Bree, the assistant Madeline shared with two other realtors at her firm’s offices, wasn’t very appreciative of Madeline’s checking in on Sunday morning. But Madeline couldn’t wait until Monday; she had too much to do in a very short week. She went over some details of her workload with Bree, making sure that two closings and some market research were covered for the week.
“This isn’t really necessary,” Bree said when Madeline insisted she take notes. “You spent an hour with me going over all the details of your workload for the next month in case your plane went down.”
“Just double-checking,” Madeline said briskly.
“You also double-checked in case you were in a car wreck and incapacitated.”
“You can’t be too careful,” Madeline reminded her.
“Yeah, Madeline, you can.”
Madeline could hear Bree’s kids in the background, the low voice of her husband telling them to be quiet, that Mommy was on the phone. Madeline felt a familiar but strange squeeze in her chest, the one she always felt when she was confronted with the evidence of an actual happy family and the glaring absence of same in her life.
“Any movement on DiNapoli?” Madeline asked brightly, trying to ignore the sound now of pots and pans being banged around Bree’s kitchen.
“Nothing,” Bree said through a yawn. “I told you I’d call you the minute I heard anything.”
“Right. Just hoping. Okay, well—I guess I’ll see you next week?”
“We’ll all still be here,” Bree said. “Madeline—don’t worry so much. You’re only gone for a few days. Everything will still be here, including your listings. You made sure of it, remember?”
“Yes.”
“With your flowcharts—”
“Right, okay—”
“And your e-mail alerts.”
“Okay, okay,” Madeline said. “Sorry.” It was no secret to Madeline that she had some control issues. It wasn’t the first time she’d gone a little overboard with Bree. She had tried to temper herself, she truly had, but her anxiety of something falling through the cracks outweighed her need to try and not bury Bree with details. It was an ongoing battle for her.
“Just enjoy yourself for once, will you?” Bree said. “Breathe some mountain air and unbutton the collar of your shirt.”
Wow. She was seriously going to have to address her wardrobe since it seemed to weigh so heavily on everyone’s mind. “Okay, I will.” She would certainly try, anyway.
She made one other call, to Teresa, her co-coach of the soccer team. “No problem,” Teresa said cheerfully. “Guess what? Melania scored a goal! It was completely by accident, but still.”
“That’s fabulous!” Madeline said, wishing she’d been there to see it.
“The girls are asking about you.”
“Tell them I’ll be back soon,” Madeline said.
“Will do. Have a good time!” Teresa said.
A good time. What a novel idea.
Madeline donned a new sundress and checked herself out in it. She liked what she saw—she had a good figure for the dress. She never wore dresses at home—they felt too casual, too loose. Suits and pumps, that fit her life in Orlando.
Was that true?
She was beginning to wonder.
Madeline carefully packed her things, checked her room and bathroom three times for any items left behind, and made her way to the lobby.
Dani whistled at Madeline when she came into the lobby, rolling her carry-on bag behind her. “Now you look like a mountain woman, sweetie.”
Madeline glanced down at herself. She was wearing the red dress with the white polkadots, Luke’s denim jacket, and her hiking boots. She’d braided her hair and donned the cap, ready to work, to do whatever needed to be done. At least that felt familiar. It felt natural. That was who she was, really—a take-charge, get-it-done kind of gal.
“So where are you going?” Dani asked as she printed Madeline’s bill.
“I haven’t worked that out quite yet, but I’ve got a couple of options.”
Dani grinned. “Sure you do. Pretty girls always have options.”
Madeline smiled. “Thanks, Dani.” She paid her bill and tucked it away into the clear envelope marked “receipts” in her day planner. “See you around?”
“I hope so!” Dani said. “We have breakfast specials every day this week, so come on down and get some when you’re ready.”
Madeline walked outside into bright, crystalline sunlight. She paused to breathe in deep, felt the crisp air expanding in her lungs and making her feel instantly better. All right, then, the best course of action was to tackle the tasks at hand, which she had conveniently listed just this morning. Number One: Extend the lease on her car rental.
She stood on the covered sidewalk and called the rental company with her plan to keep the tin can for the week… until she discovered she would have to pay a fee for converting her weekend contract to a weeklong contract.
“That makes no sense whatsoever,” Madeline insisted.