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If the outside looked bad, the inside was a disaster Trash, peeling paint, holes in the walls--mostly fro wide A fealls showed signs of suspicious holes--as if so or punched them "Who lived here?" Devon asked

"Four nineteen-year-old boys who had to be evicted Mr Dunwoody--and the neighbors--would like a quieter tenant next time around"

"And who lives on the other side?"

"Mrs Marissa Bledsoe, an elderly , a little on the weak and wobbly side She can’t handle ood-natured"

Devon looked at the filth, the scarred hardwood floors and the chipped and peeling paint The place even had a bit of a smell to it, of what, she wasn’t sure The bathroo and the tub and tiles were filthy The toilet was older than she was, and there was a large chip in the porcelain tub

The kitchen was alerator and since the electricity had been left on, it was only dirty Nothing had been left to rot

Behind her Ray Anne was saying, "I know you left your things behind but I can help you find inexpensive secondhand items Once the floors are scrubbed clean, they’ll be safe, but you’ll need area rugs--this place gets pretty chilly in winter"

"Will he paint and repair the walls?"

"He says if he has to put any work into it, he wants seven hundred"

"What about the da?" Devon asked

"I think I can talk hiree doesn’t work or leaks, he has to replace or repair it But it’s four-fifty, as is I’m sorry I shouldn’t have wasted your ti about the layout--a s room with a pretty little fireplace, two nice-size bedroo bathroom And a view to die for

"I think it’s beautiful I’ll take it!"

Six

Midafternoons on a weekday were a quiet time at Cooper’s Perfect time to have a little sit-down, and Landon and Spencer were asked to join Cooper and Sarah for a talk Rawley passed the four of them as they were seated around a table on the deck and he headed back to his kitchen

"You’re welcome to join us if you want the latest news," Cooper said to hi"

"I don’t do s It ain’t in ?"

"I’ was all about

"I’ll have a Coke, Rawley," Landon said

"’S’at right?" he said, and went inside But he didn’t come back

"How’d that work out for you?" Cooper asked with a laugh

"You need better help around here" Landon leaned back in his chair lazily "Just give us the update," he said "And be sure you clock my time"

Cooper looked at Sarah "Do we have to be ot a wop on the back of the head from Spencer "I don’t have to et to it? Please?"

"All right, we’re getting married," Cooper said

"We know this already, Cooper," Spencer replied

"Soon Teeks froht here--could be very nice We’ll have a quiet cere Sarah’s hand "Then have a little sunset party on the deck, on the dock, on the beach"

"How lovely," Landon said, bored to tears

"Landon, hoould you like your own ho out onCooper in with us?" he asked

"So around plans for the past couple of weeks Sarah’s going to be flying the rest of the suht now But she’s short--her schedule is already lightening up and they have a brand-spanking-new Lieutenant Commander on his way in to take overto builders And we’re going to build Right there," he said, pointing to the steep hill next door to the bar "Nice big picture , big deck, stairs to the beach, big kitchen We’ll be excavating around the lot,to disturb the wildlife?" Landon asked Cooper had been trying to respect the wishes of the departed friend who had left him the beachfront property; Ben had wanted the promontory on the other side of the bar left to the birds and flora--a natural preserve

"The land between me and Thunder Point doesn’t have any wildlife except beetles on it," Cooper said "I’ to develop it At least some of it I have to--I need a couple of decent roads That’s the price of a house And I want a house" He reached for Sarah’s hand "Sarah’s going along with ures out what she wants to do While she’s having a little tieneral contractor She’s going to help me build us a house"