Love Again Read online

  “You too!” I waved over my shoulder.

  James and Henry were both walking in when I arrived.

  “Morning.” They both grumbled like they were only half awake.

  “Morning guys!” I walked back to my office, put my purse in the drawer and powered up my computer to check my emails.

  The first few emails were from clients thanking me for helping them get into their beautiful home. After checking a few more one caught my attention.

  To: [email protected]

  Subject: Wilson Property For Sale

  Dear Lennie,

  My name is Tracie Miles, I am the attorney for Mr. and Mrs. Harold Wilson. I was given your name as an outstanding realtor from a dear friend of mine. If you could please contact me at the number attached I would love to talk to you about being the lead realtor for the property I have. If I don’t hear from you by tomorrow I will continue my search. Have a great day.

  Thank You,

  Tracie

  I clicked on the attached document and dialed her number.

  “Tracie Miles office how may I direct your call?”

  “I need to speak to Tracie please? This is Lennie Ericson in regards to the Wilson property she contacted me about.” I told the secretary.

  “Oh, great! Let me put you through.” She said cheerfully.

  “Thank You.”

  Soft music played for a minute before Tracie’s voice filled the line.

  “I’m so glad you called Lennie!”

  I smiled at her smiling tone, “I wouldn’t miss an opportunity to help somebody.”

  “Good, you sound very efficient. Let me tell you about the property. It’s ten thousand square feet located on North Clark and its move in ready. Eight bedrooms, eight full bathrooms, two partial. There’s a heated indoor-outdoor swimming pool. Three years ago it was updated, and if I must say so myself it’s a very beautiful property.”

  “When can we meet so I can get some pictures?” I asked as I wrote down the details she had given me.

  “This afternoon I have a couple of free hours, will that work for you?” she asked.

  “Absolutely, how about after lunch?”

  “I’ll send you the address and meet you there shortly after one.”

  “Great, I’ll see you then. Thank you so much for giving me a call.”

  She laughed, “See you then, I can’t wait to meet you!”

  After the call was finished she emailed me the address, I Googled the location and my mouth fell open in shock. “JAMES…HENRY!” I yelled.

  Henry was the first to come running into my office, “What?” He looked around frantically. James ran in, “What?!”

  I smiled, “Glad to know you guys are so quick, I received an email about a property this morning. I’m going to meet with the attorney this afternoon.” I motioned for them to look at my computer screen. They both walked around each end of my desk and looked over my shoulder.

  “No fucking way! That’s the Wilson place, it’s been vacant for almost two years…” Henry said but was interrupted by James.

  “That’s at least a fifteen million dollar house—AT LEAST! How did you land that place? I think every single realtor in Chicago has been salivating over it since the Wilson’s passed away.”

  “All Tracie told me was that she was given my name by a previous happy client.” I smiled big.

  “Wow!” They both said in a whisper.

  “Can we go with you? I want to see the place too.”

  “I think you can wait until I’ve got the listing.” I told Henry.

  “Fine!” He said in a pouty tone.

  They both left my office, I entered the location into my cell phone GPS then returned calls from a few people wanting to look at some of the other listings I had.

  The rest of the morning flew by, Henry asked if I wanted to join him and James for lunch but I declined. Justin had text me and wanted to have lunch so I was going to meet him at the restaurant not far from my work place.

  He was just pulling into a parking stall when I arrived, while talking on his cell phone he got out of the black Range Rover and didn’t see me standing a few feet from him. “I know, I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you too.” He hung up the phone then looked in my direction.

  I raised one eyebrow at him, “Who was that?”

  “Mom.” He held his hand out for me to take.

  After we were seated, he continuously checked his cell phone, and would smile then type out a reply. I was being ignored and growing very frustrated. “How has your day been?” I asked him.

  “Busy, how about yours?” He asked but never looked up from his phone.

  “Pretty good, busy.” I said and shrugged a shoulder even though he wasn’t looking at me. Since we were seated in a back corner booth I decided to ask him why he did what he did last night. “Can you explain why you went off on me? I’m really tired of the verbal abuse I’ve been getting from you Justin.”

  He looked up from his phone, “I told you, I don’t approve of that fucking porn you read. I haven’t even read the books and know it’s disgusting!” he whisper yelled.

  I shook my head, “When will things ever be normal between us again. I remember when you used to enjoy relaxing on the couch together; I would read while you watch TV. Now you act like I’m the most…”

  “Shut the fuck up I’m not having this conversation here. I better not catch you reading anymore of that shit either. I’ll burn every book I find!” He gave me a pointed glare.

  We ate our lunch in silence, I checked my watch, “I need to leave I have a new client I have to meet with today.” I finished my cold glass of water and grabbed my purse. “I guess I’ll see you this evening.” I stood to leave.

  Justin jumped from his seat and stopped me, “I’ll give you a ride back to the office.

  “It’s five blocks, I’m sure I’ll make it just fine.” I argued.

  “You’re riding with me, your fucking husband.” He growled in my ear. Then placed his hand at the base of my spine and gently pushed me to the front of the restaurant. I didn’t wait inside, I stepped out and let the sun warm my face and hopefully send some energy through me. My short night combined with the meal was finally catching up with me. “Get in.” Justin unlocked the Ranger Rover and walked around the front to the driver’s side. Part of me wanted to roll my eyes and walk away but I knew that would make him even angrier, and probably make for another short night.

  Traffic was heavy with people rushing to get back to work, Justin blared on the horn and yelled at taxi drivers that cut us off and almost clipped the front bumper of our vehicle. I stared out the side window and looked at the pedestrians on the sidewalk as they talked on their cell phones and made more ground than what we were. I broke the silence in between us, “I miss the old days, the old us.” I said then looked over at him.

  He rolled his eyes, “Nothing’s changed, we’re both under more stress. The first couple years of marriage are the hardest Lennie. I’m working my ass off…shame on me.”

  “No that’s not it! You used to enjoy spending time with me, you said that we would be the envy of every couple. I miss that—I miss you!” tears filled my eyes but I blinked them away.

  “You’ve changed too you know, it’s not just me. You read those stupid fucking books you call romance reads but everybody knows they are just porn in writing.” He shook his head.

  “So that’s what the big problem is? I enjoy reading romance books, did you ever stop to think that maybe it’s because I feel alone all the time? At lunch you couldn’t even stay off of your phone long enough to have a conversation with me! When you’re out of town you never say you miss me, you never talk sweet to me like you used to. You belittle me over the dumbest shit just like last night!” I knew the very second I said it that I shouldn’t have.

  Justin’s icy blue eyes glared over at me his jaw set tight, “Have a great rest of the fucking day Lennie.” He reached across me and opened my door. We were still two block
s from my work, I didn’t even try to argue with him that he could drive two more blocks. I unbuckled my seatbelt, looped my purse strap over my shoulder and got out of the vehicle. Justin barely waited for me to get the door shut before he pulled away.

  When I got back to the office I hurried to get my digital camera then told Henry and James goodbye. The drive would take me about thirty minutes maybe more depending on traffic, luckily for me it wasn’t as busy as earlier.

  I pulled up to the black iron gate and entered the code and the gate eased open. Immediately I was in awe of the property. The lawn was perfectly manicured along the short driveway up to the house. The house was stunning, light brown brick with large floor to ceiling windows. Beautiful flowers and other greenery lined the front of the massive two-story house. After parking in front of the three-car garage I took my camera out of the carrying case and exited my car. I decided to start taking pictures while I waited for Tracie to arrive.

  About ten minutes later she showed up. “I am SO sorry I’m late! Let’s go inside and you can do what you need to do. God where are my manners? I’m Tracie it’s so nice to meet you.” She laughed and extended her hand, I shook her hand.

  When we got inside the house I was completely blown away, it was by far the most gorgeous house I had ever been inside of. It made Justin’s parent’s house look boring and cheap. Tracie’s cell phone rang, “I need to take this call, go ahead and roam around to get some pictures and I’ll find you when I’m done.” She said with a smile.

  The entire main floor had an open floor plan, light brown hardwood floors shined throughout the entire space. Large pillars painted a deep brown separated the rooms, an open staircase led to the second floor, and the kitchen dazzled with white cabinets, chocolate granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. I snapped numerous panoramic pictures of each room then walked towards the back where the pool started about six feet from the back doors. There was a fairly good size back yard with the pool on the other side and a decent sized lounge area. After taking more pictures I went back inside and went upstairs. All of the rooms were huge with their own on suite bathroom, walk in closets and large beds centered against the wall. Just as I was finishing up in with pictures Tracie found me. “This place is breathtaking! Should we discuss what price to list it at?” I asked her.

  “Sure, let’s go down to the kitchen.” She smiled.

  Once we were each seated at the large island I took out my laptop so I could show her what other properties in the area had sold for. I showed them to her then took out my pen and paper. “None of them are remotely close to this place but this gives you a general idea. I think a great starting point would be fourteen million that leaves room for negotiations.” I told her.

  “If you think that’s what it should be listed at I’m totally on board with it!”

  “Great! I have some paperwork for you to sign the rest I’ll be able to fax to you.” I told her.

  As I was pulling the paperwork out I asked her about the pool, “I don’t smell any chlorine, at all?”

  “Nope! They had a state of the art ventilation system installed when the pool was being built. They also chose salt water instead of traditional chlorinated. Harold and Virginia passed away a couple of years ago in a plane crash. They didn’t have any children and their parents were both deceased, they were both adopted as children so they had no siblings to pass the house down to.”

  “Oh my goodness! So where will the money from the sales go then?” I asked.

  “College scholarships for the underprivileged, homeless shelters, children’s hospitals, youth sports programs in the area and of course you’re paycheck.” She said with a smile.

  I slid the paperwork to her and she signed it. “I’ll get it on the website today and probably do an open house next week. I’m so excited about this!”

  “Great! I hate to cut out on you but I have another meeting at my office, fax the other paperwork to me and I’ll be in touch with you.” She handed me a business card and we shook hands.

  “Lennie if you ever want to go out for drinks or dinner I’d love to get to talk to you more. I know this will sound bad but I really don’t have many friends outside my firm, sometimes I need that ear to rant and rave about my staff…just general B.S.”

  “Sounds like a plan! Maybe next weekend we can have dinner then hit a club?” I hated lying to her, but I knew that Justin would be livid if I went to a club without him.

  She nodded her head, “I’d really like that.”

  We got in our vehicles and left. I was so happy on the way back that I just had to call Corrina and tell her about the house. She didn’t answer so I left her a voicemail, “Hey BFF give me a call when you have time. I have some super exciting news! Love you and miss you…muah!” I hung up the phone.

  Once I got back to the office James and Henry both followed me into my office so I could give them details and they could see pictures of the house. “You’re going to make a killer commission off of it.” Henry said.

  “Then she’s going to leave us and open her own business…I just know it.” James pouted.

  I laughed, “I’m not leaving I promise, I have to get the property sold first and let’s face it. That’s a pretty big chunk of money.” I said.

  “You’d be surprised, I bet your head is going to be spinning with phone calls and showings.” James told me.

  “We will see.” I replied.

  Hopefully James was right. If I could sell this place it would get my name out to more potential clients and skyrocket my career.

  Growing up my life was far from the ideal childhood. My dad was an abusive prick to my mom--but it didn’t stop there. He found his way into the wrong crowd of drug dealers and used his own wife as payment when he didn’t have enough money.

  The tiny apartment we lived in had walls that were paper thin, there were many nights that I laid in my bed listening to my mom beg dad not to let the men touch her. Then I would listen to her beg them to stop whatever they were doing to her. Countless mornings I would tip toe out of my small bedroom and find mom holding frozen vegetables to her face. She could only leave the house if dad was taking her to work at the diner, sometimes he would let me go with them but most of the time I had to stay at home.

  His ‘friends’ would stop by and wait for them to get back, at only seven years old my mom had already showed me how to shoot the pistol she kept hidden under the couch.

  “You scared of us boy?” a greasy haired old man asked with a cigar stuck between his lips.

  “N…no sir.” I stuttered out in response.

  “Maybe I need to have a talk with your Pa…it’s not nice to lie to your elders.” He said and blew a cloud of smoke in my face.

  The door to the apartment swung open, dad pushed mom through the door, “Here she is boss.” Dad said as he walked with his hand gripping her bicep tightly.

  “Perry please don’t, please I can’t do anything tonight.” Mom tried to protest. Dad tightened his grip on her arm, she winced from the pain and tears filled her eyes.

  “Dominique go to your room, why the fuck are you even out here?” dad shouted and pointed his finger toward my bedroom door.

  “Please don’t hurt momma.” I looked at dad and the other two guys.

  “GO.TO.YOUR.FUCKING.ROOM!” Dad yelled so loud I jumped and hurried to my room. I curled up on my bed and cried as I heard mom’s muffled cries.

  Sometime later I was woke up by somebody gently shaking my shoulder. My eyes hurt from crying myself to sleep. When I peeked through the slits mom was knelt beside my bed.

  “Dominique baby wake up.”

  “Mom?” I whispered.

  “Come on baby, we have to leave now!” she whispered in a rush.

  I rubbed my eyes and sat up in my bed, “But daddy will hurt us.”

  “No he won’t not if we leave right now. Come on.” She smiled and held her hand out to me.

  She slowly opened my bedroom door, the squeak of the rusty
hinges filled the silent apartment. With big eyes I squeezed moms hand and looked up at her. I just knew that daddy would be storming toward us any second. She looked down at me and squeezed my hand and held her finger up to her mouth “Shh…”

  I held on to her hand so tight my hand started to go numb. She ran over to the couch, grabbed the small black gun and something that looked like a stuffed sock. Then we rushed over to the door, she quickly put the gun and sock in her coat and helped me put my old holey coat on. When she opened the apartment door she looked both ways down the dingy smelly hallway. The lights buzzed and flickered, the hallway was cold and scary. Gently she closed the door and walked briskly almost jogging down the hall. When we made it down the three flights of stairs she looked both ways before practically pulling me out the front door into the misty night. “Almost there baby.” She was jogging but never let go of my hand.

  A couple of blocks later a long shiny black car pulled up next to us, “Momma no.” I tried to tug her away from the car.

  “Come on baby, they are going to help us…I promise. He won’t be able to hurt us again.” She tugged me toward the car and opened the door. With hesitation I climbed into the warm car with mom right behind me. The car pulled away from the curb, then lights turned on in the car, there sat a man and woman, both dressed in clothes that looked really expensive.

  “Hello Dominique, I’m Virginia Wilson and this is my husband Harold. You don’t need to be scared of us we are going to help you and your momma.”

  I snuggled against mom, “Okay.” I whispered but didn’t take my eyes off of either of them. The car ride was smooth and soft music played, I fought to stay awake in case they weren’t telling the truth.

  When I woke up later that morning I screamed and jumped out of bed. I wasn’t in my own bedroom and mom wasn’t with me. The door swung open and mom rushed in. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m right here. We’re safe now, go take a shower and brush your teeth then we’ll go downstairs and you can have a big yummy breakfast. How does that sound?”

  She gathered some clothes that weren’t mine then went into the bathroom and started the shower for me. “Don’t leave me momma.” I told her.