The Co-op

Chapter Forty-Six

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

DEACON

The house should feel like a monumental success. We’re most likely a month away from finishing just about everything we set out to do. Mom has set up a room for Sal in her place. Cheryl Gold offered to be our realtor.

But as everything comes together, I find myself growing even more attached. The more it looks like a completed house, the more I realize how much we’ve been making it our home this entire time. With our messes and our music. All the memories from our past with our grandmothers, and the ones we’ve made together.

Almost five months from the day she showed up in town, LaRynn and I get a phone call with an offer on our grandmothers’ house. It’s over the listing price, and all cash. Thirty-day closing. We did not include the furniture in the sale after all, because I’ll be damned if I’m giving up a single pillow, and we’ve already made too many memories on the chaise.

It should be the dream, really. Maybe if I believed in fate or destiny or signs it would feel like an affirmation that we’re doing the right thing.

Cheryl tells us to take our allotted time to consider, which we intended to do anyway.

When we get off the call, we cling to each other in a hug. Rock gently back and forth, sock-covered feet on warm wood floors. Not quite a dance. Just holding on to what we’ve gained.