Free Goodbye Secrets (The Lost & Found Series book #2) by Jacquelyn Ayres Page A

back tears.
    “I didn’t think I was being cold. I felt very, very hot,” I try to joke. Nothing. “Becca, are you threatening our relationship?”
    “No, Grayson—you are,” she says calmly, and looks down.
    “Really?!” I try to stifle my sudden anger with my teeth. “Go to Boston, Becca! I’m not dealing with your shit right now! I had enough of it yesterday!” I walk away. Impossible woman!
    Just as I reach the stairs, my phone rings. I don’t recognize the number.
    “Grayson here.”
    “Mr. James, this is Maxine Caldwell. I’m pulling up right now.” She seems a bit nervous, probably because she’s fifteen minutes late. I’d be irritated, but I completely forgot she was coming.
    “Yes, Ms. Caldwell, I’ll meet you outside.” I hang up. Shit! I was hoping Becca would be gone by now. My fault; I forgot Maxine was coming, and I needed to have Becca one more time this morning. God, she felt so good. I grab my keys and head outside as Paul loads the last bag into the car.
    When Maxine pulls up, I wave to her. I can feel Becca’s eyes on me as I greet Maxine and get into her car. I steal a glance at Becca. She looks like she doesn’t know what to think. Maxine and I head down the long driveway.
    “So, it’s nice to finally meet you, Mr. James.” She flashes me a very toothy smile. Maxine looks to be in her early fifties, at the very least. Her hair is blonde, thick, and frizzy—poor woman. She needs a new stylist. Her navy-blue pantsuit and well-manicured nails look very professional, and she seems pleasant and motherly.
    “It’s nice to meet you too, Ms. Caldwell. So, how many do we have today?” I glance down at her manila folder.
    “Seven total, is that okay?” She seems unsure.
    “Sure, but can we look from the most favorable to least?” Shit, I have a lot to do today! I don’t want to be wasting my time on this. Seven is a lot to look at.
    “Oh, yes, of course. First place is right down the street here.” She makes a right and we travel about a mile down the road. She takes another right and we head up a long, winding driveway.
    So far, so good. We pull up to a huge plantation like home. Hmm, everything is well taken care of, well at least for winter. My cell pings. A text from Becca.
    December 16, 2012 10:00 a.m.
    Becca: Mr. James ... I’m sore gonna miss you :)
    I can’t help but laugh wholeheartedly at her comment.
    “Sorry, excuse me,” I say to Maxine, then text back.
    Me: Are you sore ... about that?
    Becca: Very SORE ... just the way you like me.
    Me: Good, sweetheart.
    Becca: You’ve stamped my ass pretty well this time too :|
    Me: I’d like to do more than put my stamp on it.
    Becca: You want to make that sore too, baby?
    Me: Oh, Ms. Campbell, what are you playing at?????
    Becca: Just a simple question. Why? Feel the need to wear purple pants?
    Me: If I were u, I would stop baiting me on this matter! I have to go. This isn’t the END of this conversation!
    Becca: Butt ...
    Me: Becca, stop! I love u. Give Stacey my love.
    Becca: Love you, BBB!
    Me: Ugh!
    Becca: Ohhh ... God, baby ... sorry, pothole.
    Me: You’re impossible!
    Becca: Possibly!
    Me: :)
    “Ready, Mr. James?” Maxine smiles as I finally put my phone away.
    “I’m so sorry. That was terribly rude of me. It was my fiancée,” I add, as if that may help.
    “It’s okay. Let’s go in, shall we?” She opens the door. This place already screams Becca . Suddenly, I feel guilty for doing this without her. Well, I’m just narrowing it down. We’ll revisit again to make our final decision together.
    After hours have passed, I determine only three out of the seven are possibilities. The best one being the first, of course!
    “So, we’ll keep the huge colonial down the street, the farmhouse, and the colonial with the ten acres of land and the stable.” She goes through the paperwork.
    “Yes, sounds good.” I’m itching to leave.
    “When will Becca come with us to look at them again?” She pulls out her