“What’s the offer?”
Jewel told her, and Emily’s heart sank like a boulder tossed into Lake Huron. It was enough to cover all their renovations and closing costs and leave Emily a small cushion between solvency and disaster. The amount could tide her and Chloe over for a while, but the only way they’d be able to afford another flip was if Jewel was willing to put in extra.
“But they’re preapproved with a great credit rating, so we should be able to close pretty soon,” Jewel was saying. “Like in just a few weeks. Can you get home for that?”
“I guess. I’ll have to look into flights.” And spend the money on airfare. At least she could do a fast round-trip flight and leave Chloe with Gigi. Leaving Tiny in charge of her current renovation was not ideal. Quite likely nothing productive would be accomplished while she was away, although his square dancing might improve. Then again, she could ask Ryan to keep an eye on things. Maybe.
“I think we should take the offer, Em. There’s been very little buyer interest in this house, and I think the sooner we unload this monstrosity, the better off we’ll all be. Normally you know I’d say we should counteroffer, but I also know they’re ready to pull the trigger on another house if they can’t get this one at the price they’re offering.”
Emily was as eager as Jewel to put the house in her rearview mirror. It was a financial hit, but who knew when another buyer might show up? That house had been doomed since the day they’d gotten the keys.
“Okay. Let’s take it before the roof caves in or the place gets infested with locusts. I’ll see how soon I can get there. What’s the other news?” She found herself squinting, as if bracing for impact, and Jewel took a couple deeper breaths.
“Well, I was going to wait until you got here for the closing, but I can’t keep this a secret.”
Definitely bracing for impact. She could tell by the tone of Jewel’s voice this was something significant.
“Kevin and I are getting married! Can you believe it?” Jewel’s voice went supersonically loud, and her words were followed by squeals so shrill they pierced right into Emily’s eardrum. Wow, that really hurt. Was there blood? Her ear might actually be bleeding right now. But that was nothing compared to the shock jolting through her chest. Married? Jewel was getting married? To Kevin the electrician?
“You are?” Her own voice was nearly as loud, nearly as squeaky. Excellent. Now both her ears were bleeding. “How the hell did that happen? I mean . . . oh my gosh! That’s . . . that’s fantastic?” It wasn’t, though. It wasn’t fantastic at all. Jewel hardly knew him! “Um, so tell me everything.” That was the polite question, but what she really wanted to ask was Have you lost your fricking mind?
“I know, isn’t it? We’ve been spending practically every day together since you’ve been in Michigan, and this just feels so right. I’m so happy.”
“Honey, I’m happy for you, too. I really am, but are you sure about this? I mean, you haven’t been dating very long.”
“We haven’t been officially dating for long, but I’ve known Kevin for over a year. I work with him a lot more often than you do, and it turns out he’s had his eye on me for all that time. He was just too shy to say anything. And his proposal was the cutest thing ever.”
“Do tell.” That was another polite question because at the moment, Emily’s mind had jumped ahead to Crap, oh crap, oh crap, how does this affect our living arrangement?
“It was adorable, really. Last night we were in the produce section at the grocery store, and I was looking at the red peppers and Kevin was acting kind of weird, and I was actually starting to get annoyed because he kept saying, ‘Don’t you want some carrots?’ And I kept saying, ‘No, we don’t need any carrots.’ And he kept saying he was sure I wanted some carrots, and I finally turned around to say we didn’t need any damn carrots, and there he was down on one knee, holding out the ring. He said, ‘I love you, babe. Marry me and you can have these karats to wear for the rest of your life.’”
Emily tried to breathe. That proposal sounded . . . cute. A little dorky, but cute, and certainly better than the proposal Emily had gotten from Nick. His had been more postcoital in nature and not very well thought out. They’d drawn her engagement ring on her finger with a magic marker. Once that shit washed off she should have cut and run, but at the time it had seemed incredibly romantic.
Love makes you so stupid. No, change that. Love is great, but sometimes sex makes you stupid. She should embroider that on a pillow.
And give it to Jewel.
“So adorable,” Emily said. “That’s, um . . . so adorable.” She really wanted to be a good and supportive friend right now, but Jewel didn’t actually want her true opinion. “Have you made any definite plans yet? A long engagement?” Please? “Have you set a date?” Emily braced for impact one more time.
“August thirtieth.”
Breathe. Breathe.
“Next August?” Please be next August. Please be next August.
Jewel’s voice was full of sympathy, for all the good that did. “No, honey. This August. We’re just really excited to start our new lives together.”
Where is a paper bag? Does Gigi have a paper bag? Emily was about to hyperventilate. “Wow, that’s really . . . soon!” Wow, I am so up shit creek right now.
“I know, but all the pieces are just falling into place. We’re getting married out at Kibbe Ranch. Kevin’s sister works there and was able to lock in the banquet barn for us. And Em, there’s something else you should know.”
“Oh my God. There’s more?”
“I got a job. A real job at an office.”
Did Wenniway Island have volcanoes? Because it seemed like the ground was shaking, and certainly that wasn’t just because of this earth-shattering news. Or maybe it was.
“You got an office job? I didn’t even know you were interviewing.” Emily reached out and grabbed the back of the chair next to her for stability.
“I wasn’t, but this opportunity came along and it was just too good to pass up. I’ll be working at the same place Kevin works. I know this is bad timing for you, Em, but maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. This last flip was such a nightmare, I’m not sure I have it in me to try another one. I was going to tell you that even before Kevin proposed. I’ve realized I’m not cut out for house flipping. It’s too risky, and I want a job that has benefits and stability. I’m sorry.”