Marie studied the dignified woman sitting behind the cluttered desk of Applegate Realty. Silvia Brown was a curious mix of aging wisdom, energetic zeal, and exasperated desire to please. Every decisive, yet vigorous sweep of her hand as she described each property, made Marie dizzy with anticipation. The spray of gray hair that had sprung from the formerly neat bun atop the prim head of her newly acquired real estate agent's head gave Marie a warm, friendly feeling that Silvia was the perfect person for the job.

Cynthia sat next to Marie not looking at all as impressed by Silvia's disposition. "Come on Silvia, you can do better than that."

Marie craned her neck to examine the latest in a long line of offerings. She shrugged. It looked okay to her. Marie cast a questioning glance at Cynthia.

"Oh please, Marie, you're thinking small," Cynthia said. The exasperation made Marie cringe. Her, thinking small, that's a laugh, Marie thought as visions of what Richard would be sitting here saying-if he even knew she was here that is. "The dinning room is too small for entertaining," Cynthia continued.

The words that followed fell on deaf ears. Entertaining was the only word that rung in her head. Who did they have to entertain? Cynthia and Bill, they were it, their entire social list… and Ellen. The giggle that escaped drew a perplexed look from Cynthia. Ellen would simply collapse in a hyperventilating fit of libertarian rage if confronted with the house that Cynthia deemed unfit for habitation. Marie liked it.