by Hailey Smoke
“That’s quite a start. Can you swing by the office tomorrow to fill out some paperwork so that I can capture those specific details?”
“Sure.” He slipped the card in his pocket and came around to help me off the stool.
“Lucy’s been signaling for the past two or so minutes that they’re ready to cut the cake.”
I looked around and was surprised to find that we were the only adults remaining inside. I slid off the stool and allowed him to lead me out to where the party had gathered. He stood close and I could feel the heat from his body merging with mine. The day wasn’t ending that bad after all. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr. Murphy!
2
Connor
I checked the GPS to make sure I had plugged the right address. I passed Brockwell Park on the left and continued. Serena had been true to her word when she had said that she would help me to find a house.
After the party, I had interrogated Lucy a bit about her as I wanted to ensure that my house hunting was in good hands. I was surprised to learn that she had just turned thirty. She looked nothing like it and could easily have passed for twenty-five.
I checked the GPS again as I passed Brixton Market. I was on the right route and would be at the location in five minutes. Initially, I had thought she had forgotten about my request or that she hadn’t taken me seriously. A few days after the party I had gone to her office as instructed to complete the new client paperwork. My hopes of speaking to her directly since we had already conversed on the matter had been dashed immediately when I had been informed that Miss Bishop was at a showing and so my interview would be conducted by one of the juniors.
A week had passed and there was silence. Then just a few days ago Serena herself had texted to say there were some possibilities and she wanted to know when I would be available for a showing. I jumped on the first possible day that she had as I was going to be away for a week. If I could get this viewing done before I did it would be great. I wanted to see just how good Serena was at matching homes to people as per her claim for having a penchant to do just that.
I pulled up at the location as the GPS droned on in that robotic tone about having arrived at my destination. There was a cherry red SUV already there. As I exited my truck the driver’s door of the SUV opened and Serena stepped out. My memory of her at the party failed in the presence of reality. Her rich brown hair shone in the sun and was a straight, sleek waterfall over her shoulders. Her dark skin gleamed healthily. She smiled as she saw me, and I couldn’t help but smile back. She wore a close-fitting black jacket which showed off her curves nicely. Her bosom swelled out gracefully before being cinched into her narrow waist. Her hips were wide and flowed into the shape of her thighs. Her skirt was slim fit and perfect. It ended just below her knees. Her calves were the most perfectly formed calves I had ever seen. They were strong and toned and flexed with every step. They tapered down to narrow ankles and feet which disappeared into a pair of heels.
As she came to a stop in front of me my eyes crept back up her body until they once again beheld her face. I had no intention of hiding my appraisal of her. I was never one to be slow out of the gates.
“Hi.”
She reached across the narrow gap between us to hug me. Her head came to my shoulders with her heels on.
“Hi! Welcome to what I hope has the potential to be your new home.” She waved her hand in the direction of the house. “Shall we?”
I crooked my elbow, silently inviting her to slip her hand into the opening. She blushed prettily as she slipped her hand into mine.
“Let’s get this tour started, shall we. I like to converse with clients. You know, talk to, rather than talk at. So, open your eyes and ears, ok?”
I nodded.
“Firstly, what was your immediate reaction when you pulled up?”
I turned to look at the house for the first time. It was a two-story house with a decent-sized front yard and wrap around porch. My mouth fell open. I looked around the neighborhood. There were mostly townhouses and bungalows and even at the end of the street I could see what appeared to be an apartment complex. Where the hell had she found this gem?
“This is awesome, Serena. Where do I sign?”
She swatted at me with her free hand. “Not so fast. Be serious though. What was that knee-jerk reaction?”
“Honestly? How did you find a house like this in this part of Brixton? I look around and all I see are townhouses and apartments and bungalows.”
“That’s a part of my job. I listen to clients. If my memory serves correctly one of your requirements was to be close to amenities and recreation. I’m sure you saw the market and park not very far from here. There are also a ton of bus stops if you don’t feel like driving. It’s also just a twenty-minute walk from Brixton Station if you need to take the tube in. You also wanted a front yard of sorts where you could plant a garden.” She pointed out the flower beds at the front and the planters in the windows. “You also wanted a garage that could be accessed from the house.” She pointed to the white metal door to the side where the driveway ended. “I’d say I delivered on those exterior points.”
“Indeed. More please.” I smiled down at her and placed my hand on the hand which I still held in the crook of my elbow. She smiled back and we fell into step together as we walked up the three steps to the porch.
“Front and side porch. Big enough to entertain your colleagues when the weather is warm like it is today.” She pushed open the front door. “Now the real tour begins. Welcome to your potential home. Five bedrooms and four bathrooms.”
My eyebrows shot up and she grinned.
We stepped into a large living area with a high ceiling. I imagined a chandelier hanging right in the center and lighting the entire area. Slightly to the right, there was a flight of stairs and what appeared to be three rooms downstairs. To the left, the open space flowed around a corner. I moved from side to side.
“Which way first?”
“You choose.”
“Let’s take a look at those rooms.”
We went to the right and up a short corridor which ended in a bedroom. She talked me through each area as we walked.
“This is bedroom number one. It faces the front of the house and gets sun from the side as well. It can comfortably hold a double bed as well as a vanity. There is a good-sized closet in the corner. This is not your master. The main bathroom is on the other side of this wall here.”
We stepped out and a quick step to the right brought us to a full bath. One wall was a floor to ceiling closet for linen storage. The vanity held a double sink and a good-sized counter. We stepped back into the corridor.
“This is bedroom number two. It gets light from the side only. Again, this can hold a double bed and vanity. There’s also a closet in the corner like number one.”
“So, it’s pretty much the same footprint as number one except for the light source.”
She nodded. “Pretty much. Let’s keep going.”
We went to the third room.
“This is bedroom number three and potentially your master as it has its bath and a walk-in closet. It faces the back and side and gets light from both angles. It holds a king-sized bed and vanity.”
Through the window, I caught a glimpse of the backyard. She saw me craning my neck to look and playfully covered my eyes.
“Uh uh uh. That’s the cherry on top. I’m saving that for last.” She tugged on the hand that was still imprisoned in the crook of my elbow.
“I’m going to have to borrow it a while. I promise to give it back. But you can’t go up to the attic with me in tow.” She pointed up at a trap door in the ceiling at the entrance to the master bedroom.
Reluctantly I released her hand and felt a sense of emptiness. I opened the trap door and pulled down the steps. A quick ascent and examination showed a space that I surprisingly could stand upright in. the floor space was equivalent to the master and I could see my miniature car collection set up in this
space. I descended and pushed the steps back up and closed the door. without hesitation, I retrieved her hand.
“It’s a good size. I like it. It has possibilities for storage or use otherwise.”
“You get what you ask for. Let’s continue.”
We walked back to the front and took the stairs. There was a small landing that split into two more bedrooms. She took me to the right.
“This entire floor, by the way, attic included, was added to the original structure. When the previous owners bought it there was nothing more than a shell. They rebuilt it from the ground up. It was a big family, so it has seen quite a crowd.”
I frowned. “If it was so wonderful and loved how did it end up on the market?”
She shrugged. “Kids grow and move away. People get older and getting together gets harder and harder. And inevitably people die. The couple who did the rebuild…”
“Didn’t die, did they?”
She threw her head back and laughed and shook her head. “No. They were from the tropics and simply decided that they had had enough of the cold. The children all had families of their own and are far and scattered. They all decided it was best to put it on the market and split the proceeds. It came into my hands just this month.” She pushed open the door to the right. We stepped into a well-lit room with a sloped ceiling.
“Bedroom number four. This is on the other side of the attic. It can hold a double or twin under the slope here. But notice how narrow it is as well. There’s potential for putting in a mobile closet. But because of the layout, it would be a bit tricky to do that. It could be used as a home office and there’s enough space for a mini-fridge and office equipment. There’s also a full bath here. I won’t show it lest you try to peek at the backyard again. Let’s go across the landing. I want you to see number five.”
We walked the few steps across, and she opened the door. The first thing that hit me was the amount of natural light that filled the space.
“Wow!” My mouth fell open and she grinned.
“Exactly. This is what I would use as a master. Firstly, it can accommodate TWO king-sized beds. But you need only one. This space behind this wall is a full walk-in closet. You can enter here and exit on the other side. There is more than enough space for a sitting area, vanity, bookshelf, etcetera. That opposite wall is just begging for a television to be mounted on it. It also has a full bath. I’ll allow you to sneak a peek. Just imagine waking up in the morning and looking out on that.”
We walked over to the window and I looked out. I felt a sensation in my chest as I examined the spacious yard. In my mind’s eye, I could see my children on a swing set while the family dog ran around. I could see get-togethers around the fire pit. I could see myself and my significant other just sitting out there on a warm summer night gazing up at the starlit sky. This was truly a house that needed to be filled with a family. I felt a nudge at my elbow.
“You’re thinking hard. What’s going on in there?”
I shook my head in bewilderment. “You are very good at what you do. This is everything you said it was. It’s as if I can feel the spirit of the house. And it’s connecting with what I do want in a house.”
She smiled proudly. “Just doing my job. Let’s head back down. We’ve only seen half the house.” She winked and laughed as my mouth once again fell open.
We found ourselves back at the front door.
“This living room can hold two full-sized couches and armchairs. The fireplace and mantelpiece were redone less than two years ago so they’re new. Can you see Christmas stockings hung all over it and a huge tree in the corner there?”
I nodded and she continued.
“This dining room can comfortably hold a table that seats eight. There is also room for storage cabinets for fine china and other delicate breakables. It looks out to the backyard as well as the deck. Let’s take a look out there.”
We opened a door that was next to the fireplace and was pleased to find a concrete floor for the huge outdoor space. She pointed.
“The covered porch ends there and moves smoothly out to the deck. Underneath is the garage. Let’s head back in and continue.”
We made our way back through the dining room and found a huge, well-lit kitchen. The counter space was massive and there were cupboards on both sides of the room. I could see a lot of food being prepared here for parties and other get-togethers. My parents had only two children, but I intended to double that at least.
“And down these stairs is what I consider a most valuable selling point. Not many houses here can boast a basement and a fully done one at that. There is space on the left here for another office or even if you want to put in a fifth bathroom. This area to the right is big enough to be used as a home gym or a den or even your man cave. Through here is the laundry room. Again, as you can see, more than enough space for the machines as well as hanging line space. You could keep a deep freeze down here for additional storage or anything else that you can think of. now through here is the garage. It can hold your truck I’m sure.”
I stepped back into the garage space we had just accessed.
“This can hold about three vehicles, Serena. It’s more than enough space. I can even set up a workbench along this wall. I smell the sawdust.”
“The previous owners were a family of carpenters. Five brothers. One of the brothers owned this. He used the garage as more of a workshop though hence the smell of sawdust.”
As we walked further into the garage, I imagined how my truck and her cherry red SUV could be accommodated. I tightened my elbow and looked down at the woman on my arm. This was a feeling I could get used to. She looked up at me and I smiled. I felt cheeky.
“It’s hard to believe that you’re almost off the calendar.”
I threw my head back and laughed as her mouth fell open.
“How did you…” I placed my finger to her lips as she sputtered.
“I did my investigation. It would have been much easier to tell me. The way you responded I thought you would have been much older than thirty. I must say though. You don’t look like it. I would have put you at twenty-five the most.”
“Or maybe you were hoping for just a one-year age difference instead of all of six.”
“All of? You make it sound like you could be my grandmother. There have been far greater age differences that have worked you know.” I patted her hand gently. “But we’re not here to talk about how insignificant six years difference is between us and that age is just a number. You promised me cherries.”
She looked at me dumbfounded. “Cherries?”
“You know, the cherry on top for this tour that you gave me just a quick glimpse at from inside?”
“Oh! The backyard. Let’s take it through the garage. I’m going to need my hand though. There’s a lever…”
“Here. Let me.”
I grasped the lever and turned it as instructed and gave the door a push upwards. It flew up and over. We stepped out into the fresh spring air and walked to the side. I came to a halt, speechless.
The glimpse from upstairs had not done justice to the reality I now stood amid. The property was bordered by tall green trees which thickened as they blended into the woods beyond. I saw the outline of a treehouse between the branches of a group of trees. If I closed my eyes, I could see my nephew and my children clambering up into the branches. I could hear the peals of laughter as they chased each other around the huge yard while the adults sat on the deck above. I wanted to explore but a quick look at Serena’s feet told me I would be going alone, and I was reluctant to leave her. It was as though she read my mind.
“Go ahead and look. I’ll be fine.”
I stepped onto the lush grass and felt a shiver run through my body. I started at one boundary and walked around the yard before coming back to where Serena had stood watching me. A tiny smile peeked out.
“This is gorgeous, Serena. I can’t believe that a place like this exists in this neighborhood. It feels almost too g
ood to be true.”
“You’d better believe it. When it came up on my listing, I knew I had to show you. It’s a little big but I get the feeling it’s a good start for you and you’ll grow into it in no time. I know you need some time to think but I think it hit all the markers you had. Three or more bedrooms with two or more bathrooms. Big living room, dining room, and kitchen. Finished basement. Porch. Deck. Attic. And of course, this lovely yard. And don’t forget the garden at the front.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?” I said it jokingly, but my heart thudded at the thought that if I bought this house right away as soon as the sale went through that would be the end of my interaction with Serena. I wracked my brain to come up with an excuse to not choose this perfect house.
“Let’s keep this one as the benchmark but I’d like to see a few others. I’m not averse to townhouses and bungalows.” I knew I was clutching at straws but could not help it. I wanted to see Serena again. And if it was going to take house viewing as an excuse to see her so be it. She grew thoughtful. I watched as each expression chased across her features.
She spoke slowly. “There are a couple more listings that I could put together. As you said we will use this as the benchmark and see what we come up with.”
I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. I held out my arm and she took it. Silently we walked back through the garage and locked it. We trudged through the empty house, our steps echoing on the hardwood. As we exited onto the porch she put on the deadlock and pulled the door close. I walked her down to her car, opened the door and handed her in. Only then did I with much reluctance relinquish my grip on her hand. Gently I closed the door and rested my elbow on the window as it wound down. My eyes were level with hers.
“Thanks for the time and the tour. I hope I’m not giving you too much work with pulling a few more listings for me?” She smiled and I felt my lips curve upwards in response.