The Living Room Read Online Free PDF Page A

purchase phase, really had been a harmful crutch to his work addiction. Taking a week or two off work and remodeling the place wouldn’t be enough. He needed something more—a self-intervention into the world anywhere outside of his own, with nothing familiar, nothing scheduled, and a blank timetable.
    Suddenly another light came on, this one inside his head. He rushed to the closet for his coat. Reaching into the pocket, he pulled out the pictures that Mr. Stines had given him earlier in the day. He shuffled through them and saw what could be a perfect escape plan to an imperfect palace. One after another, the photographs presented a house of grand scale that had been vigorously overtaken by vines and a lack of care. However, there was a large body of water next to it, and that soothed him. It was cloudy in most of the pictures. They certainly didn’t resemble any of the resort-type brochures that he was used to receiving from the local agents who constantly mail-marketed his building.
    As he gazed at the peaceful setting in the picture, Daniel suddenly ignored the possible value of the property and began to question how it had come to belong to him. How had he remained so uninterested over the past few weeks, with all the messages concerning the passing of a relative? Even without knowledge of his uncle’s existence, and having suspicions of being swindled by some unknown caller, why did he not demand more information? How was he prioritizing the events in his life?
    His mind was now running wild with self-assessment, most of it less than complimentary. His usually balanced self-confidence was starting to give way. It was time for a major change. He wasn’t going to get any more support than he had right now to make it, so his decision was final.
    He turned down the lights and headed back to his room, pictures in hand. The night drifted by slowly, but he managed to get a few hours of sleep.
----
    There was no time to stop for a paper. He wouldn’t read it this morning anyway. Daniel’s corner friend wasn’t concerned about being stood up. He knew the car would pass his street on occasion, especially well before the sun was visible through the morning fog.
    Daniel was first in the office, sitting at his desk with the door closed. He stared more inquisitively at the pictures of the house. How long had the place been vacant? Although spectacular in size, with an attractive heritage-like appearance, it must have been an eye-sore to the neighbors, with all its overgrown hedges and shrubbery. He couldn’t see any houses around it, however, at least not in these pictures.
    Upon his assistant’s arrival, he was quick to catch her. “Nancy, can you confirm my appointment with Art this morning and let me know when he’s in?”
    “Right away,” she replied.
    There was really no need to confirm the appointment she had placed in his calendar yesterday, but she could call and ask Susan, Art’s assistant, if he had arrived yet.
    Within minutes, Art walked through Daniel’s door.
    “I was going to come up and talk to you this morning,” Daniel exclaimed, surprised at Art’s drop-in.
    “I know. Nancy just called up, and I happened to answer my own phone for once, so I chose to come down. Is this work or personal?”
    “Actually both,” Daniel said, trying as always to speak on a professional level with Art, at least within this building.
    Art closed the door and took a seat.
    “I’m taking some time off. Not to get
married
,” he added, “but to get away from the office for a while.”
    Art grinned proudly, appreciative of the fact that he had gotten through to him. “So you
do
still listen to me!”
    “Of course I do. I just assume the really good advice comes from Linda.”
    They laughed, and concerns over their previous chat were washed away instantly.
    “So, what are you going to do?”
    “I’m going to go to England to sell a house I have just inherited, and I need to discuss this with you.”
    Art already