"I want my privacy but I'm not sure I want to be a recluse."
"Like I said, it's twenty minutes from here. But when you want your privacy, you're definitely going to get it. The only people that end up in this community are going there on purpose. There’s no extra traffic and no businesses. It's not on the way to anywhere."
"Sounds perfect, but I'm going to temper my enthusiasm."
She nodded. "Here are the two others. This one is in Anaheim Hills, but on the outskirts. It's a little big but it's worth a look."
"I like Anaheim Hills okay."
"It makes it easy to get to Dane's pool parties."
Dane had people from work at the pool party I attended, but I couldn't remember Selene there. I had the feeling she worked all the time. She wasn't one to waste a Saturday lounging by a pool if she could be selling a $10 million estate.
We finished our wine and headed out, getting into her car, a sleek Jaguar. She drove north along the coast. About fifteen minutes into the ride she turned onto a road that looked like it went nowhere.
"I didn't even know this was here." We wound around the hillside heading in the direction of the ocean.
"It wasn't for a long time. Like I said this community was built five or six years ago.”
We finally reached the area of homes, each sitting on several acres of property surrounded by fences and guarded by gates.
"Well, Bran will approve that," I quipped as Selene rolled down her window to punch the code that would open the gate. She pulled up in front and we got out.
I took in the lovely home, my heart fluttering with hope that this was the place.
She opened the front door and I stepped into a large open space, looking straight through to floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the ocean at the back of the house.
I gasped. "Wow."
"Incredible, right? The home is only three bedrooms but has a very large master bedroom suite. The other two rooms are large and there is a basement with a theater and a room that could be used as a gym.”
My gaze was still stuck on the view. I walked over to the windows, opening the doors and stepping out onto the large terrace. I breathed in the fresh open-air.Please God let the rest of the house be just as perfect.
I followed Selene as she led me through the large kitchen and master bedroom. The other two rooms were a good size. I’d turn one into a kid’s room for my niece Brandie. We checked out the basement. She wasn’t kidding about a theater. The gym room was empty, which was good. I much preferred to workout outdoors.
When the tour was finished, we went back out onto the terrace.
"What do you think?" she asked me.
"I don't understand why anyone would move out of this place."
“The question is, are you going to be the new owner?"
I couldn't keep the giddiness inside any longer. "Yes! Oh my God this is perfect. How soon can I move in?"
"Like I said, the owner is eager to sell. We can get this done in a week. By next week, you could be lounging out here on the terrace of your new home."
I felt like a teenager seeing a rock star in person. I wanted to jump up and down and scream. "Let's do it."
Selene not only earned her commission by sticking it out with me for the year it took me to find a home, but for also getting this deal done so quickly. The house was already offered at a low price for the location and condition of the home, but I'd learned a lot from watching Bran do business over the years, so I made a lower offer.
The owner must have been strapped financially because he didn't even counter. He accepted the offer and all my terms. And now, just as Selene predicted, a week later I was moving in.
The house was abuzz with activity as the movers brought in my belongings and my decorator supervised them in the placement of all my items.
"You know, you’re a little bit in the way standing there," Gloria, my designer said as she shooed me out of the way so the movers could bring out the outdoor furniture to the terrace. "Why don't you go down to the beach or take a walk? When you come back this will be all done. It will be a grand reveal like they have on the TV decorating shows."
"That would be fun." I didn’t mind physical work, but I wasn’t much interested in moving. Plus, I’d have my work cut out for me later when I unpacked boxes that I wanted to deal with myself.