"That was weird," Mike Olson remarked to his wife as they drove toward their house on the opposite side of Schuyler Square.
Rosanne sighed. "Everything that's been happening lately has been weird to me. I also think that everything connected with that house is weird--Peter, Mary Austin, the Coopers moving out so quickly. I don't like it, Mike. I don't like it one bit." She didn't add that she also didn't like her personal memories connected to the late Mary Austin, memories that included resentment mixed with a healthy sprinkling of good old-fashioned jealousy. She didn't want to speak ill of the dead but Mary Austin had been something of a tramp who seemed to be unable to keep her large, crystal blue eyes focused on anything but married men.
"What do you mean?" Mike questioned.
"You know darn well what I mean. I mean I'm not sure if I want to move into that house that you bought without telling me!"
Mike drove in silence for several blocks. Finally, he said, "I got a good deal, Rosanne. A very good deal. It's a beautiful house in a great location. I know there's a history attached to it but we can get over that."
"You didn't even ask me," Rosanne mumbled.
"I wanted to surprise you. You know, we've never had a lot of money and we've always had to live in houses that weren't that great. Ever since we got married I wanted to buy you a nice house because that's what you deserve. This house is a nice house. That's why I bought it. I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I thought it would be fun to give you something big and beautiful and astonishing for a change instead of something pathetic like a toaster."
Rosanne's eyes filled with tears. Maybe she was being silly. Maybe her negative memories about Mike and Mary Austin were nothing but insecure fantasies. Mike reached over and took her hand. "I promise that you can do all the decorating. I won't say a word if you want to paint the whole house pink with lavender trim."
"It will be nice to have more space," Rosanne admitted.
"It will be nice to live on the lake too." Mike pulled into their driveway and Rosanne looked at the too small house with affection and a little disdain. They'd outgrown their current home years ago. "And the kids will like it too. Since they're obviously never moving away, this will be good for all of us."
"I wonder what it is that Peter Van Husen left in our new house twenty years ago," Rosanne mused.
Shrugging, Mike climbed out of his truck. "We'll find out when he comes over to get it, I guess."
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