“No argument. Putting in a kitchen and bath would require walls being moved. I guess I could consult an architect, but that’s an expense I can’t take on right now.”
“I’d like to try my hand at reimagining the interior. Maybe it wouldn’t be as much as we think. If I have questions about moving walls, I can always call Joe, since he’s an engineer,” she said, referring to her half brother, Maggie and Brett’s son, who’d been adopted by a childless couple from Maine right after his birth.
“Grace, I’m putting what I have into the shop, and I need a cushion because I don’t know what expenses might pop up. I don’t know if I can scrape up enough to move walls in this place.”
“Let me play with this for a few days on paper. If none of the walls I’d want to move are weight-bearing, maybe Tuck can do something.”
Liddy and Maggie exchanged a long look. Finally, Maggie said, “So does that mean you like the house?”
“Oh, I love it, are you kidding? It’s adorable,” Grace exclaimed.
“Adorable? Really?” Liddy raised an eyebrow. “Don’t quite see that myself, but okay.”
Maggie wandered into the kitchen. “I think you have a little built-in prejudice.” She leaned down and opened the door of the refrigerator. “At least Jim didn’t leave anything in here.”
“Yeah, the remains of a three-year-old tuna sandwich would have ensured him a long, painful death. As it is, I guess I’m lucky he only left some old filing cabinets and a few spiders.”
“So if I could make this place livable, could I rent it from you?” Grace leaned against the kitchen counter. “This place could be perfect for me. If I could figure out a way to make it work, maybe I could do the renovations in place of paying rent.”
“The plumbing alone could be more than you’d pay in rent for a year. I can’t let you do that,” Liddy protested. “It wouldn’t be fair. And think of this—supposing you do all the work and a year from now you decide you want to live somewhere else.”
“We’d work something out,” Grace said. “You could rent it to someone else and pay me back monthly for what I put into it, less what I would have paid in rent while I was living here.”
Liddy frowned. “That seems like a lot of math and record keeping. How much you spent on renovations. How much I should charge for rent once it’s finished. How much I’d owe you monthly out of someone else’s rent checks.”
“Let me just play around a little, okay?” Grace put an arm around Liddy’s shoulder. “Where’s the harm in that, huh?”
“Play all you want, kiddo. But I think you’re going to get a shock when you find out how much this little project would cost you. I should have looked at this place before I even mentioned it to you. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea after all.”
“Maybe. But maybe not. Maybe having a place of my own, set up just the way I want it, could be worth it.” Grace held up one hand to stop the protest her mother was about to make. “I understand I might not be in Wyndham Beach in another year. Who knows? But right now, I’m here.” She glanced at Liddy. “On our way over, Mom and I talked. She knows I love her, and I know she loves me, but we both agreed it would be better for everyone if I have my own home. I think this could be perfect.” She looked around the room. “I can already see how this room and the powder room and that storage closet at the end of the hall could be combined into a great kitchen. The two rooms across the hall could be made into one bedroom and a bath. The front room . . .” She walked down the hall, Liddy and Maggie following. “Living room on this side, dining area on the other. I don’t need anything more than that.” She stood in the middle of the space she’d designated for dining. “Actually, with the closet gone, I could have room in the kitchen for a small table if I wanted. I could use this area for an office.”
“I still don’t think this would be a good deal for you financially.” Liddy pointed out what she thought was obvious. Grace would have to live in the house rent-free for several years before it would be profitable for her. “You might want to buy a place in a few years if you stay in town, and then you’ll regret having tied up your money.”
“I’m happy to take that chance. Besides, maybe I’d want to buy this place. Did you ever think about selling it?”
“I hadn’t, really, but I’d sell in a heartbeat to you if you really wanted it.”
Grace pulled up one of the blinds and peered outside. “Nice outdoor space.” She craned her neck as she looked to the left. “Oh, I forgot just how close to the pond we are. It seemed farther away when I was a kid. I always loved the idea of having my own pond.”
“I don’t think it’s much more than a home for a couple of frogs. Maybe the occasional duck.” Liddy walked to the window. “There used to be a stone patio where Jim and his staff would eat lunch occasionally when the weather was good, but I don’t need to look outside to know it’s overgrown, which is a shame, because it’s a pretty spot with a nice view of the woods and the pond.” Liddy remembered weekends when Jim would work alone, and she’d take lunch to him and they’d eat outside on a glass-topped table. Apparently, Jim had thought he’d have more use for the table than he had for the filing cabinets, because the table was no longer there.
“It shouldn’t be a problem to uncover the stones.” Grace smiled. “Perfect.”
“Well, I admit I don’t see the perfection, but you do you, Gracie.” Liddy turned to Maggie. “What do you think?”
“I think Grace knows what she’s doing.” Maggie glanced at her daughter. “If you believe you can make this work, go for it.”
“It’s already done inside my head. Now all I have to do is make it happen IRL.” Grace grinned. “That would be in real life, Mom.” Before Maggie could respond, Grace said, “Liddy, could I get a copy of the key made? I’d like to come back over the weekend with a measuring tape, so I have all the dimensions before I start planning.”
“You can take this one and have a copy made for me.” Liddy took the key from her pocket and handed it over to Grace.
“Thanks, Liddy.” Grace slid the key into her own pocket.
“I have things to do tonight, so I need to get going,” Liddy told them. “You can stick around as long as you like, but be mindful of when it starts to get dark. There are no lights between here and the street.”
Grace tapped her phone, and a bright beam of light appeared. “Flashlight app. Very handy.”
“Suit yourself, but it’s a long driveway.” Liddy patted Maggie on the shoulder as she started to the door. “I guess I’ll see you over the weekend.”
“I have to get home, so I’ll walk out to the street with you. I told Brett I’d pick him up at seven forty-five at the police station. We want to check out the new sushi place that just opened in Wareham.” Maggie called to Grace, who was headed toward one of the back rooms: “Grace. Sushi?”
“No thanks, Mom. I’ll grab something on my way home,” Grace called back.