Chapter 17: The Inspection

Curtis blocked the open doorway while Bev and I stood behind him.

'You can't inspect the house,' he told the listing agent.

The agent stopped with her folder tucked against her side.

Bev held the folder with the sale papers. I had brought it for the agent to check against the listing.

Curtis kept one hand on the doorframe.

The house was mine to sell. He was making that harder in front of witnesses.

'You're still living here,' he said to me. 'You have no right to sell a house I still occupy.'

The agent looked from him to me.

'I signed the listing agreement,' I said. 'The inspection is part of preparing the sale.'

'You may have signed something,' Curtis said. 'That doesn't mean you can make me leave.'

'I'm not asking you to leave today.'

My hands began to shake.

Bev held out the folder, and I gripped it to steady my fingers.

The papers inside pressed against my palm. I could feel the listing agreement through the cover.

I wanted to tell Curtis that he had no say in what I sold. I kept my voice even instead.

The agent waited beside the step.

Curtis checked his watch.

'You're wasting my afternoon,' he told her. 'If this is what selling the house looks like, reschedule.'

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