Page 79 of You'll Love it Here

By the time I retrieve my phone from the counter, I’d almost forgotten that I’d sent her my latest good news.

I almost laugh at what’s on my screen.

A single thumbs-up emoji.

Later, she’ll say she got busy but she was really happy to see that news. That’s usually how it goes.

So instead of popping open some bubbly or whatever delusions I had of celebrating today, it ends up being one of those nights where I can’t sleep no matter how much I crumple my comforter between my legs.

Too Real Estate

“Hello, Mona?”

Lana answers on the first ring, yet it doesn’t feel fast enough. Not with the urgency that’s kept me buzzing in my apartment all morning.

“Hi, so, you haven’t answered my email. Did you see the plans I sent over?”

After hours in bed staring at the ceiling, I pulled out my laptop and did what I do best during times of stress—make a thorough, color-coded plan. I created a grid for all the bills and repeating services on the property, a graph showing the rate the rents could gradually increase over the course of five years to come up to market value, and a budget for a live-in super who could handle the day-to-day when Irene couldn’t. It’s not perfect, but it keeps Irene owning her home, and the community just that much more intact.

Three cups of coffee on an empty stomach later, my hands are shaking. “What do you think?” I ask again, shifting at her silence.

“Ah yes, thanks for sending that over. Very interesting proposal.” Lana’s voice is distant and bored, not a hint of the urgency I’ve been feeling.

“So, are you going to call off the sale?” Again, I can’t keep the anxiety out of my voice.

Lana’s laughter cuts through the line. “Mona, you know I can’t do such a thing. I’m a realtor, I sell properties. What would my clients think?”

“I get that it’s a little odd, but I’ve thought about it, and Missy and Robin seemed nice. They’d probably understand.”

“Missy and Robin? Mona, the purchaser is Northern Property Management. Their firm is familiar with the area, and their offer wasverygenerous.”

“Northern Property Management!” I can’t help it. I actually squeal. They’re the construction company Sami hates the most, the one with the dirty construction sites on either side of Valleyview Apartments. “Lana, they’ll demolish the building and keep it as an empty lot gathering trash for years.” I hate the tremble in my voice—the way emotion creeps in despite promising myself I’d handle this professionally.

“The buyer intends to use the land to build a new apartment complex, one with all the modern amenities expected for a unit in this area. That’s a good thing, Mona.” She sounds almost bored.

“Lana, you can’t let Northern Property Management buy this place. You know seeing this place torn down would break your aunt’s heart.”

For the first time, her voice softens. “I know it’s not ideal, but it’s the best offer we had by a mile, so—”

I interrupt. “There’s no way your aunt is signing off on this! No way.” Because how can she not see how unreasonable she’s being?

“Actually, she already has. Yesterday morning. I wanted to make sure she would accept before I told you the good news.” Her voice lowers. “Look, it’s heartbreaking, but Mona, this needed to happen. I have been temporarily managing her finances, and it’s clear how bad things have gotten. I’m doing the best I can by her, and this buyer is giving her far more of a nest egg than her emotional attachments ever could. Of course she saw that she had to sign.”

I flash back to my conversation with Irene—that sad, wistful look in her eye. It was her form of saying goodbye.

“But the residents, these people’s homes!” My voice is startingto sound whiny—I can hear it. I’ve already lost, that much is clear. But I can’t stop myself from grasping for some loophole, trying to claw my way out of this mess.

Lana lets out an exasperated sigh. “While I of course sympathize with the residents, my responsibility is to serve the client’s best interest. I’m sure you can understand this.” Her cool detachment only sharpens the pain. The subtext is clear: Lana is going to bemyclient now too.

I try one more time. “No. I know there’s another option. I sent you a plan that would work!”

Lana’s candor counteracts mine with its professional monotone. “And if you’d put that together weeks ago, before all this, I would’ve considered it, but genuinely it’s too late now.”

“It’s not too late! That’s the thing, Lana—it’s never too late unless you give up or die.” I choke on my words. “Your aunt can’t just lose her life’s work. You have the power to stop this ball rolling and do therealright thing by her.”

Her sigh is almost charitable, like she’s losing patience with a child. “Mona, that’s sweet that you’ve had this, er... revelation, but it doesn’t change the real world. It doesn’t change business. Of course, the transaction can’t be stopped now.”

“Lana, please. I will go over everything with your aunt myself. I can help her. If she sees this, I’m sure she’d be happy to try to save this place.”