That morning, I asked Nancy whether they were still interested.
They were.
Three weeks later, after the inspection, title work, and attorney review, I signed the closing papers for $842,000.
I removed everything except one blue ceramic bowl my husband had made in a pottery class before he became sick.
Then I changed my mailing address, canceled the utilities in my name, and told Lauren nothing.
On June 14, the lake house doorbell camera sent me one final alert before the new owners replaced the system.
Lauren and Derek had arrived.
Their SUV was loaded with suitcases, paddleboards, groceries, and two folding kayaks.
They approached the front door laughing.
Then Lauren stopped.
A red SOLD sign stood beside the driveway.
Derek stared at it.
Lauren immediately called me.
“Mom,” she screamed, “what did you do?”
I looked at the blue ceramic bowl sitting on the shelf of my new apartment.
“I respected your boundary,” I said.
Then a woman I had never seen stepped out of their SUV holding a folder marked SUMMER RENTALS.
