The Land of Mango Sunsets by Dorothea Benton Frank Read Free Book Online

and a wool skirt. And pearls. She wore pearls. How bad could she be?
    We chatted on for a while, and after Kevin and I were satisfied that she wasn’t dangerous, that she could afford the rent, and that she lived rather quietly, we led her upstairs to see the space.
    “Oh, my…! Y’all! This is so freaking beautiful! It looks like something from a magazine! I love these colors! It’s so…I don’t know…cool!”
    Freaking?
    “I’ll have it all finished by the weekend,” he said. “Except the closets.”
    “Oh, who cares about some dumb old closets? I can do them myself!”
    Kevin was shooting me his best see-I-told-you-so look and I just shook my head.
    “Kevin? Why don’t you get your eyebrows off the ceiling and let’s let Liz have a few moments here alone?”
    “For what?”
    “You know…to see herself in the space?”
    “Please. She’s seeing just fine. No props needed for this one.”
    Liz was pacing off the floor in the bedroom, squealing with delight every thirty seconds.
    “Y’all! My bedroom furniture will fit perfectly! And my towels match the tile!”
    “Wonderful!” Kevin said.
    Her exuberance was contagious. I have to say I hadn’t felt so optimistic in a long while, but that same exuberance was a little much.
    “So what do you think, Kevin?” I whispered to him. “Don’t you think she’s maybe a little gauche for us?”
    “Let her have the place, Miriam. She’s not gauche. She’s, I don’t know, young and full of life!”
    Then Liz appeared at my side and made the impassioned speech that sealed the deal.
    “Mrs. Swanson? I know you could have any tenant that you want. Anyone. But this apartment is the absolute maximum dream I could ever have. If you’ll just give me a chance I’d like to prove to you that I can be the ideal tenant. Really. Seriously. I mean it, y’all. I just…I mean, I don’t know what else to say…”
    Oh, pass the Kleenex, I thought. From the moment I saw Kevin’s delight I knew that I was going to let her move in.

Chapter Four
M IZZ L IZ
    Dear Mrs. Waddlesnotte,
    Many thanks for recommending Liz Harper as a possible tenant. I have met with her and found her to be a perfectly lovely young woman who will no doubt contribute much joy to my town house. Mr. Dolan and I look forward to her arrival with enthusiasm and we only have your excellent judgment to thank. What would the world be if we did not help each other? All best wishes to you!
    Cordially,
Miriam Elizabeth Swanson
    The February misery of blasting cold wind was preceded by the snowiest, coldest, iciest January on record in many years. It didn’t seem to matter how many logs I burned, the house was drafty and chilled. But I had a new tenant coming and that was a great relief. Finally, finally, February and Liz Harper arrived.
    It was around ten o’clock in the morning when Liz and all her worldly possessions pulled up in front of the house. I was surprised at how compact the rental truck was. She wasn’t even using a moving company. Were friends helping her? And who were her friends? Would she entertain a lot? Good heavens! I certainly hoped not.
    I went out to the front steps to greet her.
    “Good morning! Situation in hand?” Of course I had no intention of doing anything more than saying hello.
    “Hi, Mrs. Swanson! Yeah. I just need the keys. Cold, huh?”
    “Cold is a fact of life in the big city, hon. No matter the season.” I reached in my pocket and handed the keys to her. “Make an extra set. You know, in case your purse gets snatched. I mean, that kind of thing usually never happens in this neighborhood, but it does happen.”
    Liz smiled and said, “I’ll do that, but don’t worry. I always keep my keys in my pocket. My purse has my driver’s license in it and that would lead them to a home address in Birmingham. Can you imagine? Too far for thieves to go to torment my mother!”
    Kevin was coming down the steps and threw in, “Or tramps and gypsies!” He did a