Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Juliet arches a skeptical brow. “I don’t get it though. It’s so generous. She always seemed like a gifty person, but this? This is big. Why did she give us a house?”
“I asked myself the same thing. Besides the obvious—she has excellent taste in recipients of expensive gifts,” I say, which earns me a small smile, “Eleanor said we were the people she wanted to thank for helping her find love after she lost her first husband.”
I pick up the phone and read out loud the letter that came with the deed. “Dear Monroe and Juliet, As I plan for my cruise, it occurs to me that I wouldn’t be stepping onto this ship with Sandeep if not for the two of you. You encouraged me to pursue my heart’s desire with, in your words, honesty, authenticity, and humor, and I can’t thank you enough. So please accept this house as a token of my appreciation for the fine work you do. Perhaps you can even use it for recording the podcast. The show must go on, and I know it can’t be easy putting out a labor of love every week.”
Juliet furrows her brow. It’s too cute the way it crinkles. “She’s trying to pay it forward?”
“It’s her thing. You’re right—she is a gifty person. My quick research showed that she donated a new wing to a dog rescue in the city, and decades ago, a portion of the proceeds from her Christmas album went to a music school.”
“She’s a singer?” Juliet seems both flummoxed and delighted. “I mean, she did have a kind of sexy, smoky voice.”
“I had no idea, either, because…why research a listener? But yeah, she is. I dug enough to get the basics. She’s a very pay-it-forward person. I guess the goal is for us to keep the podcast going for as long as we want. The house money would help.” I’ve got a feeling Juliet might not be as keen about this situation as I am. For all her optimism about romance and love, she’s plenty skeptical about people and their intentions. She’s like an onion. So many layers.
“But it’s too much. It’s so much,” she says, full of the doubt I expected.
“You can turn it down,” I begin, knowing she’ll want all the details. “But you said the podcast has been helping your party business.”
She blows out a thoughtful breath. “True. It does.”
“And it definitely helps my business and the seminars I’m developing.” Thanks to a partnership with a university, I’ve started teaching an online class on improving your relationship skills. I’d really like the class to not fail. I’d really like that a lot.
She’s quiet for a moment, lost in thought. “It’s a big thank-you, Monroe. Can we really accept it?”
I recognize the want in her voice. Time for a closing pitch. “We could go check out the house. See what it needs.”
“Right. True. Maybe we were gifted a hideous pile of wood and tile that’s only good for demolishing,” she says.
“Or maybe it’s a gleaming mansion,” I say. “But we won’t know till we kick the tires. I did look it up, and from the pics I saw on Zillow, I don’t think the place needs much work. When that’s done, we can sell it. Use the money for the next phase of marketing for the show. Zillow and I think the house could net us a decent amount,” I tell her, then give her a number.
She mouths a whoa, like she’s afraid to say out loud how juicy that number tastes on her tongue.
“And you could use some of it to expand your breakup party business,” I say, sweetening the deal.
“True, true. Business has been good, but I want to go bigger. Reach new clients, work in new cities, plus expand into some new areas. Sawyer’s been looking at my business plan, and he thinks the expansion is a good idea too. If I can pull it off.”
“What sort of expansion?” I ask.
“Maybe it’s silly, but my friend Aubrey had this idea to make a line of fun breakup champagne with names like You’re Better Off Without Him and I Never Liked Him That Much Anyway. She’s a hairstylist, so it’s not something she wants to take on, but I really love the idea of a branded champagne. My brother does too.”
I hum, mulling it over. “Breakup gifts. I like it.”
“Yeah?” She sounds skeptical but hopeful.
“I do,” I confirm.
She nibbles on the corner of her lips, clearly thinking. “And you could finish paying off your loans.”
She gets it. Nice.
“And look…” I’ve been dreading this part of the pitch, but I have to power through it. “I need to go to Darling Springs, anyway. My dad’s retiring, and his colleagues are throwing him a retirement party next week.”
Her voice pitches up in surprise as she asks, “He’s retiring?”