“Come on then.”He ushers me to his car and then drives two blocks before parking in front of an adorable blue house with white trim and a porch swing.The small garden is lovingly cared for as is the perfectly manicured lawn.This is exactly the kind of house I’ve been looking for, and I try to ignore the stab of disappointment when I notice there’s no for sale sign in the front yard.
“What are we doing here?”I ask him.
He twists his large body until he’s facing me.“I reached out to my realtor.”His gaze slides to the house behind me.“This house isn’t officially going on the market for three more days, but she’s doing me a favor and letting us look at it.It’s within your budget, in the neighborhood you already love, and isn’t too big or too small.There are three bedrooms, one and a half baths.Plenty of space for you to have a guest room for when your brother comes to visit and an office for your photography stuff.It also has a fenced backyard in case you ever want to get a dog like you’ve always wanted.”
The more he talks the more I’m shocked completely speechless.I turn back to look at the house that I loved the moment I saw it.“Can we see the inside?”
A car pulls up behind us, and a woman in a fitted gray suit steps out.
“Perfect timing,” Tristan says, a huge smile on his face, like I just gave him everything he’s been looking for when it’s him who’s given it to me.
We get out of his car and he guides me toward the woman.“Jolie, this is Maggie.Maggie, this is Jolie.”
Maggie looks to be in her forties with brown hair graying slightly at the roots in a subtle way.She smiles fondly at me and extends her hand, which I grasp instantly.
“Jolie, it’s a pleasure to meet you.Tristan’s told me so much about you.”
“He has?”I ask, my gaze shifting to him.He still has a smile on his face, and I can’t help noticing how handsome he is when he smiles.
Maggie continues, “He has.And I hope this house lives up to what you’re looking for.Shall we?”
Tristan and I follow Maggie, and the minute we step inside, I know this is my house.A giddy kind of excitement infiltrates me in a way I haven’t felt in so long.I’ve been dreading the idea of moving out of my house and leaving behind the life I thought I was building with Robbie, but this house gives me hope.I can see a future here as we walk through the open plan living room into the kitchen with white cabinets, a long island with a white marble countertop, and stainless steel appliances.Through the backdoor is a yard with a gorgeous patio which has been as meticulously cared for as the front yard so clearly is.Over the course of the next few minutes, Maggie shows us the rest of the house, including three bedrooms, and I admire how the natural light coming through the windows makes each room feel open and airy.
The whole house feels like a fresh new beginning, and for the first time, I’m not scared about moving forward.I feel strong and capable.
We make our way outside, and Maggie hands me her card so I can call her later and we can write up a formal offer for the owners.When she drives away, I turn to Tristan, placing my hand on his arm.The muscles bunch and flex underneath my touch, and his jaw tightens slightly—something I likely wouldn’t have noticed if I wasn’t paying such close attention to him right now.But ever since my dream, I can’t help but be painfully attuned to him.
“Thank you,” I say as sincerely as I can.I’m not sure there are even enough or accurate words for how much this house means to me, for the gift he’s given me.
His gaze is steady, but there’s something else in them—determination maybe—when he says, “I just want you to be happy.”
I smile at him because for the first time in over a year, that’s exactly what I am.