“You mind if we just wander around for a few minutes?” the woman asked. “Pretend we own it?”

Billy smiled. “Sure. I’ll sit out on the porch and make some calls.” He went outside, took a rocker, and got out his cell phone.

—

Hello?”

“Stone, it’s Billy. How are you?”

“Very well, Billy. You?”

“Me, too. I just had a word with Eben Stone, over at his house.”

“Yeah? What did he have to say for himself?”

“He said they had an accident last night, trying to light a gas camping stove.”

“Poor kids. Anybody hurt?”

“Eben was having a little shoulder pain.”

“I wonder why?”

“Who knows. Listen, I have some good news for you.”

“I always like to hear good news,” Stone said.

“I was out, showing some prospective buyers around, and they expressed an interest in your place.”

“This place?”

“No, the old Stone place. I walked them through, and they were impressed.”

“How impressed?”

“Three and a half million impressed, as is. All cash, close in a couple of weeks. Does that impress you?”

“Not to tears, but I guess that would get me out from under.”

“What do you say?”

“I say, call me late this afternoon.”

“They’re on the five o’clock ferry,” Billy said. “Keep that in mind.”

“I’ll call you in an hour,” Stone said, then hung up.

“What would get you out from under?” asked Dino, who had been listening.

“Billy got me an offer on the old Stone house. Three and a half million, furnished, as is.”

“Sounds like a deal to me.”

“How would you and Viv like to have a place up here?”

“We have such a nice place now, and the price is right.” Dino said, waving an arm. “Why would we want to move?”

Stone called Billy back. “Sell it,” he said.

“I’ll bring the offer by for your signature; be there in a few minutes.” He hung up.

—

Billy’s customers were out back someplace. He put his feet up and gazed around him. The Stone house was across the way, a little uphill from where he sat. He could see the twins moving around their bedroom.

His customers appeared on the porch. “We’re done,” she said.

“You certainly are,” Billy said. “Congratulations on your new house.”

“We got it?”

“You did. I’ll drop you off at the store, and I’ll go get the offer signed.’’

“Who are those guys across the road?” the man asked.

“The brothers who are renovating the house.”

“Are they twins?”

“Yep. Local characters.” Billy was about to tell them more, but thought better of it. “Let’s go,” he said, and they left. He’d tell them more when they were used to the idea of owning their brand-new home.

47