Chapter 17 - THE HOUSE SALE DECISION
I listed the house.
Price:
$515,000.
Not because the cage drove me out.
Because before the cage I had already wanted smaller.
I kept repeating that to myself.
The house had stairs.
Large yard.
Roof nearing next stage.
My knees hurt.
A one-story condo made sense.
The realtor said:
“You don’t have to explain.”
Good.
First open house:
I stayed at Rachel’s for two hours.
Not because she guarded.
Because coffee.
A couple offered $505,000.
Another $522,000 with inspection.
I chose second.
Normal.
Then Marcus’s attorney objected to sale? He had no ownership. Could perhaps claim belongings. No legal basis.
He did not.
Good.
Then the patio.
Buyer noticed damaged fence and kennel pad.
We repaired.
I hired contractor.
Rachel watched them reseed mud.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t have to watch.”
“I know.”
I watched anyway.
The patch became dirt.
Then grass.
Evidence photographs preserved.
Cage itself remained with police until trial.
Fine.
At closing, Samuel attended.
I signed deed.
My signature.
Every page.
No POA.
No agent.
No son.
The closing attorney asked:
“Do you want proceeds wired to brokerage?”
“Yes.”
Verified directly.
Hardware token.
Multiple checks.
I laughed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
The proceeds arrived.
No HELOC payoff because lien released.
Clean.
I bought one-story townhouse twenty minutes away.
Smaller.
Two bedrooms.
Tiny patio.
No dog cage.
Rachel helped carry one lamp.
That was all I allowed her.
She complained.
“I have a truck.”
“I have movers.”
“You’re stubborn.”
“Yes.”
Good.
Then neighborhood farewell.
Mrs. Delgado apologized.
“For believing Marcus.”
“You believed your neighbor’s son.”
“I should have asked you.”
“Yes.”
We hugged.
No grudge.
Mr. Evans said:
“I thought he was protecting you.”
“So did I.”
That sentence softened everyone.
Then I moved.
Marcus’s old bedroom furniture donated.
His remaining belongings had been collected.
One box remained accidentally:
Childhood baseball trophies.
I told Samuel.
Marcus’s lawyer arranged pickup.
No note inside.
I wanted to put one.
Didn’t.
Then trial date came closer.
The house was no longer mine.
Would that reduce emotional stakes?
No.
Property case mostly resolved.
Criminal truth remained.
And the financial restitution.
The direct care transfers.
The bank’s claim against Marcus.
Then prosecutor said they might not introduce sale details because irrelevant.
Good.
Court was not story finale.
It was elements.
My life could move while trial waited.
That was important.
Then Marcus accepted no plea.
Jury selection scheduled.
He would take chance.
I would take stand.
Rachel too.
The cage would be brought into evidence photographs, maybe actual? Actual bulky cage not necessary. Photos/video enough.
May you like
Thank God.
I did not want to see it again.
