We’ll Meet Again Someday

Riana signed and sent back the necessary paperwork to obtain her prize. She put up with Audra’s strange moods and domination for the few months it took to receive her money. While she was waiting, she checked the real estate in the area regularly. There was a three-acre parcel of land with a brand-new house in the middle of it. Apparently, the owners who had bought the land and had the large manufactured house brought in a few years ago had bitten off more than they could chew. Unable to make the payments, the land and house were repossessed. The pictures of both the house and the land were stunning. The land had a barbed-wire fence strung along its perimeters and didn’t appear to be in a military flight path, which would reduce the chances of having to deal with sonic booms. Tears stung her eyes as she stared at the pictures. She knew she wanted something really badly when just the thought of having it brought tears to her eyes. The house was two thousand square feet—a little bigger than she’d like to have to maintain—but the person who designed it obviously had her taste in colors. The whitewashed cabinets in the kitchen and baths were stunning, as was the pale pink carpet and laminate flooring in the kitchen. The exterior of the house was painted peach with white trim. There was also a bigger piece of land available nearby. It was a five-acre parcel. Its only drawback was that it was unfenced, and the old single-wide that was present was a real dump. She knew she could afford to hire someone to fence the property for her and that she could also have a modest-sized manufactured home hauled in later on, but she preferred to have something readily available to move into right away that wasn’t in such poor condition. Hmmm, she thought to herself. The first one had less acreage and the house was a bit big, but it sure was nice, and she definitely liked having a fence ready and waiting, too. She made an appointment with the real estate agent to look at both properties the following day. She would ride her bike to the office while Audra was at work, and the agent would drive her out to the lots. She tried to act normal around Audra and as if nothing was amiss, but she couldn’t help but feel a distinct sense that Audra suspected something. She tried to calm her nerves by telling herself she was simply being paranoid. That night, she tossed and turned for hours after telling Audra she was too tired for intimacy and asking for a raincheck. Audra grudgingly agreed and fell asleep rather quickly. She awoke the next morning exhausted because she’d only slept a few hours. After a hot shower and two cups of coffee, she rode over to the real estate agent’s office. The real estate agent introduced herself as Elsa May. Riana liked the woman. She came off as friendly, honest, and genuinely interested in helping people find their dream home. The older, plain yet pleasant woman didn’t make Riana feel as if she were just another business venture. She felt so comfortable with Elsa that she found herself opening up more than she usually would. “So, you’re currently sharing a house with someone?” Elsa May asked. Riana nodded. “I wouldn’t say I was exactly in an abusive relationship, although it hasn’t been much fun lately. So, I’d like for us to keep this a secret.” “Of course. Confidentiality is something we take seriously. Does he rent the house you’re sharing?” “No, she owns it.” If Elsa had caught the “she” and had been made uncomfortable by it in any way, she didn’t let it show. Instead, she said, “Okay, Riana. Let’s go make your dream a reality.”