Page 82 of Ghost

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Mason was walking downthe street towards Mr.Stockbridge’s house when he pulled up in a brand new, maroon Jaguar.I guess he can afford to do a total reno on that house,Mason thought.He waved as Mr.Stockbridge hefted himself out of the car.

“Hello, Mason.”He closed the door and locked it.“Good to see you again.”He approached Mason with his hand outstretched.

“Hi, Mr.Stockbridge.Thanks for meeting me.”Mason took that man’s hand in his and briefly shook it.

“Please, call me Alfred.”He smiled.“I’m the one who should be thanking you.”

“What for?”

Mr.Stockbridge laughed.“My dear man, because of you, the real estate market around here is going to skyrocket.And to be perfectly honest, I can’t wait to get my family home back.”

Mason could feel a slight blush rush to his face.“I don’t think I have anything to do with the real estate prices.”

Alfred shook his head.“You have no idea.”He looked at the two houses.“These homes used to be some of best and had the very best families living in them.It will do my heart good to see them come back to their former glory.”

“I have to agree with you there.They are very fine buildings,” Mason agreed quickly, nodding his head.“I’m anxious to see what kind of condition this one is in.My friend has a wife and four kids, so....”He let his voice trail off.

“I understand,” Alfred agreed as he pulled a set of keys out.“As I said, there is only one woman living here at the moment.The only reason I’ve let her stay on as long as I have, are one, I felt sorry for her, and two, she kept anyone from squatting in the vacant apartments, that and she’s been here for years.Let’s go have a look.”

Mason’s mouth fell open a bit as he stepped inside.There was a great hall that went all the way to the back of the house.Although the end of the hall was closed off, Mason could see in his mind the floor plan before it had been divided into apartments.Not too much unlike his own home, it had a grand staircase, but unfortunately it had been painted avocado green.

“I know it’s not much to look at now, but I know with a little TLC, this could be a grand home once again,” Alfred said softly behind Mason.“I bought the place from the original owner’s family and tried to keep it as original as possible.”

“Wow.I can see what a great house this is.”Mason looked around the hallway.“I don’t think it will take too much to turn it back into a single-family home.”

“That was my intention all along,” Alfred commented.

Alfred pointed to the left.“There are pocket doors here, behind this wall and door.This was a one-bedroom apartment with a small kitchen in the back.It’s vacant.”He motioned to his right.“Same with this one, and this is where Grace lives.”He leaned in towards Mason.“Quite frankly, I think Grace would be better off in a nursing home.She’s up in years, don’t’cha know?”

Mason nodded, looked at the wall that had been put up with a cheap, hollow-core door.

“Up the stairs is another apartment.”He pointed upwards.“There were four bedrooms up there originally.”

Mason again nodded.“This would be perfect for Paul and his family.”

“Why don’t we have a look upstairs first?”Alfred asked.“Then look at everything down here?”

“Sure,” Mason agreed.

When they got upstairs, Mason could see that yet again, it would be easy to remove the wall at the top of the stair with the same hollow-core door.He ran his hand over the banister of the stairs.“It’s a shame that this was painted.”

Alfred opened the unlocked the door.“It is.Sadly, it was done before I bought the property.”

“Hmm,” Mason acknowledged.“But, who knows, it might have saved the wood beneath it.”

Alfred nodded as he pushed the door open.“I think this is in fairly good shape.Might need a good clean and a coat of paint.”

Mason wandered through the upstairs.It was a lot like his house with the exception that a small kitchenette had been installed.But once again, easily removed.The bathroom was another matter.

“Alfred, um...this bathroom....”

The man behind Mason sighed.“I agree.I think it needs to be ripped out and start over.”

“It’s in pretty bad shape and it look as if it was an afterthought.”

“There’s no doubt that it was just stuck in wherever they could fit it.”He shook his head.“These old houses didn’t have bathrooms originally.”