Blake glanced over at her to see her staring out the windshield at the house like it was a glittering diamond. After a moment, he turned back to the house. His stomach ached as he pictured her settling into a chair on the porch on a hot summer night with a cool drink. He could easily
imagine her watering the flowers as the kids tore down the steps and into the backyard with her calling after them to be careful. Then the realtor pulled in next to them and shattered this daydream as Mel shot out of the car, beaming.
Heading to the backseat, Mel unbuckled the three kids and helped them out of the car, reminding them to be on their best behavior as her realtor, Gina, approached.
Blake had liked her immediately. Gina was a short, older blonde, with a keen eye, and a sunny disposition. She seemed to be great with the kids, attentive, while focusing on Mel and the homes they toured. She struck Blake as the type to truly guide Mel into the right home, as opposed to simply trying to make a sale.
Gina waited patiently as the kids piled out of the car, then ran into the quaint front yard to the huge maple tree with a wooden rope swing. Grinning, she waved away Mel’s look of concern at their exuberance. “They’re fine,” Gina said, waving her concerns away. “Ready?” she asked. “Third one’s a charm.”
“I certainly hope so,” Mel said, grinning.
“Now, before we go in, I wanted to share some information I got. I’m not supposed to know this, but word is that the owners are elderly and have already moved into assisted living. Their children are helping them sell, and from the sounds of it, they’ll consider even aggressive offers. They just want it off their hands as soon as possible.”
Mel nodded, biting her lip, and Blake could tell she was trying her best not to look overeager. In his estimation, she was failing, but Gina didn’t seem to pay her excitement any mind.
They followed Gina, taking in the exterior of the home as they stepped onto the porch and Gina fiddled with the lockbox. Once she opened the front door, Mel hollered for the kids, and after a moment of grumbling, they piled inside and took off their shoes.
The modest foyer was brightly lit. A little console table sat in front of them with a mirror above it and a little dish Blake imagined was for keys. To their right was a family room and off to the left, a small dining room, and kitchen.
Gina waved her hands in the air. “This home was built prior to this whole open concept fad, but I suppose there might be some opening up you could do if you prefer.”
Mel laughed. “After living in my apartment with three kids, I think we could use separate space.”
They wandered into the living room first. Thick woodwork, painted a bright white, trimmed the room and windows. A soft, plush carpet covered the floors and seemed to be in decent shape, but the defining feature in the room were the built-ins. He could easily imagine Mel decorating them with framed photos of the kids.
“The owner was quite the handyman. He built those himself,” Gina said, noting Blake’s admiration.
He nodded in approval and checked Mel’s expression, which hadn’t changed since entering the house. Instead, the sparkle in her eye had only gotten brighter.
The home wasn’t huge by any means, but it was large enough Mel could fit a sectional or a sofa and love seat, enough space for all of them to congregate without being on top of each other.
They moved into the kitchen next, which was easily twice the size of Mel’s closet she called a kitchen now, and though the cabinets and counters were a little old and outdated, they had been well maintained over the years, so Mel could get away with leaving them for as long as she needed. A small island sat a couple feet from the stove, with copper pots hanging from a unit above it.
When Mel gasped, Blake turned toward the sound and saw her point. “A dishwasher,” she said with a reverence reserved for church.
Blake laughed, while the realtor looked at Mel like she was crazy. “The average New York apartment doesn’t have a dishwasher,” he explained, and Gina smiled.
“I can imagine with three kids you could get used to this, then,” Gina said.
Mel nodded, and after pursuing the pantry and dining area, they moved onto the rest of the home, each room just as lovely as the rest. By the time they finished and headed outside to the yard, Mel was like a vibrating ball of energy.
Emerald green grass greeted them, along with landscaping just beginning to burst to life. A small fire ring sat next to two wooden benches. The backyard was small and the neighboring homes were close-by, but it was perfect for them. If Blake lived there, he would install a small wooden fence so the kids could play without worry, and a dog could roam.
He swallowed at the thought and shook it off because he had no business thinking those things.
“Okay.” Gina clapped her hands. “Why don’t I let you have another look around. Feel free to go back inside for a second peek and discuss all you want. I’ll just be in the kitchen to answer any questions you might have. Take your time.”
“Thank you,” Mel said.
Blake nodded his thanks as well before Gina turned and headed for the patio door.
The second she left, Mel spun around to face him. “You probably think I’m crazy, don’t you?” she asked, breaking his thoughts.
Actually, that had been the furthest thing from his thoughts. Lucky was more like it, and where that thought had come from, he had no idea. Blake loved the city. It was close to his business, and he had never pictured himself anywhere else. But now . . .
Blake frowned. “Why would I think that?”
“For moving way out here. Everyone who lives inside the city thinks I’m nuts.”