“No, the price is fine. It’s just… It’s missing something.” How do I explain that to him? “Do you have anything else around here? I like the area. What do you say, Rose?”
“Yeah, the location is good. Even though it’s on the outskirts, it’s well connected to the town. The commute to work is good. It’s close to Kristy’s place. It’s just this property itself. It’s not us.” She tilts her head to the side and chews on her lip. Her chin dips into her chest, and my skin itches to bring a smile back to her face.
“Okay, okay. That’s good.” Henry scrolls on his iPad, regaining some of his lost excitement. “I have something. It’s more into the woods, secluded from everything. We’re advertising it as a hermit’s paradise.” He chuckles. “Maybe it speaks cozy and romantic to you.”
We agree to see it, splitting off to our vehicles, and after getting into my car, we follow Henry’s BMW.
“Wow, what’s that?” Rose points to something in the distance as I slowly traverse my car on the rickety road. I follow her finger and see an unkempt, old cabin hidden behind the trees. I stop, and she dashes out of the car before I’ve even properly parked. With hurried steps, she walks toward the house, and I run to catch up with her. “Do you think someone lives here?” she asks as we stand outside the rustic, old place.
“I don’t think so. It looks pretty cold and empty.” I try to peek in through the glass windows. I hope no one’s inside. I have no intention of being caught trespassing on someone’s property.
“What do you think?” Rose points to the small house.
“Babe, we don’t know if it’s available. Heck, we don’t even know if it’s up for sale.”
Before I can give her a hundred more reasons why this place might not be right for us, my phone rings.
“Zander, where are you guys? Weren’t you following me?” Henry asks.
“Sorry, we got a bit sidetracked.”
Rose shifts beside me. I place my free hand over her shoulders, and she looks at the cabin with deep longing. I can see in her eyes that this is it. This is what we’re looking for.
“There’s a wooden cabin some hundred meters away from the property we just saw,” I tell Henry. “Do you know about it?”
“You mean the Jacobsens’ cabin? Yeah, it’s been sitting with us for fourteen months. We’ve had no bites on it.”
“Does that mean we can see it?” My pulse speeds up, and Rose turns in my arms, her blue eyes gleaming with excitement.
“Um, you want to see that place? Isn’t it too small for what you want? It’s only got three bedrooms. It’s more like a big summer cabin.”
“Yeah, I see that, but Rose likes it. We like it. Can you show it to us?”
“Okay, give me ten minutes, and I’ll join you guys. Meanwhile, feel free to look around.” He pauses for a moment and then adds, “Zander, ask Rose to walk around the house. Maybe you guys have found what you’re looking for.” With a chuckle, Henry ends the call.
“What did he say?” Rose holds her breath, clutching my hand tight. Her smile is wide, her excited blue eyes focused on me. And I know this is her dream house.
Our safest place in the world.
“That we should walk around.” I lead her to the back of the cabin.
“Holy shit!” The back view just sealed the deal.
Rose squeals, bouncing from foot to foot. “Is that a creek?”
There is indeed a wide creek flowing through the back of the house. I can picture us—me and Rose—huddled by the large window, just staring at the water and the woods.
“I love it. It’s old and rusty, maybe a bit broken.” I turn around, examining the house.
“But nothing that can’t be healed with some love. Like us, Zander. It’s us.” She puts her arms around my waist and gazes lovingly at the house.
When we hear the growling of Henry’s car engine, we join him in the front.
“So, lovebirds, you found your perfect place?” He has a triumphant smile on his face for the first time today.
I nod. “We definitely like it, even though it’s smaller than what I had in mind.” I wanted to have more open space around us.
I had some plans of my own to surprise my girl.