Chapter 20: The Empty House

'I'm not leaving this house,' Curtis told the buyers. 'You can't make me.'

The woman buyer stopped beside the hall table.

The listing agent had taken Maureen's signed offer, but the buyers knew its vacant-at-closing condition.

'Can he keep you from delivering the empty house we offered to buy?' the woman asked.

Maureen's fingers pressed against her palm.

Curtis had made the buyers question her before she could answer.

The woman watched Maureen and waited.

Curtis stepped closer to the hall table. 'You can't make me leave the home we shared.'

He used their marriage to challenge her right to sell the house in front of its buyers.

'I accepted your offer,' Maureen said. 'The house is mine to sell, and I will deliver it empty.'

The man buyer lowered his notes.

The woman glanced at the doorway, where Curtis's things still sat.

Then she looked back at Maureen.

Curtis faced them both. 'She can't promise you an empty house while I still live here.'

He wanted them to picture him staying after closing.

The woman pressed her thumb against the edge of her notes. 'We don't want to be pulled into a dispute after we buy.'

'I understand,' Maureen said.

She understood that Curtis wanted his refusal to make the sale look impossible.

Curtis gave them a small smile. 'Then perhaps we should all be sensible.'

He made her promise sound unreasonable.

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