For the Love of a Woman Read online

  Carol looked puzzled and asked, “What?”

  Jim explained, “If you look at the front of the house, the first floor has three windows, and the second floor has two windows. There are all sorts of combinations like that. The biggest I’ve ever seen was in England, and it was an eight over twelve house.”

  “I’ve never heard of that before.”

  “I never did before an estate agent in England explained it to me.”

  “You bought a property in England?”

  “No, I was doing a story and talking to the estate agent who used those terms. He explained to me what they meant.”

  The first house seemed a little too large for Jim, and it had a small yard being in town. The second house was about the right size, but Jim noticed some cracks in the foundation. He thought that could mean an expensive repair down the line. The third place was out of town and owned by a couple whose husband had just retired. They decided they didn’t want any more of Minnesota winters and were going to move south. The house had been built more recently than the ones in town. It was on 38 acres of land, mostly wooded in what the locals called Farmyard Poplar. It meant an adequate supply of firewood for the fireplace. There was a good size lake nearby with public access an easy walk away. After living in large cities in America and Europe, the place was exactly what Jim had dreamed about and longed for.

  He waited until they were back in Carol’s car before saying, “I’d like to make an offer on this property. I like it. I don’t know if the asking price is fair or not. Can you help out on that?”

  Carol said, “I am representing the sellers, so I really can’t answer that for you. The couple who own this came down back in September by several thousand dollars. They would like to head south as soon as they can.”

  Jim was impressed by Carol’s honesty, and he couldn’t get enough of her beautiful blue eyes. “I didn’t think ahead. I’m sure you want some earnest money. Can we stop by the motel, and I’ll run in get a checkbook?”

  “Sure, no problem.”

  Back in Carol’s office, Jim asked, “How much earnest money do you need?”

  “Would $1000 be too much?” Carol asked.

  The way she smiled, her blue eyes captivated Jim, “That’s not a problem.”

  “I would like to tell the sellers how soon we can expect things to proceed. How long do you think it will take you to arrange to finance the property?”

  “I can sell some stock and cover the whole purchase price in about a day and have the broker wire the proceeds to my checking account,” Jim said.

  Carol’s eyes opened wide in shock, “That sounds good to me.” She looked at Jim as if searching for something.

  “I hope we can get the Johnson’s on the way south by early December.”

  “I’m not sure if that’s possible. The Johnson’s aren’t going to take any furniture, so they’ll have to have a sale. That might slow things up.”

  “I’ll need furniture. I wonder if the Johnson’s might consider selling me their furnishings. I think it would be ideal for both of us,” Jim said.

  “My guess is they’d be pleased to do that.”

  “See what they would like for their furniture, so I can sell additional stock to cover that.”

  Carol looked at Jim in apparent astonishment. “I will and get back to you as soon as I have a figure for you.”

  Jim stuck out his hand and said, “Deal?”

  Carol shook his hand, still looking a bit puzzled by the turn of events.

  Jim chatted with Carol for a few moments all the time, wondering if she was married. She didn’t have a wedding ring, but often that didn’t mean anything. It didn’t seem appropriate to ask her in the middle of the real estate deal. He made a mental note to ask her as soon as the sale was completed.

  Chapter 2

  It was getting close to lunchtime. Jim stopped at a fast-food restaurant drive-through and got a couple of hamburgers, fries, and a chocolate shake. Jim thought that he couldn’t afford to get any skinnier. He went back to the Journal and directly to his office. Helen wasn’t far behind.

  Helen asked, “Is there anything I can do for you?”

  Jim smiled at her. She seemed more relaxed than she had when they first met. She seemed to be in her mid-50s with brown hair, and the few extra pounds age adds to everyone. “I don’t think so. I was looking at houses this morning. I stopped and picked up my lunch,” Jim held up his fast-food bag.

  Helen smiled, “I’ll leave you to eat then. Just buzz me if you need me.”

  “You’ll have to show me how to do that. I don’t know your phone system.”

  Helen came over to the desk and showed him how to get her on the phone.

  Jim thought she smelled like the cologne his mother used. Somehow that was kind of comforting. He thanked her, and she left.

  He was almost done with his lunch when Will came in. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were eating. I’ll come back later if you want.”

  “No, I’m just trying to make my way through this shake. It didn’t look this large in the ads. It must have ten thousand calories. What can I do for you?”

  “I read through your introductory editorial. I’ve got a couple of questions,” Will said.

  They worked together for a few minutes making the changes that Will suggested. They were about done when the phone on Jim’s desk rang. He looked at it and then at Will, “How do I answer this, so I don’t lose whoever’s calling?”

  Will showed him how to answer. When Jim answered, he was surprised to find it was Carol.”

  She said, “I spoke to the Johnsons. They’ll have figures for you by Friday because of the Thanksgiving holiday in between. They are very pleased because they didn’t want the hassle of a sale in December.”

  “I am very pleased with you too. You did a great job of finding the property for me,”

  Carol seemed to pause for a moment, “Thank you. I try to do my best for both the sellers and the buyers. Is there anything else you need today?”

  “I’m sure the title needs looking at, and that takes time. Can you arrange that?” Jim asked.

  “The Johnsons gave me the title so I could run it over to the title company for you. We will be holding the closing there. They’ll just add the title search cost into the closing costs.”

  “That would be great. You’re super,” Jim said, hoping his compliment would work in his favor later, and hung up the phone.

  Jim turned to Will and asked, “Can you tell me if Carol Amundson is married?”

  “The real estate lady?” Will asked.

  “Yes, I’ve been very impressed by her.”

  “I don’t think she’s married, but I’ll ask Julie to come to see you. I know she’s friends with her. I think we’re done here.”

  Jim was starting to sort through the papers on his desk when Julie came in.

  “Will said you wanted to see me?”

  “I have been looking for a place to live. I’m very impressed by the real estate woman I’m working with, Carol Amundson. I’d like to know her better. Do you know if she’s married?” Jim asked.

  Julie looked surprised, “No, we’ve known each other since forever. She was really sweet in high school on a guy. He went into the service and never came back here. It kind of broke Carol’s heart. She’s never mentioned anybody seriously since that time.”

  “Was he killed in the service?”

  “No, he just never came back. I don’t know the whole story. You’d have to ask Carol,” Julie said.

  “I’ve been taken by her. She found me a property I love. I wanted to find out if she was married. I didn’t want to ask a married woman for a date.”

  “She’s a great person. Can I ask something?”

  “Sure, ask away,” Jim said.

  “Do you have a girlfriend?”

  “No, I was on assignment in Europe for the last few years. I covered many countries, and there was just never time to date anyone. Besides, there was always the language
barrier. I haven’t dated anyone in years.”

  “There are very few unmarried women your age in this town. You are lucky you found someone that interests you. Carol is lucky too. She has said many times there are few prospects for her here, but she doesn’t want to leave because she is looking after her mother and father, who is quite old.”

  “Thanks, Julie. I’ll wait until we close on the house before I ask her out.”

  “Do you mind me asking where the house is and what it’s like?”

  “It’s just about five miles outside of town on County Road Seven. Nice looking. I understand there’s a lake nearby. It comes with quite a few acres of land, too,” Jim said.

  “My cousin got a house out that way. It has to either be Little Wolf Lake or Cormorant Lake. One lake is on one side of County Road Seven, and the other is on the other side as you’re heading east. Who are you buying the property from?”

  “I was introduced to them as Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. I don’t know their first names.”

  “I know them. I went to school with their daughter. There were also two or three boys in the family, but I didn’t know them well. That property is close to Little Wolf Lake,” Julie said.

  They continued to chat about the Johnsons and other people out on County Road Seven. After Julie went back to her desk, Jim sat there thinking. He had forgotten how small the town of Alma was. Everybody seemed to know each other or at least their family. His brother had described it as a net with each place where the material making up the net crossed being another person or family. Everything and everyone was interconnected. The phone rang, interrupting his thoughts.

  “Waterman here,” Jim said after picking up the phone.

  “Boy, have you gotten sophisticated,” the voice on the other end continued, “’ Waterman here.’ You sound professional. I don’t know if you remember me, but I heard you were back in town. I’m Luke Larsen.”

  Jim smiling, “Lucas Larsen, weren’t we little devils when we were young?”

  “Speak for yourself. I was always a little angel.”

  “That’s bullshit. You were just as crazy as the rest of us. How are you?”

  “I’m doing fine. I guess I was married the last time you saw me, but we’ve added a couple of kids. How are you? Married?” Luke asked.

  “Not married. I am a little bit stressed out right now. I have to take care of this paper. I don’t know what my brother was doing, so the paper is a mystery to me right now.”

  “I’m sorry about your brother. I read about it in the paper. Going into the woods during deer season isn’t good. Out my way, the opening morning often sounds like there’s a firefight going on between two armies. I’m surprised more people aren’t killed. When is the funeral?”

  “The sheriff talked to me and wants an autopsy done, so I approved it. It means the funeral will be put off until later,” Jim said.

  “How come you had to approve it? He was married. Shouldn’t it be his wife?”

  “They divorced, and it was final just before he was killed. I guess I was the closest of kin.”

  “Wow! I don’t seem to know anything anymore. I don’t get much of a chance to do anything other than cut timber and haul it to the pulp mill.”

  “I didn’t know either. The whole divorce thing was a real shocker. I tried talking to Sally, but she won’t say anything,” Jim said.

  “That’s tough. Anyway, I thought I’d call and see if we could get together. With Thanksgiving coming up, I don’t know when.”

  “I have an invitation for Thanksgiving from Ted Erickson. It will have to be some other time.”

  “Erickson? Be careful. I wasn’t thinking about Thanksgiving because we’re going to her mother’s. How about the day after?”

  “That sounds good to me,” Jim said. They chatted for a couple of minutes longer, setting a time to get together and a place. Jim had not more than put the phone down when Helen walked into the office. He realized she could see his line flashing on the phone and knew when he hung up.

  “I thought we could go through the desk and make a box of your brother’s things. I would think his wife would like them,” Helen said.

  “Okay, but I’ll need your help. I am sure there are some things I won’t have any idea about,” Jim looked at Helen again. She had on a conservative dress in a dark green color. She had a brooch on her dress that looked like a frog with red eyes. Jim looked at the desk in front of him. It was a mess. Jim suggested they start with the top of the desk. He began by throwing away the fast-food bag and wrappings from his lunch but held onto the chocolate shake that he was still working on.

  It didn’t take them long to clear off the top. The desk looked barren to Jim. It had a phone, a Rolodex, a desk pad, and the change he had gotten when he bought his lunch, nothing more. Oh, and the remains of the chocolate shake.

  “I think the desk looks pretty good, but you will have to have a nameplate. I’ll take care of that. Do you want your full name or just your last?” Helen asked.

  Jim thought a moment, “I think Jim Waterman is fine. There’s no need for a title. Besides, I don’t know what I will be. If need be, we can add the title later.” Jim held up a thick file folder labeled “Community Development from the desk drawer.” He asked, “What about this file?”

  “That’s about what we can do to make Alma grow,” Helen didn’t look at Jim as she spoke.

  “Are you saying I should keep it?”

  “I guess you probably should,” again, Helen didn’t look at him.

  They quickly went through the rest of the desk. Helen excused herself to get a banker’s box to put things in. When she came back, they almost filled it. Helen asked, “Should I call Sally and ask her to come to pick the box up?”

  “No, I’ll take it to her this afternoon.” Jim paused a moment, “I guess you better give her a call and make sure she’s at home.”

  * * *

  Elsewhere in Alma, Ralph Johnson had called Ted Erickson. Ralph said, “I’m worried about what’s Jim’s brother might have left him about the community development we’re working on.”

  “I invited him for Thanksgiving. Perhaps, I can get a feeling about it from him then,” Ted said.

  “What about offering him a position on the committee?” Ralph asked.

  “That sounds like a good idea. Alex pretty much blindsided us with that editorial. I wouldn’t want that to happen again,” Ted said.

  “You should do it on Thanksgiving. The less he knows about the problem, the more likely he will agree to join us.”

  “Consider it done, but I’m not sure Thanksgiving is appropriate,” Ted said, effectively ending the call.

  * * *

  Late in the afternoon, Jim drove over to his brother’s house. Sally answered the door and took the box from him with just a single word, “Thanks.”

  Jim drove back to the motel and changed his shirt. In finishing the last of the chocolate shake, he had managed to spill part of it on himself. Jim didn’t have that many shirts with him. He knew the motel offered laundry service, so he would fill the laundry bag they had left after he ate.

  Jim decided he’d had enough fast food for the day and headed to the Riverview Inn restaurant he remembered. The day had left him hungry and with a ton of questions. Once there, he ordered and was reading a Minneapolis newspaper he had picked up in the motel lobby when a woman walked up and said, “Jim Waterman! When did you get back to town?”

  Jim looked up at the woman, not sure who she was, “That’s me. I’m sorry you look familiar, but I can’t come up with the name.”

  “I guess I’ve changed. I’m Laura, and you knew me by my maiden name Freiberg, but now I’m a Peterson even though I’m divorced.”

  Jim smiled after a moment, “Yes, I do.” Jim looked at her with a bit more interest as they had briefly dated in high school. She had aged, but not in a bad way. She still had her blonde hair and a figure that hadn’t changed much from high school. He asked, “Why don’t you sit down?
It’s kind of lonely eating by yourself.”

  Laura got a funny look on her face and, after a moment, said, “I’ll sit down, but you gotta know something.”

  Jim was intrigued. He gestured for her to sit down.

  Laura sat down. “You being one of the uppity ups of this town, you might not want to be seen with me.”

  “Why is that?”

  Laura looked hard at him for a moment, “I’m a hooker these days.” She stared hard at Jim, looking for a reaction.

  Jim’s training as a reporter kicked in, “What made you choose that occupation?”

  “You’re not afraid to be seen with me?” Laura seemed to be looking for an answer she already knew.

  “No, I have been working as a reporter and have talked to people ranging from murderers to corrupt politicians. I’ve seen many a hooker when I was covering the crime beat. I’m curious. Why did you choose that?”

  Laura looked puzzled. He wasn’t a John, so she answered truthfully. “I barely got out of high school. I think they gave me a diploma because they felt sorry for me. I tried to work as a cashier, but I would goof up the change, and my till would be off, so I got fired. I tried some other jobs. Nothing seemed to work for me. I got to thinking one day about what I knew and what I could do. The only thing I seemed good at was fucking. My daddy had taught me that. I knew guys would pay.”

  Laura’s frank statement was a shock even to Jim, “Your father taught you?”

  Laura nodded yes, “He told me I was really good at it.”

  Again, Jim’s training as a reporter kicked in, “When? How did it start?”

  Laura answered immediately, “When my tits started to grow. When they got really big, he showed me how guys like to fuck big tits.”

  “How long did he…”

  Again, Laura answered immediately, “When Becca, my little sister, started to grow her tits, he started to teach Becca. It wasn’t often we’d fuck after that.”

  It was the craziest incest story Jim had ever heard. Laura still needed to be treated as an ordinary human being, “I’d be pleased to have your company. Are you hungry?”

  “Are you sure? You know people will think you’re fucking me,” Laura said.