Higgins Hotel

Chapter 7

It was a nice warm day to look at the new listings, and

there were several to see with springtime listings coming

in. Cindy drove Helen, John, and a new agent they just

hired named Mark. Irene and Dottie always drove together.

Mark lit up a joint, and he and John were smoking it. Cindy

held up her hand no, then Helen reached out and took a toke

off it. Mark wasn't bad looking and seemed nice enough,

Cindy thought. He was married and had a couple teenagers

in school.

"I'd better not go nuts and take off my clothes," Helen

said. "If I do, you all will stop me, won't you?"

"Sure, we will," Mark said and did his impression of an

evil laugh.

"I hate it when that happens. It's a nightmare," John

said.

"Speaking of nightmares," Cindy said.

Apparently everyone already knew about her nightmare,

Cindy thought.

"Not to change the subject, but what did Romeo think

of the apartment duplex, I mean complex, Cindy?" John

asked.

"He said he'd call me, but I haven't heard from him,"

Cindy said. "Did you guys show it yet?"

"Yes, but my guy said he didn't want it because it's HUD.

I thought that would be a plus. I'm surprised someone hasn't

already put a contract on it," John said.

Cindy slowed down and pulled over to the curb to see

their first new listing of the day.

"There it is, 527 Beauregard. Does anyone want to see

the inside?" Cindy asked.

"I do," Mark said. "I have a prospect that wants to

duplex one of these big old houses."

Everyone got out of the car including Cindy. They

walked up to the big front porch with stucco bannisters

and rang the bell.

"Is it empty?" Mark asked.

"Who listed this?" Cindy asked.

"Someone lives here. The Pike Valley office listed it. I

wonder why they gave it to those bums," John said.

"Let's get in and get out quick," Cindy said.

"There isn't even a lockbox," John said. "What if no one

is home, derelict listing asshole?"

"Sh!" Helen said.

An elderly lady opened the door dressed in nice clothes

and jewelry wearing makeup. Her hair was done like she just

got back from the beauty shop. She smiled and stood back

from the door so they could come in.

"Hello," Helen said. "I hope we aren't bothering you."

"Oh, no, I was just waiting on my son to get here," she

said. "He said some people from the real estate company

would be coming by."

"That would be us. Are you Joey Romeo's mother?"

Cindy asked.

"Yes, I am," she said. "Come on in."

"It's nice to meet you. Why are you selling?" Cindy

asked.

"I have a house in Florida I may move into. I'm getting

too old to make the trip, and the winters here are getting

longer it seems to me."

"They sure are," Cindy said. "Is it okay if we just walk

through?"

"Of course, be my guests," she said.

"How did you know she was Romeo's mother?" Helen

asked as she and Cindy walked into the kitchen.

"I saw her name on a piece of mail in the mailbox by the

door. Angela Romeo," she said.

John and Mark walked past them into a family room

in a back addition. Helen and Cindy walked upstairs to the

bedrooms which were typically on the small side with small

closets and one bathroom.

"One thing about mobile homes, at least the closets

are bigger than the ones in these old houses," Cindy said.

"I guess they had just one nice outfit for church and a

moo-moo."

"It's clean," Helen said, "and in great condition. Look

at that bedroom suite. I love that vanity. I wonder if she'd

sell any of her antiques."

They walked back downstairs where Mark and John

were questioning Mrs. Romeo about the age of the roof.

"It's a tile roof. I don't know exactly how old it is,

though," she said. "I have trouble remembering my own age."

 "Would you sell any of your antiques, Mrs. Romeo?"

Cindy asked.

"Which pieces interest you?" she asked.

"The bedroom set with that gorgeous vanity," Helen

said.

"I'll have to make up my mind which pieces I want to

keep. The vanity appraised for $2,000, just the vanity," she

said. "It was handed down to me from Italy."

"We have to be going now, but maybe in a couple days

we could come back and look again. We have a lot of houses

to see today," Cindy said.

"Thank you for allowing us to see your home, Mrs.

Romeo," John said.

"You're welcome," Mrs. Romeo said and followed them

back to the front door. "I hope you will come again."

"Thank you," Cindy said.

Walking back to the car Cindy sighed. It's going to be

a long day, she thought.

"That sucks that Joey didn't have his mom list with you,

Cindy," John said.

"She's an adult. I guess she listed with someone she

knew," Cindy said.

"One down and fifteen to go," Helen said.