Page 26 of The Write Track
No, it wasn’t good at all.
7
SEVEN
Home ownership was one of those things that was both a blessing and a curse. I loved the idea of having a new house—it was mine to decorate however I wanted—but having to deal with people to repair items that had magically been missed in the report from the inspectors I’d hired when making the offer was an absolute pain.
“I don’t understand.” I pressed the heel of my hand to my forehead. “How could I need a whole new air conditioning unit when my inspector said it was fine two months ago?”
Hal Shipman, the owner of Shipman Heating and Cooling, merely shrugged. “Take it up with them. Maybe you should have hired a better inspector.”
“And there’s no fixing it?” I was resigned to my fate, but I had to ask.
“Sure.” Hal nodded, giving me a momentary flash of hope. “It will cost about thirty-five hundred bucks. A new unit will cost about double that, but it will be under warranty, and it likely won’t fail again next year, for another thirty-five hundred bucks.”
“Right.” I blew out a sigh. “Fine. Do what needs to be done.”
“I have to order one, which I need your input for. I have some brochures.”
“Great.” I waved toward the house. “Bring them inside.” I was about to turn when I saw a car I didn’t recognize—a small two-door that looked as if it had seen better days—pull into my driveway.
“Who’s that?” Hal asked. “Did you call for a backup estimate? That’s going to cost you extra.”
This guy, I swear, was on my last nerve. “I’m not—” I recognized Bella behind the wheel, gnawing on her bottom lip. She looked uncertain. She’d never been to my house before—I wasn’t even aware she knew where I lived—and she seemed to be second-guessing her decision. “A friend,” I replied finally. “She’s a friend.”
I pointed toward the house again. “Get your brochures. We’re going to make this fast.” I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. “I’ll go talk to her.”
Hal, who had been keen to move things along when he arrived and had eschewed all forms of small talk, suddenly seemed keen to ask questions. “She’s a friend?” he asked as Bella got out of her car. “She doesn’t look like a friend.”
I gave him a dirty look. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Just that she looks like more than a friend.”
“She hasn’t even opened her mouth yet.”
He lifted one shoulder. “She looks like she’s here to do some giggling.”
I had no idea whether that was a good or bad thing in his book. Frankly, I didn’t care. “We’re both authors. We have multiple events we have to attend in the coming weeks. I’m sure it’s just a logistics conversation.”
I caught myself almost immediately. “I don’t owe you an explanation.”
Hal’s smile was smug. “If you say so, Sparky. I’ll get the brochures.” He tipped his head when passing Bella. “Ma’am.”
“You don’t have to call me ma’am,” she said hurriedly to Hal. “I think I’m too young to be a ma’am.”
Hal merely shrugged. “It’s what I do, ma’am.”
“Right.” Bella lowered her chin then sighed. “Whatever makes you more comfortable, of course.”
That was her problem, I decided. She was too worried about making others comfortable. There was no consideration for what made her comfortable. It was kind of irritating. Not that I would say that to her or anything. She appeared to be dealing with too much as it was right now.
“This is a surprise,” I boomed out to her from the stairs of my front porch. “I wasn’t expecting to see you.”
“Yes, well…” Bella looked pained. “Can we talk?”
“Sure.” I opened the door. “Come in. Before we talk, do you mind helping me pick out an AC?”
Confusion knit her eyebrows. “An air conditioner? Why would I know how to pick out an air conditioner?”
