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Authors: Ellen Elizabeth Hunter
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big commission?” I asked. “I wish I could get away tomorrow to shop for baby furniture with you but Jon’s got an appointment so I can’t get away.”
“ Oh, that’s OK, sis. Cam will come with me. The studio isn’t busy over the Christmas season and he’s really eager to do this. And sure, I should earn a big commission. When it sells. If it sells. And it isn’t going to be easy to sell. How many people have that kind of money?”
Melanie couldn’t stop raving about the fabulous listing that had dropped into her lap.
“ I don’t know if I’ll do any holiday decorating this year,” I moaned. “I can’t seem to get my head above water. I’m tired all the time. I feel like I’m walking around in a stupor. And since we’re all spending Christmas with you and Cam at the lodge, there doesn’t seem to be much point to dragging out my Christmas stuff. Although it’s going to take a caravan to transport all the baby things we are going to need for a few days away from home.”
“ I’ve got plenty of space for everyone and for your baby equipment. The lodge is spacious. And perhaps by then I’ll have a nursery set up for them.”
“ What a Godsend that will be. You are so great, Aunt Melanie.”
She gave me a quick smile. “My pleasure.”
“ Melanie, about last night and Roger Craighead. You were right not to show him the page that referred to the Wilmington treasure. That would be proof that the legend is true – that Cornwallis really was transporting gold - and I don’t want anyone knowing there is a possibility, no matter how remote, that the gold was spirited away by our ancestor.”
“ I agree. And did you ever have any idea we were related to Amy Wood?”
“ Not a clue. Jon and I were discussing the situation late last night.”
“ So were Cam and I. We think we should keep very quiet about the will and the treasure.”
“ Gosh, Mel. Jon and I came to the same conclusion. We think we should be very careful about the treasure aspect of all this and not tell anyone. Not until we can find out more. I’m going to feel out Amy Wood to see if she has ever heard about a treasure. You know, I seriously doubt there is one. I think this is just another rumor.”
“ Cam and I were thinking along the same lines. Nobody reads that will for the time being. The only ones who know are family and none of us will talk. We don’t want any discussion of this family treasure business being shared with outsiders. First of all, if there is nothing to it, we’ll end up looking like fools. And if there is . . . something . . . a treasure . . . And how odd would that be? Well, we don’t need any problems in our life with . . . with, well, I don’t know what. But people do strange things when something like a treasure is involved.”
“ My sentiments exactly,” I agreed.
Melanie pulled onto a small road that ran along beautiful Bradley Creek. There were breathtaking views of the marina and the Waterway. “I can’t wait for you to see this house. You won’t believe it.”
“ Didn’t you say your appointment was at two? We’re late, Mel. Did I make you late?”
“ Pish posh, don’t worry about that. Men won’t admit it but they love being kept waiting by women. Especially pretty women. Sure, he’ll be stomping around, cursing, but the minute he lays eyes on us, he’ll forget all about his anger.”
“ Humph. You and I must know different men, that’s for sure.” I imagined the reaming out I’d get if I stood up a carpenter or roofing contractor.
“ Here’s the thing, shug, this is a trustee sale so I have a small window of opportunity before my listing gets posted on the MLS. And what with the big bucks at stake, other brokers from all over the state will be storming down here to show this house. Then I’ll have lots of competition, and as you know, even though I thrive on competition, when it comes to earning a big commission I intend to get this sale nailed down as tight as a
“ Oh, that’s OK, sis. Cam will come with me. The studio isn’t busy over the Christmas season and he’s really eager to do this. And sure, I should earn a big commission. When it sells. If it sells. And it isn’t going to be easy to sell. How many people have that kind of money?”
Melanie couldn’t stop raving about the fabulous listing that had dropped into her lap.
“ I don’t know if I’ll do any holiday decorating this year,” I moaned. “I can’t seem to get my head above water. I’m tired all the time. I feel like I’m walking around in a stupor. And since we’re all spending Christmas with you and Cam at the lodge, there doesn’t seem to be much point to dragging out my Christmas stuff. Although it’s going to take a caravan to transport all the baby things we are going to need for a few days away from home.”
“ I’ve got plenty of space for everyone and for your baby equipment. The lodge is spacious. And perhaps by then I’ll have a nursery set up for them.”
“ What a Godsend that will be. You are so great, Aunt Melanie.”
She gave me a quick smile. “My pleasure.”
“ Melanie, about last night and Roger Craighead. You were right not to show him the page that referred to the Wilmington treasure. That would be proof that the legend is true – that Cornwallis really was transporting gold - and I don’t want anyone knowing there is a possibility, no matter how remote, that the gold was spirited away by our ancestor.”
“ I agree. And did you ever have any idea we were related to Amy Wood?”
“ Not a clue. Jon and I were discussing the situation late last night.”
“ So were Cam and I. We think we should keep very quiet about the will and the treasure.”
“ Gosh, Mel. Jon and I came to the same conclusion. We think we should be very careful about the treasure aspect of all this and not tell anyone. Not until we can find out more. I’m going to feel out Amy Wood to see if she has ever heard about a treasure. You know, I seriously doubt there is one. I think this is just another rumor.”
“ Cam and I were thinking along the same lines. Nobody reads that will for the time being. The only ones who know are family and none of us will talk. We don’t want any discussion of this family treasure business being shared with outsiders. First of all, if there is nothing to it, we’ll end up looking like fools. And if there is . . . something . . . a treasure . . . And how odd would that be? Well, we don’t need any problems in our life with . . . with, well, I don’t know what. But people do strange things when something like a treasure is involved.”
“ My sentiments exactly,” I agreed.
Melanie pulled onto a small road that ran along beautiful Bradley Creek. There were breathtaking views of the marina and the Waterway. “I can’t wait for you to see this house. You won’t believe it.”
“ Didn’t you say your appointment was at two? We’re late, Mel. Did I make you late?”
“ Pish posh, don’t worry about that. Men won’t admit it but they love being kept waiting by women. Especially pretty women. Sure, he’ll be stomping around, cursing, but the minute he lays eyes on us, he’ll forget all about his anger.”
“ Humph. You and I must know different men, that’s for sure.” I imagined the reaming out I’d get if I stood up a carpenter or roofing contractor.
“ Here’s the thing, shug, this is a trustee sale so I have a small window of opportunity before my listing gets posted on the MLS. And what with the big bucks at stake, other brokers from all over the state will be storming down here to show this house. Then I’ll have lots of competition, and as you know, even though I thrive on competition, when it comes to earning a big commission I intend to get this sale nailed down as tight as a
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