Chapter 80

“Not at all,” Mickey said. “It was a foreclosure that had been badly neglected for years. The bank was happy to get it off their books at a seriously distressed price. There will be one downside, though.”

“What’s that?” Arnold said.

“The property value was considerably downgraded on the property appraiser’s website. But once they’ve inspected the improvements, they’ll probably up the assessment, and our tax bill will take a huge jump.”

“Gotta take the bad with the good,” Arnold said.

“For sure. Can I offer you folks a glass of wine?”

“You can, if I can sit in that swing while I drink it,” Mrs. Bottoms said.

“Certainly. Give me a couple of minutes. Red or white? We have some Cabernet Sauvignon and a nice Pinot Grigio.”

“The latter, if you don’t mind,” she said.

“Me too,” Arnold said.

When Mickey returned to the porch carrying a tray containing a bottle and three glasses, the visitors were settled down in the swing.