Ch75: Playing Hooky with Wendy

After the last of the kids left and they were now alone, Wendy sipped her peppermint tea and smiled at Donny. 

“Want anything else?” she asked.

What first popped into his mind being completely inappropriate, he shook his head and said, “Are you not eating?”

“Already had my breakfast.”

“Which was?”

“Yogurt with granola,” Wendy said.

Donny stared, astonished. “You really are just like Margarita,” he said.

“Wes seems to think so too,” Wendy said with a shrug.

“That explains so much. Wish I had listened to Luke. He told me you were great. We could have met sooner,” he said.

 “That would have been nice,” she said, taking a seat next to him. She propped her chin in her hand and grinned. “You don’t really want to go to work today, do you?” 

“Want to? Perhaps not.”

“Great! Call your client and tell them you have more important things to do,” she said. She then got up and started clearing the table. “You’re spending the day with me.”

“I’m sorry, what?” he asked, equal parts bewildered and excited.

“You can do with some fun, I’m thinking, and I know I’m always up for some,” she said as she started loading the dishwasher. “Want more coffee? You’re gonna need it.”

“I...I have an appointment to show a house. I can’t just not go,” he said, downcast.

“What time?”

“Two,” he replied.

“Good, plenty of time.”

“For what?” he asked.

She smiled and winked at him. “You’ll see.”

He could hardly wait.

·     * * * *

“Now isn’t this a whole lot better than working?” Wendy asked.

Donny smiled and nodded. “Yup.”

He seriously couldn’t remember having a better time. They were now eating ice cream cones while leisurely strolling through a small botanical garden kicking at the colorful fallen leaves at their feet, but before that they visited an art gallery, had taken a ferry ride across the harbor and back, then had lunch at a quaint little bistro.

“You were right, Wendy,” he said. “I needed this. Boy, did I need this!”

“Playing hooky every once in a while is good for the soul. Remember that,” she said, popping the last bit of her cone into her mouth and munching. “So, what next?”

He laughed. “While I’ve immensely enjoyed spending the day with you, Wendy, I have to meet Mr. and Mrs. Snooty-Picky-pants. They probably won’t like this house either. They haven’t liked any of the twenty or so I’ve shown them so far, so… but I promised to show this particular one to them.”

“Picky, did you say? Well, maybe I can help,” she said.

“I’d like to know how,” he said with a laugh. “You ever sell real estate?”

“Well, no, but it can’t be much different than selling…say…girl scout cookies.”

Donny roared with laughter. “You’re actually comparing selling a house to selling cookies? You kill me!”

“Mock me if you will, Sir, but I know what I’m talking about. All you gotta do is make the buyers feel like they simply can’t live without whatever it is your selling. You gotta make them think not getting it is the worst decision of their lives. Hey, I wasn’t the top seller of those over-priced cookies three years running for nothing!”

Still laughing he led the way to his car. “We’ll see how well that strategy works on the Escaleras, shall we?” he said smirking.

“Yes, we shall,” she retorted looking quite smug. “My commission is twenty-five percent or your first born, which ever you prefer.”

“Wow. Well, I guess I’ve had Wesley long enough,” Donny replied.

“I was hoping you’d say that,” she said, clicking on her seat belt. “Now tell me about the house, where is it, how big? I’m looking for something for my sister, you know.”

“Shouldn’t she look for herself?” Donny asked.

“If I leave it to her it’ll never get done!”

“Okay. It’s a five bedroom mini-mansion, just down the block from my brother in the rather exclusive Briar Rose Estates in Port Orianco.”

“Oh, that’s too much house for just May and little Tristan. Perhaps she should just go for commercial property with an upstairs apartment. Look out for something like that, okay?”

“Why does she need commercial property?”

“For an exercise studio. You know, yoga, pilates, Zumba. She’s always wanted to run her own place. She's great. You’ll love her…if I can ever get her up here again.”

Donny was silent for a while. “Is this the one who went to Mexico with you?”

“Only sister I have, yes,” Wendy said, looking out of the window to all the huge homes they passed. “Ooh, that’s beautiful!”

“Frank Stubenhaus lives there,” Donny said.

“The yacht maker?” Wendy shrieked.

“The very same. He’s a great guy,” Donny said pointing to a house several doors down and on the opposite side. “That’s where the Tramaine’s live. Their son is the newest teen idol. You’ve probably heard of him.”

“Oh, yes, Jasmine said something about that. Luke, isn’t it? Cool. Now I can tell her where to stalk him.”

“I hope you’re kidding,” he said, looking slightly alarmed.

She laughed.

“That’s my brother’s house and….this is Representative Garrett’s summer home.”

“Holy moly! You really hobnob, don’t you?” she said, stunned.

He chuckled. “The perks of having a famous author in the family. His wife loved Margarita’s books…so did his mistress for that matter.”

Wendy’s mouth fell open just as they turned into the drive.

“And here they are,” Donny said waving to the couple sitting stony-faced in a dark green Bentley already parked in the driveway. “God, please make this less painful than usual.”

Wendy giggled. “Resorting to prayers? They must be bad!”

“You have no idea,” Donny said opening his door.

Before he reached the other side Wendy stepped out of the car and stared up at the house completely ignoring the others stepping out of their car. “Oh, Donny! This is perfect! My sister will love it!”

“I’m sorry…didn’t you say…” Donny started to say.

“Now, Tristan is another story. He has one request which cannot be ignored. He wants a tree house, like nobody’s business, so please tell me you have a nice mature tree for such a purpose.”

“Well, there…”

“Don, I thought we were to see this house,” spoke the stoic Mrs. Escalera in a haughty voice.

“Yes, of course, Mrs…”Donny again was interrupted.

“Oh, I made him bring me along,” Wendy said facing the couple with a brilliant smile. “Isn’t this a magnificent house? Donny said he didn’t think you’d like it, but it sounded perfect for my sister. Shall we go inside? I’m dying to see the kitchen!”

Wendy grabbed Donny's hand and dragged him up the steps. 

“Uh…yes, of course,” Donny said, fitting the key in and holding the door open for them all.

“This is highly irregular, Don,” Mr. Escalera angrily said.

“Not at all!” Wendy chimed in. “I’ve seen realtors with three and four buyers at a time. They do it all the time, most times actually. It’s only for houses which never move that the single prospective buyer is shown about. Believe me! I’ve been through it a dozen times this week alone. Oh, what a lovely foyer! Is that…no, it’s not marble?”

“It is,” Donny said, hiding a smile as he closed the door behind the Escaleras.

This was going to be fun. He just knew it!