Page 51 of New Day at the Beach House

They drove, which seemed ridiculous when they arrived two minutes later. Conrad hadn’t lied about it being close.

She sat in the car for a second, staring through the window. The house was white brick with a gray roof, gray shutters and a dark blue door. The landscaping was a little overgrown and could use some color, but the yard had two nice big trees in it. Shade in Florida was always a good thing.

“What do you think?” Conrad asked.

“I might want to brighten up that door color. And the landscaping could use a good manicure. Some flowers, too. Maybe window boxes on the house would be nice.”

“All very doable. Ready to go in?”

She nodded and they headed for the front door. Conrad rang the bell, but the door was answered so quickly, Margo knew their arrival had been noticed.

The gray-haired woman at the door was petite and round and very smiley. “Hello, Conrad. So nice to see you.”

“You, too, Mirna. This is my friend, Margo. The lady I said might be interested in the house.”

Mirna stuck her hand out. Her nails and her lipstick were the same shade of coral. “Hi, Margo. Nice to meet you. Welcome to our home.” She giggled. “Which might become your home!”

Then she looked behind her. “Sal. Sal! Conrad and his girlfriend are here.”

Margo sucked in a breath at the use of the word “girlfriend.” It really wasn’t something she was used to. But the house was what really caught her eye. It was neat and tidy and obviously well-maintained, but definitely dated. The interior had a very Brady Bunch kind of feel to it. At least the flooring had been replaced with large neutral tile at some point. But there was still wood paneling on one wall.

An older man came from the other side of the house. “I was trying to find that survey.” He smiled at them. He was as thin as Mirna was round, but only a few inches taller. His bushy mustache seemed to suit his kindly face. “Hello, there, Conrad. Young lady.”

Margo smiled. “I’m Margo.”

“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Sal, in case you hadn’t guessed,” Sal said. “Come on in. The missus and I will go sit on the lanai so you can wander as you like.” He pointed right. “Master bedroom’s that way, the other two bedrooms are on the opposite side.”

“Thanks,” Margo said. She liked the pair of them. They seemed like the sort of people who’d be good neighbors. She had no doubt they’d be missed when they moved.

“Appreciate it, Sal,” Conrad said. He looked at Margo as they came in and shut the door behind them. “Master first?”

She nodded and got her phone out so she could take pictures of everything.

They went in. It was a good-sized room with a lot of natural light. To the right were two small walk-in closets that faced each other, making a small hall that led to the bathroom.

The burnished gold carpet that started at the threshold would have to go, as would the foiled wallpaper. She took a couple of photos, then leaned in toward Conrad. “I guess the Seventies was the last time this place was decorated.”

“Good guess. My word, it’s like a time capsule.” Conrad ran his hand over his head. “That’s all cosmetic, though. Easy enough to change.”

“It is.” Margo concentrated on the size and shape of the room, ignoring the garish décor. She did her best to imagine it painted a soothing sea blue with a light driftwood-colored hardwood floor. The sunlight streaming in was good. The room could really be something.

She turned to him. “Let’s have a look at the bathroom.”

Conrad gestured toward it. “Lead the way.”

She groaned softly as she went in. It was a sea of harvest gold. The tub, the sinks, the toilets. She snapped some shots. “I’d have to change all of this. I can’t live with this color.”

“I’m with you there. But it would be a chance to put your signature on things. Really make it a showplace.”

That appealed to her more than he knew. It would be all new and just the way she wanted it. That was tremendously enticing. But it wouldn’t be cheap. Bathrooms and kitchens were the most expensive to redo.

She already understood one thing about this house – a lot depended on how much they were asking. And how much she could get for her place. The difference between those two numbers would determine what changes she could make, because she wasn’t comfortable dipping too deeply into her savings.

She was almost afraid to see the kitchen, but there was no point in putting it off. “Kitchen next.”

Conrad nodded. “Off we go.”

The tile she’d seen when they came in continued into the kitchen, which had miraculously been updated in the last couple of decades. It wasn’t new by any means, but it was newer. And the oak cabinets seemed to be in good condition. They’d be cheaper to paint than replace.

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