The first offer came that evening.
Full asking price.
No financing contingency.
Closing requested in twenty-one days.
Melissa sounded almost cheerful.
“The buyers love the house.”
“How strong is the offer?”
“Very.”
“Any concerns?”
“One.”
“What?”
“They want possession at closing.”
I laughed without humor.
“Of course they do.”
“So your family needs to be out.”
“They will be.”
The next morning, I accepted.
Twenty minutes after the paperwork was signed, my father arrived at my restaurant.
He did not call.
He walked through the dining room during lunch service like an approaching storm.
A hostess tried to stop him.
He brushed past her.
I saw him coming through the glass wall of my office.
Dad opened the door without knocking.
“Outside.”
I stood.
“No.”
His face darkened.
“I said outside.”
“And I said no.”
My general manager, Luis, appeared behind him.
“You want me to handle this?”
Dad spun around.
