Page 3 of Jeremy
Myfirst stop the next morning is a shoe store, then an electronics store acrossthe street, where I get a new cell phone. After that, I have the cab take me toa nearby car dealership. Now that I’m cleaned up and dressed in actual clothesinstead of a gray rag, I’m not getting the disgusted stares any longer.
Thecar salesman is more than happy to help me find a suitable vehicle once herealizes I won’t need financing. I test drive a few models before settling on asmall SUV. Not too large to make parking a hassle, but with enough space tohaul canvases and supplies, assuming I ever get back to that part of my life.
Bythe time all the paperwork is filled out and I drive my new car off the lot,it’s time to get Agnes for lunch.
Idon’t get a chance to knock before she flings open the door, a bright smile onher face. “Well, you look lovely today,” she exclaims.
“Sodo you. I love your shirt. Yellow is my favorite color.”
“Minetoo. It’s so happy.”
Happinessis exactly what I need in my life right now. “Do you know a good place forlunch?” I ask.
“There’sa little diner down the road that makes the best patty melt.”
“Soundsgood to me.”
Agnesbeams at me when I open her door. “Is this your car?”
“Itis. I just bought it today. What do you think?”
“Ilove it. I don’t think I could drive one like this. The dash looks like thecontrols of an airplane or something.”
Laughing,we make our way to the little diner. Agnes is right. The place has an amazingpatty melt. While we’re eating and chatting, I peruse a housing app for localreal estate.
“Areyou looking to rent or buy?” Agnes asks, sipping on her milkshake. For a littleold lady, she can put away the food.
“Rent,for now. I’m not very familiar with Dashton, so I’d like to make sure I want tostay in the area.”
Agnestaps her lip. “Amos, down at the senior center is trying to rent out a house,last I heard. It’s right on the lake, though. I know some people don’t likehaving to deal with the mosquitoes.”
Alake house? Is she kidding?
“Isthe lake far from here?”
Hereyebrows jump up. “You really don’t know the area. No, it’s not far. About eightmiles south. I can call Amos if you’d like.”
“Thatwould be great.” I put my phone down. “There’s not much in here.”
Agnespulls out a flip phone and excuses herself, stepping outside. By the time I’vepaid our check and headed out to join her, she flips the phone closed. “Amossaid he can meet us there in a few minutes, or I can give him your number iftoday isn’t convenient.”
“Let’sdo it.”
Agnessmiles and gets in the car, carefully typing out a text message to tell Amoswe’re on our way. He sends her back the address, and I put it in my navigator.A few minutes later we pull up in front of a beautiful two-story house on thelake.
Amosisn’t here yet, so we hop out and take a walk around the property. The second Istep around the rear of the house, I know I want it. The lake stretches as faras I can see in any direction. Gorgeous, calm blue water gently laps at thedock, which is located only a few steps down from the back deck.
Weclimb up to the deck and I can just picture myself out here, soaking in thesun, maybe even painting on cool days. Just standing here, I can feel thestress melting off of me.
“Whatdo you think?” an unfamiliar voice asks, making Agnes and I both jump.
“Jumpin’Jesus Amos, you scared the crackers out of me!” Agnes exclaims.
“It’sbeautiful. So peaceful,” I breathe.
Amos,who stands about five feet tall and wears a battered fedora, grins at me. “Onceyou get used to the mosquitoes and summer people. Of course, I loved it herewhen I was young. It just ain’t the same anymore.” He gestures to the house onthe left. “That one is empty. Some rich family used to use it as a summer home,but they haven’t been there in years.”
Hepoints to the house on the right, which is farther away. “Whoever owns that onerents it out during the summers. It stays empty the rest of the year. Let’s goinside.”
