The Most Famous Illegal Goose Creek Parade Read Online Free PDF Page B

Before he’d even gotten out of the car, she trotted over to stand in the unmowed grass, waiting for the realtor to park.
    Louise Gaitskill emerged from her shiny red Camry with a folder in one hand and a Starbucks cup in the other. A slender blonde, she would have towered a full head above Millie even without the spike-heeled shoes that contorted her feet into an impossible angle. As the two women hugged, Al shook his head. How her dogs must ache at night when she kicked those ridiculous contrivances off and descended to earth. Thank goodness his wife had better sense.
    Of course, the fact that he was here, ready to look through this atrocity of a house, proved that Millie’s good sense did not extend to real estate.
    Al slid out of his seat and pocketed the keys. Might as well get the ordeal over with.
    Millie turned at his approach. “Albert, you know Louise, don’t you?”
    The realtor shoved a pair of sunglasses up on her head and pasted a bright smile on lips the same color as her Camry. “Of course. Nice to see you again, Mr. Richardson.” She tucked the folder beneath one arm and extended her hand.
    Al always approached a handshake with a woman with an awkward feeling of caution. How hard should he squeeze? Too much pressure and they might interpret the gesture as a show of male dominance.On the other hand, some ladies approached a handshake like a football tackle, and he never could decide what they were trying to prove with such a firm grip. Others melted limply in the moment of contact, and what did that mean?
    â€œCall me Al,” he mumbled as he made a grab at her fingers and gave them a quick shake. Then he shoved his hand into the safety of his trouser pocket.
    â€œAl, then.” Another blinding smile. She had obviously bleached her teeth recently. “I’m excited to show you this property. I think you’ll agree it has tremendous potential.”
    He narrowed his eyes. “Potential for what?”
    She splayed her free hand wide. “Why, for whatever you want to do with it.”
    Best get this out in the open right up front. “I don’t want to do anything with it. The yard is a shambles, and far too big for us. The roof needs replacing, and it’s obvious to anyone with a set of eyes in his head that the house is in a sad state of disrepair. In my opinion it’s an antique atrocity.”
    After a nearly imperceptible pause, Louise’s already-bright smile gained a kilowatt or two. “Valid concerns, and definitely something you and Millie need to discuss before making a decision. This property is what we’d call a fixer-upper. Now, if you’ll follow me.”
    She swiveled on one spiked heel and headed for the front steps. Millie trailed after her, leaving Al alone on the crumbling blacktop. So that’s how it was going to be. He studied the women chatting amicably while Louise unlocked the front door. Obviously, she and Millie were in cahoots. They’d both decided to ignore his protests and act as though buying this property were an actual possibility. By doing so, no doubt they hoped to dull his determination, to lure him gradually to their way of thinking.
    Well, he would not tamely concede the victory in this battle.
    Setting his jaw, he marched up the stairs after them.

    Louise pushed the door open and stood aside. Millie crossed the threshold and stopped, her gaze sweeping the entry hall. The magnificent staircase dominated the room, demanding the admiration of everyone who entered. It swept upward, turned, and then continued toward the second floor bedrooms. A railing ran alongside a generous landing above. She closed her eyes, picturing the charming Queen Anne sofa she would place at the top of those stairs. A spindly-legged side table with a giant vase of flowers would add the perfect touch. Was there room for a small bookshelf? She’d like to have an assortment of antique books on the shelves, and maybe a