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contract with the school board right now. I’ll be a good tenant. I’ll keep the gardens and lawn up for them. And I’m sure you can recommend a good cleaning woman to help me keep the place inside, although I’m actually a pretty neat guy. And Rowdy is a good dog. Right, Rowdy?”
    At the mention of his name Rowdy, who had been dutifully following the two humans about this strange house, whined, cocking his head.
    Mrs. Kirk smiled, and patted the dog again. Then she pulled out her cell. “Let’s see if we can make the deal now, Mr. Blair.” She pressed the numbers, and then said, “Mr. Torkelsen? This is Doris Kirk, Country Real Estate in Egret Pointe. I believe I have good news for you and your sister. I have a client, the new principal of our Middle School, a single gentleman, who would like a two-year lease on your mother’s house.” She paused, listening. “Yes, I know, but to be candid with you, Mr. Torkelsen, I don’t see the market coming back quickly here. Mr. Blair has a two-year contract with the school district, and if at the end of that term they decide to continue on together—and frankly, I don’t see why they wouldn’t—he would then purchase your mother’s cottage. Yes, a two-year lease with an option to buy.” She paused again, listening, then said, “I’m quite certain he could obtain a mortgage.”
    “It would be an all-cash deal,” Tim said softly.
    Mrs. Kirk raised an eyebrow, and then said, “Mr. Blair says it would be an all-cash deal, Mr. Torkelsen. I really don’t see how you can go wrong. Would you like to speak to your sister, or shall I call her? Yes, I’ll call her. We’re in agreement then? A two-year lease with an option to purchase. Thank you so much.” Mrs. Kirk snapped her phone shut. “He’s in agreement, and his sister will do what he wants. I’ll call her now. Forgive me for asking, but an all-cash deal?”
    Tim Blair laughed. “From a guy driving an old Ford? The explanation is simple. I’ve been living in my late parents’ co-op. I got permission from the co-op board to rent it out for two years with an option to purchase. My tenants are the daughter of the head of the co-op board and her husband. They’re expecting a baby, and the parents on both sides are doing an all-cash deal with me in two years. In the meantime the expectant parents are paying me rent. The monthly co-op fee plus a little bit for my goodwill,” he explained. “I expect in two years the co-op price will still be more than the price of this little house. I might even buy a new car.” He chuckled. “I notice you didn’t mention the dog.”
    “Why complicate matters?” Mrs. Kirk said. “Besides, haven’t you told me that Rowdy is a good dog?” She smiled mischievously.
    “Thank you,” he said.
    “Let me call Jean Torkelsen Rich now, and get this settled,” Mrs. Kirk replied. She flipped her phone open, punched in some numbers and waited a moment. “Mrs. Rich? This is Doris Kirk from Country Real Estate in Egret Pointe. I’ve just gotten off the phone with your brother, Donald, and I have good news.”
    While she spoke Tim took the time to walk about the small house again. Opening a door in the kitchen, he descended into the basement. It was clean and dry. Coming up, he opened another door that led to a short covered breezeway with a flagstone floor. The garage was at its other end. Standing on the breezeway he looked out into the rear of the property. There was a small, neat, fenced-in vegetable garden and pristine green lawn. He wondered if he could adjust to living such a bucolic life.
    “Mr. Blair?” Doris Kirk came out to join him on the breezeway. “Mrs. Torkelsen’s daughter says it’s a deal. I told you she would. Now when would you like to move into the cottage?”
    “Today?”
    “ Today? ” Mrs. Kirk was more than surprised.
    “My furniture’s arriving in Egret Pointe tomorrow,” Tim Blair said. “I counted on finding a place today, and the