Chapter 155
Lionel replied, “I’ll place the order right now! First, we’ll get the trellis since your mom loves wisteria. It’ll be perfect for the vines. Then, we’ll pick up a few hydrangeas. When they bloom in May, they’ll make Xavier green with envy…”
Xavier Scott was one of Lionel’s colleagues. They taught different subjects, but their shared passion for gardening had forged a solid friendship. A few years ago, Xavier had moved out of the staff quarters and bought a nearby apartment. This came with a small garden, which he promptly filled with flowers. But space was limited, so he mostly stuck to small potted plants. Large, showy blooms like hydrangeas were something he could only dream of.
Lionel was serious about his plan. He began browsing Amazon, but suddenly hesitated. “If we’re moving into the new house soon, what do we do with this one?”
“We keep it,” Miranda replied.
“Do we really need to?” Lionel asked, thinking about how most other teachers sold their houses after moving.
The location was prime—close to Earnest High—and attracted many buyers, mostly out-of-town parents who wanted to be near their children. Plus, the price was pretty decent.
Lionel felt a pang of sentimentality for the old place, but considering how much Miranda had spent on the villa, selling the house could have helped cover some of the expenses. Miranda knew exactly what he was thinking, but—
“Even if we’re not going to live in it, let’s hang on to it for now,” she said.
“Hang on to it for what?” Lionel was puzzled.
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
“That’s pretty mysterious of you…” Lionel muttered.
It wasn’t that Miranda didn’t want to say, but when it comes to things like demolition, the fewer people who know, the better. If word got out, it could have caused all kinds of trouble. As for how she knew about it, she had Hansel to thank. His company had won the bid for a large mall development project in Lumberville, and Miranda had accidentally stumbled upon the contract while looking through a drawer in the study. When she saw the familiar name “Lumberville,” she couldn’t help but take a closer look. That’s when she discovered the mall’s planned area included the Earnest High Staff Quarters. The plan was simple: demolish it!
“By the way, Sophia from the sales office called earlier. She said we need to go back tomorrow to take care of a few more formalities.”
“So, can I move some of the potted plants over tomorrow?” Lionel asked.
“Of course. The villa’s key box has been handed over, so all that’s left is to pick a suitable day and move in,” Miranda replied.
“I’ll pack up some clothes and take them over tomorrow, too,” Mindy chimed in.
The next morning, Lionel and Mindy were up at the crack of dawn. Lionel was busy moving his flower pots while Mindy packed clothes and shoes. Lionel even hired a pickup truck to help with the move. After filling the back with pots of all sizes, he squeezed into the driver’s seat.
“Mimi, I’ll head over with the driver now. Once your mom’s finished packing, you two head to the sales office, and I’ll meet you there after I’m done.”
“Sounds good,” Mindy agreed.
At 10:00 a.m., Sophia was already waiting at the sales office entrance. When she saw Miranda, she flashed a bright smile and said, “Ms. Sutton, over here!”
“The paperwork is pretty straightforward. It won’t take long,” she explained as they walked inside.
And she was right. Ten minutes later, Miranda and Mindy were stepping out of the VIP reception room. “Mindy? Miranda?” A voice suddenly called from behind.
Mindy turned toward the voice. “Harold?”
Harold stood there in a suit and wool coat, with his hair slicked back as usual. His shoes were polished to a shine. At first glance, he looked even more put-together than Leonard, the actual boss.
“What are you two doing here?” he asked.
“We’re just—” Mindy began.
“How did you disappear the moment I turned my back? I told you to stay put and listen to the presentation…”
Uh-oh. Jenny’s complaint abruptly died on her lips the moment she saw Mindy.
The passage has been corrected for grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Some minor wording changes were made for clarity and flow. The abrupt ending suggests there might be more to the story.