First Refusal

“I gave Mrs. Lawson first refusal.” Maxine imperiously announced to Opal Barrow.

Mrs. Lawson lived next door to the house that had belonged to Maxine's parents. The house where Maxine had been born and grown.

It wasn't that Maxine was giving a beloved neighbor deference. It was stepping on Opal Barrow who had been her Mother's best friend and lawyer.

It wasn’t that Opal had ever done anything to Maxine. In fact, Maxine might have liked Opal if she hadn’t been her mother’s best friend. But as Maxine despised her mother, Opal got the backlash.

Opal looked at Maxine in a peculiar way, then got into her car and l drove away.

Maxine stood feeling triumphant, having dismissed her mother's lawyer. Now, she would leave the house keys with Mr. Chisholm who lived down the road. He knew Mrs. Lawson well. Maxine expected he would look after the house until Mrs. Lawson could buy it.

Maxine would soon fly back to Oregon and whatever happened here was beyond the fringes her of thoughts.

It was a year later that Louisa, (an old school friend) rang up Maxine, wanting to know if she was renting the house. She explained she knew a nice young couple which needed a place.

Maxine was stunned. She now realized that Mrs. Lawson had paid nothing for the house.. Paid nothing for over a year.

A bit suspicious, Maxine asked Louisa to take a glance at the house to see if it was alright. The next day Louisa described the crowd living there. This crowd paid rent to Mrs. Lawson whom they assumed was the owner.

Maxine couldn't believe it!
How had this happened?

She had trusted Mr. Chisholm, trusted Mrs. Lawson. How could they conspire behind her back?

Calming herself, Maxine called Mrs. Lawson, told her that her 'first refusal’ time had passed and that she would be renting the house to Mr. & Mrs. Gerry.

Mrs. Lawson stumbled and mumbled and said something about a week to clean it out. Maxine didn’t let on that she knew what Lawson had been doing with her house.

Whatever happened, in two weeks the Gerrys moved in, paying their rent into Maxine’s local account.

After a few months the Gerry's, a nice young couple, decided they wanted to buy the house. This meant that Maxine needed a lawyer. The only one she knew was Opal Barrow.

She rang up Opal who told her a valuation needed to be done. Maxine, who didn't fully trust Opal, called Louise to get a valuator.

Subsequently, Maxine was made aware that the house was not in the condition it ought have been, and the sum of 8.6 Million seemed reasonable.

Unexpectedly, the Gerry's wanted their own valuation.

Maxine knew the house had, according to the Insurance policy she had found when going through her father's things, been valued at Ten Million.

However, having heard Louisa's graphic report she could imagine how much damage the Crowd could have caused in that one Year of destructive occupation.

While waiting for the Gerry's valuator a hurricane arrived. The house, which was not currently insured suffered damage. The Gerrys moved out.

The house was now abandoned.

Considering the devastaion in the area the Government was suggesting declaring the area “No Build” and paying Eight Million dollars for each house.

Maxine wasn’t there nor aware. She had not requested Opal to represent her. Opal who was not in the area, had no connection to the house.

By the time Maxine rang Opal the offer had expired.

It was then Maxine asked Opal to take charge of her house. Opal agreed and sought about finding a buyer.

Maxine didn’t trust Opal, because Opal had been her mother's best friend, and she didn't like her mother. However, she had no choice.

Out of the blue, Maxine received an email from one Mr. Burton who expressed an interest in purchasing the house. He needed to view it and get a valuation.

In her usual murky mental maneuvers Maxine decided to put this man she didn't know into the house and have him pay rent until the sale was complete.

Mr Burton agreed.

He moved into the house, located each area of damage which required repair and
replacement. He sent photos of the areas mentioned. During the back and forth between herself and Burton, Maxine never thought to contact Opal.

Burton offered Four point Five Million Dollars for the house. Again, without consulting Opal, Maxine accepted. She also agreed to deduct the sums paid as 'rent’ and 'repairs' from the purchase price as Mr Burton sought a mortgage.

She informed Opal off-handedly of what she had Decided.

Maxine did not know that Burton had wanted to purchase the house years ago. She did not know Burton was the buyer Opal represented. That was the day she had announced that Mrs. Lawson had 'first refusal'.

Maxine did not know Burton was aware of the Ten Million the house had been valued and had been willing to pay that sum.

But that was then.

Today, Burton deducted a million dollars from the price he had agreed to pay Maxine for repairs.

Sipping coffee with Opal, they spoke of the day Maxine had rejected the offer Opal had been about to make.

No words were sweeter to Mr. Burton's ears or pocket.