Free Mirror of Shadows by T. Lynne Tolles Page B

has loads of potential.”
    “That and a roof, extensive repairs to the porch, an actual road would be nice, and that boathouse looks like it’s about to fall over,” Matt pointed out.
    As she made her way up the steps of the porch, Ella pouted a bit, feeling that maybe she had made a mistake bringing Matt to the house.
    Matt continued as he followed her up the stairs, “I’m not trying to upset you; I’ve just seen people get in over their heads with smaller projects than this. I’d hate to see you eat up your inheritance with trying to fix this up.”
    “Thanks, I appreciate your concern for my well-being, but I want to do this,” she said as she put the key in the door, but not making a move to invite him in.
    “Look. It’s your house, your decision. I have a big mouth and I’m sorry. I just…well, I like you, and I’m concerned. We’re talking a lot of money here. I just want to make sure you’ve thought about all your options.”
    “I have. I’ve even had two offers for it since I’ve inherited it, from this old guy who’s been hounding my grandmother for years,” she admitted.
    “Hmm.”
    “What?” she asked defensively as he leaned up against the doorjamb just inches from her, his hands casually in his pockets.
    “Well, I wonder if you are refusing to sell to this guy just because your grandmother wouldn’t.”
    Caught off guard by his comment, she wondered for a moment if he was right. Had that been the reason? The fight with her mother, moving into the house, the mirror and weird dreams—it had all happened so fast she hadn’t really had a chance to think about it. Had she refused the offer just because she had nowhere to live at the time? Or was it just because her grandmother wouldn’t sell to him she felt she shouldn’t? If that was the case, it wasn’t a very educated reason. Was she making a mistake investing her inheritance in the house? Was her fondness for the house based only on the fact that it was her grandmother’s and anything of hers was valuable to Ella at this delicate time? Or was Ella truly fond of the house for her own reasons? These were all things she thought she should re-evaluate now that things had settled down.
    “ Look, I’m sorry. My friends tell me I can be outspoken and insensitive at times. You’re a smart girl; I’m sure you’ve taken all the possible problems under consideration. I hope I haven’t offended you. I’d hate to go away thinking I wrecked your car and hurt your feelings all in the same day,” he said, his eyes looking so sincere.
    “It’s fine,” she said, not really sure if it was or not just yet.
    “Could I have a tour and maybe a glass of water? I am rather parched.”
    Reluctantly at first, but smiling again after looking at Matt’s golden hair and pouting lips, she opened the door wide and relented, “Sure, why not.”
     
    *****
     
    Jeremy came flying through the door, just about taking it off of its hinges, when Matt and Ella were about to sit down in the living room with their water. Boots full of slippery wet mud, Jeremy went sliding by the archway opening to the living room as if he were in his socks on a highly waxed floor. It wasn’t until his feet went beyond his body’s center of gravity that his feet went up in the air in a back peddling motion and down he went.
    Not a word had come out of his mouth in all the commotion but his expressions told lengthy tales. At first and at the start of the sliding, it was alarm; as the slide progressed it turned to confusion, and with the fall, embarrassment.
    “Wow, I was wrong; with entertainment like that you definitely can’t sell,” Matt said practically spraying his water out of his nose and laughing at the sight of Jeremy sprawled on his back on the floor.
    Ella quickly set her glass down and ran for Jeremy. By the time she reached him he had righted himself, flashed a nasty look at the laughing house guest, and tried to compose himself.
    “Are you okay?” Jeremy