nesrins acted as though they had received the world.

  When they got up to leave, Kenzie reached into her pocket, where she had tucked a twenty-dollar bill a few days ago. Wishing she had more, she slipped it into the basket to be discovered later.

  Their last stop was at a neat little clapboard house. Mr. Rodriguez, a cheerful elderly man with wispy white hair, opened the door and shouted, “You can’t sing out there! It’s too cold! Come on in here where it’s warm.”

  Backing up his walker to make room, Mr. Rodriguez watched as they filed into the small cluttered room. With some difficulty, he maneuvered himself into a chair then watched cheerily as they sang. Kenzie stood by Jared, listening to his deep voice ring out. When they finished one carol, Mr. Rodriguez’s asked for another, then another, his face beaming. Then he asked them to sit and visit.

  A blanket hung from the ceiling, closing off the tiny room from the rest of the house. Noticing Becky’s curious glance, Mr. Rodriguez explained, “During winter, I close off the heat vents in the rest of the house except for my bedroom. A friend of mine put up the blanket to help keep the cold out.”

  Jared nodded toward the fireplace. “Do you have any wood?”

  “My neighbor usually chops some for me, but I ran out a couple of days ago.”

  “I used to chop wood a lot,” Jared said. “Nothing gives your muscles a better workout.” He nodded toward Corey. “I was telling my son the other day that I needed to get more exercise. Would you mind if I came here once in a while and chopped wood? It would be a lot cheaper than me going to the gym.”

  Mr. Rodriguez accepted graciously. “That would be very nice, thank you.”

  Melanie handed the elderly man a gift bag and a colorful quilt the Relief Society had tied. “Why, this is exactly what I asked Santa for!” Mr. Rodriguez exclaimed happily, his gnarled hands clutching the quilt. His eyes went to the gift basket Becky had set on a table. “It’s sure nice of you people to remember me like this.”

  Kenzie was glad for the envelope she’d seen tucked in his basket, which would help Mr. Rodriguez afford simple necessities. They visited for a time then gave him a hug before wishing him a Merry Christmas.

  As Jared drove to Becky’s home in Gurnee, they talked in soft, emotional voices about the evening. Melanie said she would check to make sure each family was being visited regularly by home and visiting teachers. After dropping Becky off, they headed for Lake Forest.

  During the evening, Kenzie had been very aware of Jared. As he drove now, Kenzie glanced over just as a passing streetlight lit up Jared’s face. She liked what she saw. When they’d first met, there had been an immediate connection, but Kenzie had pushed her interest aside once she’d discovered he was buying her brother’s house. Still, sheer magnetism kept drawing her to him. The attraction she’d always felt had been amplified by the tender emotions of the evening, and it came as a jolt to
realize that Jared Rawlins had claimed a piece of her heart. Just how much, she wasn’t sure. It came as a surprise—Kenzie had been fiercely independent ever since her divorce. Although she dated, Kenzie had not met anyone she wanted a long-term relationship with—and here Jared had crept into her heart without even trying.

  Melanie cheerily bid them good night, and Jared headed for Kenzie’s house. She stole another glance at him, wondering at the strange, fluttery sensation in her stomach. How could she be charmed by a man who was taking her house away from her? It was unanswerable. And yet on this night, there was a special and undeniable camaraderie between them as they chatted quietly. Even when they fell momentarily silent, driving past houses festooned with Christmas lights, the very air was full of warmth and tenderness. And when Jared gave her one of his special smiles, Kenzie’s heart began beating faster.

  Too soon, Jared pulled in the driveway of her parents’ home. She turned to see that Corey had fallen asleep, his head lolling against the side of the SUV.

  “Thanks for taking us around,” Kenzie said softly.

  “I’m glad Tom asked me. Tonight made me remember what Christmas is all about. I hope the Relief Society decides to do this every year.”

  “I hope so too.” For Kenzie, it had been a life-changing experience—one she would always remember. The evening had brought back all the special emotions and excitement she used to feel as a child at Christmastime.

  “All the families were so appreciative, but seeing how little they had made me feel guilty,” Jared admitted. “I have so much, and I don’t appreciate it enough.”

  “I thought the same thing. I need to count my blessings more often.” Her head felt light with Jared looking at her like that.

  “I’m really glad you came with me,” he said.

  “Me too. Earlier tonight, my mom told Sara that if she came, she would see some Christmas magic.” She smiled gently when he reached over and took her hand in his warm fingers. “She was right,” she said, gazing into Jared’s eyes. “There was a lot of magic tonight.”