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He could hear the flustering in her voice. "Huh? You want to know . . . I don't quite follow." |
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"I'm concerned that I leaped without looking." |
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"Calvin, I think I'm missing something in this conversation." |
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He knew he wasn't putting it right. But he was blowing on a dull red ember of guilt in the back of his conscience that had all but extinguished. "Before I signed the purchase and sale, you'd said something about the land once being used for commercial purposes." He still did not have it right. The words were off. |
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"Commercial purposes?" Beverly said. There was a long pause as she put together what he was driving at. "Calvin, it's been over a decade, so my memory isn't what it should be. But I think when you signed the P and S, I made it clear that there might have been a minor liability attached." |
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The ember flared. "Minor liability," he said like an echo. |
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"Remember? But it was nothing to get worked up about." |
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"Maybe you can refresh my memory." |
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"About the minor liability." |
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Another brief pause as Beverly regrouped. "Calvin, forgive me, but why are we looking back? I mean in a few weeks you'll be off to greener pastures" |
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"Because I got the house for less than market value and I want to know why?" |
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"All of a sudden after ten years? I mean, what's the problem?" |
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"We've got dying trees, flowers that won't flower, wild animals that are acting loony." He could not get himself to add Matty to the list. |
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"Is that it?" The relief in her voice was palpable. "I know how Terry is about the environment and all. I've read her letters in the paper. And I don't blame her, what with all the stuff going on. But that could be anything. Some kind of disease or blight, or the winter drought. Who knows? You should see my roses. My husband says I've got a black thumb. Even before the Japanese beetles got to them, they looked like Pearl Harbor." |
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