Page 169 of The Housekeeper

Chapter Sixty-six

“What do youmean, she sold the house?” Tracy asked me when I called to tell her the news. “I thought it wasn’t quite ready yet.”

“She got what they call a bully offer.”

“What the hell is that?”

“It’s when someone makes an offer peremptorily, before other offers can come in.”

“Can they do that?”

“They can, and they did. Full asking price. Closing is in thirty days.”

“Thirty days? Isn’t that kind of fast?”

“Very. But apparently, the buyers have young kids, and they want to be in the house before school starts in the fall.”

“Shit.”

“Exactly.”

“What do we do now?”

I shook my head, wondering how many times we’d asked each other that question over the past months, how many times we’d given the same answer. “I have no idea.”

“We can’t let her get away with this.”

“I don’t see how we can stop her.”

“You have to talk to Dad.”

I couldn’t help noticing the change in pronouns. “It won’t do any good. You know I’ve tried.”

“Try again.”

I tried again.

“I hear congratulations are in order,” I told Elyse when she answered the phone.

“Yes,” she agreed. “Isn’t it wonderful? Apparently, the buyers have had their eye on the house for some time, and…well, they made us an offer that we couldn’t refuse.” She laughed.

“Can I speak to my father?”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. He’s resting now. The excitement of the sale…”

“Really, Elyse?” I said, in no mood for her games. “You’re going to make me surprise you with another visit?”

“Just a minute,” she said, all traces of warmth vanishing from her voice. “I’ll see if I can get him before he settles down.”

“You do that.”

“Vic, darling,” I heard her call. “Jodi’s on the phone, sweetheart. She wants to congratulate you on selling the house.”

Two minutes later, I heard him shuffling toward the phone.

“Dad?” I asked when I heard him breathing.

“Yes.” His obvious impatience caused the single word to vibrate.