The mortification started at her feet and worked its way up in a flood of heat that probably made her glow crimson as she got into her car and drove away, Jem’s headlights fading into the distance behind her.
CHAPTER
16
After a shocking night’s sleep where her dreams were haunted by hotshot Hudson, Karly had to front up at a housing appraisal in Serenity at eight-thirty. She usually thrived on early starts and squeezed in a jog before work followed by a leisurely breakfast—opening the agency at ten some mornings suited her—but today she was out of sorts.
At least doing this appraisal would keep her mind off last night and Hudson’s heartrending admission. Her folks may have flaked on her early, but she’d had Pop to raise her, and he’d given her everything she could’ve wanted including his undying love. But Hudson’s plight … it had broken her heart. And made her like him way too much.
Her inner cynic wondered if that had been his plan all along, to get her onside by revealing one of his innermost vulnerabilities after plying her with wine and chocolate. But the devastation in his eyes couldn’t be manufactured. Losing his home then his mother had gutted him, and she’d been unable to do much but offer a comforting hug.
She hadn’t blamed him for bolting after his revelation either. She would’ve done the same. Though she wished he hadn’t brought over the wine and chocolate, two of her weaknesses, because she’d been so maudlin after he left she’d ended up finishing the bottle and polishing off the entire block. Hence her bad sleep and less than stellar appearance today. A good foundation and concealer could hide a multitude of sins but the eyes never lied and hers indicated she could do with eight hours’ uninterrupted sleep.
As she glimpsed the windmills that skirted the intentional living community, she wondered if Hudson would pitch to her grandfather today. She wanted to be at that meeting and would ensure she dropped everything to make it happen, because she had a feeling Pop would sell the agency out from under her in a heartbeat. The kicker was, he had every right to do so. He owned it. But she had to hear Hudson’s spiel and question him on everything so Pop got the best price.
If Hudson’s pitch to her grandfather was anything like his coolly delivered presentation at that conference six months ago, Pop wouldn’t stand a chance and would hand over the agency without hesitation; Hudson was that good. She’d been spellbound at that conference and at one stage had discovered herself leaning forward and hanging on his every word. Sure, she’d been embarrassed for disparaging him and annoyed he hadn’t revealed his identity when she’d done it, but his insights into proptech had blown her mind. A small part of her had been envious too. She wanted to emulate him but knew she faced an impossible task implementing major changes at an agency in a small country town.
She parked outside 24 Ocean Drive and got out of the car. At first glimpse, the handmade brick cottage looked like all the others in this older part of Serenity, but as she strode up the paved path to the front door, she noticed small touches, like the planter boxes filled with chives, parsley, thyme and rosemary lining the frontage, and an underground sprinkler system hooked up to one of five huge water tanks along the side of the house.
Living in Acacia Haven, everyone knew the importance of sustainability, and while she’d never lived in this community she admired their diligence in preserving the environment.
Knocking on the door, she put her game face on. She may feel like crap after minimal sleep but no way would she be anything other than professional in front of a prospective client, especially when Xia had mentioned being eight years above her at school yet remembering her regardless.
The door swung open to reveal a bare-footed woman dressed in a loose linen beige shift that looked handmade. ‘Hey, Karlana, come on in.’
‘How are you, Xia?’
‘Good. Though I’ll be better when you can sell this place for me.’
‘I’m here to make that happen. Why don’t you show me around then we’ll talk?’
As Xia took her on the grand tour, Karly knew this place would sell quickly. City folk craving a sea change would gobble up the quaintness of this three-bedroom home. And while it hadn’t been modernised like many of the cottages around here, the place was in excellent condition.
‘What do you think?’ Xia asked as Karly followed her into the kitchen. ‘I’ve lived in this house since my folks moved here from Mallacoota when I was five and the place was new then, so it’s thirty-three years old.’
‘It’s in good shape,’ Karly said, taking a seat when Xia pointed at one of the bar stools lining a small island bench. ‘Houses here sell quickly so I can confidently say we’ll have little problem getting the price you want.’
‘Great. Want a cuppa?’
‘Sounds good. Got any herbal?’
‘Chamomile okay?’
‘Perfect.’
Discussing quotations over a cuppa was an integral part of this job but if Karly had coffee at every appraisal she’d be hyped up on caffeine all the time.
‘Is there a reason you’re selling?’
‘Uh … yeah.’ A grimace followed Xia’s sheepish grin. ‘My biological clock is ticking louder than I’d like and, at thirty-eight, if I don’t move to the city and meet someone, I’ll never have the baby I want.’
Karly tried to mask her surprise and couldn’t come up with anything to say beyond, ‘Wow.’
‘I know, crazy, right? And I know I don’t need a guy to have a baby, there are other options to explore, but at the risk of sounding like a desperado, I’m lonely too. The dating pool here is a puddle and I want a family. The guy, the kid, the works, and that’s not going to happen if I stay in Acacia Haven.’
Karly wanted to reassure her there were plenty of happy families here, local couples who’d met and had kids, but it wasn’t her place. Besides, when was the last time she’d dated a local guy? Xia was right. Dating options weren’t just a puddle; they were a puddle in the middle of a desert. Non-existent.
‘You’re not crazy. You’re being proactive in chasing what you want. Good on you.’