There is no cheerful clatter of pans, or old Beatles records spinning in the living room. No warm cinnamon smell fills the air – only burnt coffee. For a moment, I'm half expecting Papa to swoop me ... [+]
Corrie Haldane has a number of online and print anthology publications. Most recently, her work can be found in the anthologies “What We Talk About When We Talk About It Vol. 2” and “Branching Out”. Corrie lives in Holland Landing, Ontario, Canada with her husband and an assortment of their mostly-grown children. She finds inspiration in nature, bubble baths, and carefully curated playlists. "Good Bones" is in Short Circuit #14, Short Édition's quarterly review.
The realtor moves from room to room in silence. Charlotte and I follow, anxiously awaiting his verdict.
Through the kitchen, the living room, the study. Upstairs, in and out of bedrooms. He peers into closets. He tests each creaky stair. He's thorough, I'll give him that.
Back at the front door, he shrugs. "It's got good bones, but it needs work," he says, turning the knob and letting himself out.
Charlotte follows; she nods agreement but says nothing. It's not like her. Through forty-seven years of marriage, my wife has never been what you'd call a quiet woman and I've always lo