Chapter 1
Ethan was only a few months out of college when he finally landed a decent job. He'd been working part-time and living at home while he was job-shopping for a 'career' position that was somehow related to his studies as a Marketing major.
He had been applying for many positions in different locations, and it was a great relief when he'd been offered and accepted a position in the marketing department for a large pharmaceutical company. It was a great load off his mind for a number of reasons, but primarily because it would get his old man off his back, he'd make some decent money and he could afford to get out of his parents' house once and for all. After four years living on his own while away at school, living back at home had become a major pain in the ass.
The job he'd accepted was in a city about three hours from where his parents lived. On the Saturday before the Monday he was to begin work he loaded up his fifteen year-old Volvo wagon with all of his stuff and was ready to drive to his new city. The plan was to get a cheap hotel room at first and he would scope out the local area for a place to rent. He was hoping to find a reasonable place that was furnished.
His mother Margot came out to his car to say goodbye. His dad was off playing golf.
"Now, drive safely, Ethan, and call me when you get settled in and let us know where you're staying," Margot said. "And I'll scope around on-line for some rentals and I'll send you any that look interesting."
"Okay Mom, thanks. I'm sure I'll be able to find something before too long. If not I'll just pick up a chick in a bar and go home with her!"
"Oh, stop! I'm sure a tall, handsome young man like you would have no trouble doing so, but I hope it doesn't come to that!"
"Don't worry, Mom, it'll work out," Ethan said, and hugged her. "Goodbye, and say bye to Dad for me."
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Ethan drove the three hours and checked into a Red Roof Inn about a mile from his office. After getting situated in his room he called Margot as requested and then went out to eat. His plan was to get a Sunday paper and drive around to learn the area. Then on Monday morning he'd start his orientation and training.
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A couple days later Margot was on the phone with her friend Claire, who lived a couple blocks away with her husband Greg and their two children. Margot was forty-two, and although Claire was seven years younger, they got along well and shared many of the same interests. They'd met at the country club, played tennis regularly, and socialized quite a bit.
Margot told Claire about Ethan's new job in the city and his need to find a place to live.
"You know something, Margot?" Claire said. "My mother lives not far from there. And she has a good-sized property with a pool and a garden and an outbuilding that is an old garage but it has a nice little apartment above it. My father used it as a studio before he died.
"Anyway," she continued, "We've encouraged her to rent it out, just to have somebody else around, but she never has because she didn't want to risk getting some lunatic in there and then she couldn't get them out! But it would be perfect for one person."
"Really?" Margot said excitedly. "Do you think she'd rent it to Ethan?"
"She might, I'll ask her. It's full of junk and will need some cleaning up, but it's a nice little place. It has a kitchenette and bathroom and one extra-large room. And it's only ten or twelve minutes from downtown."
"Wow, that sounds great. And it would save him a lot of stress too, I'm sure!"
"I'll call her tonight. I think she might go for it, I will encourage her to, anyway. I'd feel better knowing she had someone else around. Plus she knows you, so that should help. It will probably come down to whether or not she really wants somebody around."
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Claire called back that night and told Margot that she'd talked to her mother and she was open to the idea of renting to Ethan, but she wanted to meet him and interview him first before making a decision. Margot agreed that that made perfect sense, she would do the same.
"My mother said to have Ethan call her and they'll arrange a time for him to come over. I think it might work out, Ethan always makes a good impression." She gave Margot her mother's cell number.
"Oh, that's wonderful, Claire! I'll call Ethan right away, I'm sure he'll be ecstatic. He's been so busy with the new job I know he was not looking forward to apartment hunting."
They said their goodbyes and hung up and Margot immediately called Ethan's cell phone. He didn't pick up, which was absolutely normal for him, but she left a specific message and he called back in a few minutes. He said thank you very much, and to please thank Claire too. He said he'd call in the morning.