[Author's Note: Because someone asked, I have been very careful to not say exactly where Carol's and Jen's houses are located. I will only say they are in the American Midwest.]
Now that the decision to buy a new home together had been made, Carol and Jen had to go about selling their current homes. The plan was for Carol to sell her home first while they looked for the one they wanted to buy. They would hold off selling Jen's because they needed to stay in her house until they found the new one as she had to be close to work.
One afternoon Carol got a phone call from Robert Moyer, a colleague of her late husband Paul. They had been friendly and Bob was one of the people who was supportive after Paul died, even when the Company barely acknowledged Paul's passing. Bob was one of the few of Paul's former work colleagues whom Carol had not deleted from her contacts.
It had been several months since they had spoken so after the initial pleasantries, Bob asked about Katie's wedding and the pictures that Carol had posted. "Hard to believe that little Go-Go is now a married woman."
"Well, you've got two in college yourself so you know how it goes."
"Carol, I am happy to catch up, but I am actually calling on business rather than social reasons."
"
Oh crap! What can this be?
" was what Carol thought. But her words were a bit more diplomatic. "Is it good news or bad?"
"Good, I think. We know that your house is on the market. And it turns out that the company is looking to promote an executive from California who would have to relocate here. It's her, her husband, and their fifteen-year-old daughter. You and Paul always had the home office and the location was convenient to the corporate office. I've spoken with her about it and they'd like to come take a look, unless you've gotten a buyer that I don't know about?"
"I've had a few nibbles but nothing serious. When would they want to come?"
"Well, that's the thing. They're here now and would want to see it before heading back to California."
"If they did want to buy it, when would they want to move in?"
"Well, that's another thing. The move would be right at the end of the year."
"That's two and a half months, Bob. I might find someone to buy this a little sooner than that."
"I know. I mentioned that. But I also had a solution. If they like the house, the company will buy it. Cash offer at ninety percent of your list price. Not more, but they'll pay for that now. Then you would stay and keep it up and maintained and then move out at the end of the year when they move in. You wouldn't even have to pay any rent or any of the taxes or fees. What do you say?"
"It all sounds very good, Bob. Almost too good. Particularly how they were when Paul died. Not you Bob, and not most of Paul's old team. But I still have some bad feelings about the company."
"I know Carol. And I am sorry about that. And I am not suggesting that this in any way makes up for it. But for where we are now, it is the least they can do. I did guilt them a bit when this all came up."
"Well, thank you Bob. Look, who knows if they'll even like it. I can meet them tomorrow afternoon. How does 2:00pm sound?"
"I'm pretty sure that will work."
"Excellent, I'll show the house off and we'll see what they decide."
When Jen came home Carol shared the news with her. When Jen heard the story, she asked, "Would you like me to come along?"
"I'd love to have the company, but would you want to bother?"
"Let's see, a woman moving halfway across the country with a fifteen-year-old daughter leaving behind all her friends. Granted, she's not a widow, but I think I could be of some assistance. Come on, we'll make a day of it. After they leave, we can go out to eat and hang out. Maybe see if Megan can scare up some of the Blue Lightning Brigade and we'll stay over."
"That sounds like fun Jen. Yes. Thank you." Jen smiled. She knew that this would not be easy for Carol. That house held a ton of memories for her. And while Carol had been working herself up to it for several months now, the reality of selling it was going to be an emotional event. And Jen was ready to be there for Carol and help her through it.
When the car pulled up the next afternoon, Carol recognized the driver as Bob Moyer. There was a couple, probably in their early forties and a young girl in her mid-teens.
Carol waited for them at the door. First Bob came up and she gave him a brief hug and then she welcomed the family inside. Carol went to the woman whom she already knew was the one working for Paul's old company. Carol extended her hand and said, "Pleasure to meet you. I'm Carol Rogers..." then turning to Jen said "... and this is my partner, Jen Smith." Jen stepped forward and shook her hand as well.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Ann Langdon and this is my husband James and our daughter Charlotte. Bob told us some of your story. I am very sorry for your loss."
"Well thank you, that's very kind of you to say. I am also sure that Bob mentioned that Paul and I lived here for over 25 years and he worked at the company for all of them. It was always convenient for him and I am sure that has something to do with why they suggested it to you."
"Yes. I've been with the company for eleven years now and we've been living in California. However, I recently was offered a big promotion but it means moving out here. We're still trying to decide if we should make the move."
While the adults were talking, Charlotte started looking around. She was suddenly very excited about a picture hanging on the wall. "Mom! Dad! Come here, look! It's the team picture from the Championship Team! Look there's Neve Cohill. She's my favorite player."
Ann turned to Carol and explained, "the University near where we live won the Women's Soccer Championship last year. Charlotte is a soccer player and her team followed them all year. Do you follow the team as well? Are either of you alumni?"
"No neither of us are alumni but we do follow the team." Then turning toward Charlotte, she said, "So Neve is your favorite player, you recognize her there?"
Charlotte looked back at the picture and pointed to it saying, "There she is, right there."
Carol smiled over at the young girl and said, "She is very good, isn't she."
"She's the best."
"Do you recognize any of the other players?" When Carol said this, she looked back at Ann and James.
"Um yeah. Let's see." Charlotte began to scan the picture. "That's Katie Rogers, she's pretty good too."
Ann's face registered the shock that came over her as she put two and two together. Ann didn't say anything but when she looked at Carol, Carol just nodded her head.
Charlotte continued, "There's Jo Napoli. She's an awesome defender. And that's Melanie Smith. She's really fast and has a very powerful leg."
Ann's gaze now fell over to Jen who sheepishly smiled and raised her hand as if to answer Ann's unasked question: "
Yes, that's my daughter.
"
Ann gasped out loud. "What are the chances,"
Charlotte heard her mother and turned, asking, "What is it, Mom?"
"Char, Katie Rogers is Mrs. Rogers' daughter. This is obviously the house where she grew up. And Mrs. Smith here is Melanie Smith's mom."
"OH! MY! GOD! No way!"
Carol said, "Yes dear, it's true. Tell you what, why don't you come with me and I'll show you Katie's old room." While Carol, James, Bob and Charlotte went upstairs, Jen stayed on the first floor with Ann.
As everyone else ascended the stairs, Jen turned to Ann and said, "I bet I know what her vote is going to be about moving into this house."
Ann answered back, "I'm just a little worried about unrooting her and leaving her friends."
At this point, Jen told Ann her own story of moving to a new place with Melanie in tow. "I moved here from back east with Melanie between her sophomore and junior year of high school. But she always loved playing soccer and we found a team here and it turned out Katie was on the same team. And there was this instant connection with them. Melanie made plenty of friends on the soccer team and plenty of friends in high school too. I can't promise you that Charlotte will find the love of her life here, but there has been a lot of love and a lot of soccer in this house. And I'm sure if you do move here, some of it will still be around and it will rub off on you and your family."
"You said something about finding the love of her life?"
"Melanie and Katie got married this summer. Carol and I are actually in-laws."
"Carol said partner, If you don't mind me asking, was it just the girls who had that 'instant connection'?"
"When I first moved here, Paul was still alive. Carol and I were best friends as well as the girls. I was in a committed relationship when Paul passed and, with the girls at school, we didn't see each other as much and drifted apart a little. But when the girls got engaged and with the wedding planning and everything, Carol and I reconnected our friendship. Then my situation ended. So, for the first time we both found ourselves single.
"Carol and I began spending more and more time together with the girls and then just the two of us. Eventually, things sort of blossomed for us as well. Now we are going to move in together, which is why Carol is finally selling the house.
"Ann, I think it is universal that kids want their parents to be happy. When parents are happy, they tend to be more loving and attentive than when they're miserable. Kids will notice, even if you try to put a good face on it. If this is something you want to do, go ahead and do it. Be happy and draw from all the love in this house and I assure you that Charlotte will notice that, she'll be happy, and she'll be that person she wants to be and you want her to be.
"I know Carol has mixed emotions about having to leave this place. But I know it will make it so much easier for her if she knows that the people moving in have a chance at all the happiness and love that was so much of part of this house for so long."
"Thank you for sharing all that Jen. Truth be told, if I didn't take this promotion, I'd be miserable. But I was worried about moving Charlotte so far away. But what you said really helped me. Now let's go see if Charlotte wants to live in Katie Rogers' old room."
***************
