by E. Ayers
They walked down the side of the house and came upon a tall fence.
“Can you see over it?” she asked.
Trent stood on his tiptoes and peered over the tall fence. “The size of that garage!”
“The second floor is supposed to be finished. We didn’t look up there.”
“Finished how? Looks to be the size of Mom’s house.”
A little smile crept across her face as a small kernel of hope formed.
“Cassie? Trent?”
“We’re back here, Amanda,” Cassie called to her friend.
“Let’s go inside. I’ve got some good news,” Amanda said. “My husband wants you to call him first thing in the morning. I do hope you don’t mind, but I told him that you were interested in this house, and had some concerns about buying it.”
“Not at all. McGuire Investments handles all my savings. Mac knows my financial situation better than I do.”
Amanda rolled her eyes. “I’m married to him, and I still have no clue what he does with my money.”
“Mac McGuire of McGuire Investments?” Trent asked Amanda.
“Yes. Sometimes I don’t know if I’m married to him or to McGuire Investments.”
Cassie watched Trent’s color drain from his face. She slipped her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “I’ve known Amanda for ages, and Mac has been my financial advisor since I’ve had any real income.”
This time, they entered the house from the other door. The small foyer had a closet that Cassie had failed to notice on her previous visit. Trent didn’t say anything as he walked through the downstairs rooms. He only tightened his grip on Cassie’s hand.
“The appliances are old, but they are supposed to be in working condition. Everything appears to be spotlessly clean.”
Trent ran his hand over the counter, then opened the refrigerator doors. “So it’s a duplex. Who gets the garage?”
Cassie giggled. “You do.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“Let’s go upstairs and look at the bedrooms before you go to the garage.”
Trent followed her up the staircase and looked into all the empty rooms.
“There are a lot of little things that need work. Most of these outlets need to be changed, and I have yet to see the circuit panel. Someone had the old tubs refinished. That’s all original, including the tile.”
He opened a closet and popped a panel off the wall. “Copper pipes, probably has lead in the solder, but so does our house.”
He put the panel back and looked around some more before taking Cassie’s hand in his. “It needs some work, but I don’t know how much. These old houses are solidly built. Notice there are no cracks in the walls?”
She shrugged. At least he was seriously looking at the place, which caused that little kernel of hope to grow in size.
“There’s more to see. You missed the laundry room.” Amanda smiled at Cassie.
Trent raised his eyebrows. “This place has a laundry room? I figured that the hookups would be in the garage.”
“No, and wait until you see what is on the other side.” Cassie led the way back downstairs and opened the door to the laundry room.
“Pay dirt!” He opened a small metal panel on the wall. “Just what I suspected. Fuses. This needs to be upgraded." He unscrewed a few and looked carefully at the connections. "Seems to have enough amperage.”
His poker face was clawing at Cassie's insides. She wanted to know what he was thinking, but he was saying very little. She had a feeling he was mentally calculating the cost of repairs. He was looking hard at things that she never noticed. Maybe that’s a good thing.
She opened the door that connected the small apartment to the main house. "Check this out."
“Huh?” he grunted. “The whole thing?”
“Yes, both sides.”
He looked around the tiny apartment. “It’s only one bedroom.”
“It’s perfect for your mom." Cassie put her hand on his back, sucked in a deep breath before allowing it to escape slowly. "She’d have her own place, and it won’t cost her a penny.” She held her breath and waited for his response.
He walked away from her and opened a window. “They need work.” He pulled it back down, locked it, and then walked out of the kitchen into the backyard. “Someone loved to garden. There’s a fortune in perennials out here.”
“Let me get Amanda and see if she knows how to get into the garage.”
Amanda walked out of the other kitchen door, carrying a key. “Is this what you want?”
“Yes.” Cassie snatched the key.
“How’s it going? He’s very quiet,” Amanda asked.
“He only seems to mention what is wrong. I don’t know what he’s thinking.”
“I’ll wait for you inside.”
Cassie nodded and went back to Trent. The garage was hot and the upstairs was even hotter. The first floor would easily hold four cars with ample room for all of Trent’s tools. The second floor was one large room, but could easily be turned into an apartment because all the plumbing lines had been run and capped, along with additional 220 outlets. Sweat beaded and poured off Cassie.
“Sorry, Trent, this is too hot for me.”
“Me, too.”
She noticed that sweat had soaked the front of his shirt. She waited for him outside and watched as he pulled the door closed, and checked to make sure it was locked.
“Ready to hear what this place is going to cost?”
“No. I can’t afford it.”
She scrunched her nose. “I think I can from what Amanda told me this morning. The mortgage will be about equal to my rent. I’m going to have other expenses, such as water and sewage. There’s no way I can do this alone. I don’t have time to cut grass, and I doubt that I can afford to pay someone.”
“There’s more to it than just paying for a house. It costs money to change out the electrical box. Every little project has hidden expenses. Even cleaning the gutters will require a longer ladder than what I have now. This place is going to need painting on the outside every few years. And you probably want all new appliances in the kitchen.”
“I can live with what is there. I don’t need everything to be shiny and new.” She paused before opening the kitchen door. “Trent, I love you. I want us to be together.”
They listened to Amanda as she went over several figures. Then Amanda handed Cassie a sealed envelope from McGuire Investments. Cassie opened it. Inside was a sheet of paper on which Mac had scribbled, “If you love the house, buy it! You can afford it.” She laughed as she read it.
“Okay, where do I sign?”
Thirty-five minutes later, Cassie gazed at Trent as they walked to her car. “You drive. I’m shaking. I think I just sold my soul, and you’ve never once committed to moving in with me.”
He looked at her and laughed. “Give me the keys, woman.” He opened the passenger door for her and then planted a full kiss on her mouth. “Are you sure you want Mom living with us?”
“It’s not exactly the same as living with us. She will have her own space.”
“I don’t know how she’s going to respond to the idea of moving. She’s lived in that house since before I was born.” He sat in the driver's seat. “I thought you didn’t like my mom.”
“Can’t say she’s been exactly nice to me, but I think I know why.”
“Really?”
“Yes. She’s scared you’ll run off and marry me. She can’t afford to live alone, so she’s protecting her own interests. I don’t think she dislikes me.”
“She’s livid about our sleeping together.”
“What mother wouldn’t be? Well, I think my father would prefer to string you up if he knew.”
“Then you haven’t told them about us?”
"No them, just my dad. My mom died several years ago. I’ve told my brother. He thinks it’s great that I’ve found someone special.”
“When do you plan to tell your dad?”
�
��Maybe never.” She grinned.
“I’m not exactly up to his standards, am I?”
“A little inferiority complex?” She watched his face for some kind of reaction and got none. “Stop putting yourself down. I love you, not some degree behind your name or large bank account. I love you, the man.”
“Cas, you deserve someone better.”
“I want you, only you. Actually, that's not true. I want you and Shawn.”
***
He parked the car, then came around and opened her door. As she stepped out of car, he drew her to his chest and kissed her. The way she fit against his body and the sensations she stirred in him made him realize just how much he wanted her.
She had offered him everything he had ever wanted, and he knew it. But the depth of his love for her went beyond what she could provide. They belonged together and nothing else mattered.
His tongue circled her lips as he drew in her breath, warm and sweet. It filled his lungs, swirled through his stomach and pooled in his pelvis, as his mouth slanted over hers, again and again.
The sound of an approaching car pulled him from her lips. He waited as the car passed, his heart beat against his ribs as her blue eyes stared back into his. He closed his eyes and tried to control the swelling in his jeans. His cheek found hers. Inhaling her slightly floral scent, he steadied himself by putting his hand on the roof of her car.
“Got a problem?” she asked.
“Yeah, if it weren’t for my damn shoulder, I’d push you into the back seat of this car.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen, and furthermore, I got my period this morning.”
“Oh.” Every drop of masculine need drained from his body. “Guess that kills our night.”
She licked her lips and grinned. “I’m sure there’s something I can do to satisfy my very handsome man.”
“Hush. We need to walk back inside, and for the next few minutes, I don’t think I’ll be able to leave this garage.”
“Save those thoughts for tonight.”
~~29~~
Trent and Cassie walked the long hall to Shawn’s room. When they reached it Shawn was not alone. His grandmother was sitting in the room with him.
“Cas, do you mind? I’d like to tell her.”
“No, go right ahead. I’ve got twenty-five gift certificates to the museum to give away.”
He smiled at her, then joined his family.
“Hi, what’s up?” he asked.
“Grandmom walked me down the hall.”
Trent raised his eyebrows. “She did?”
“Yep. What was your surprise?”
“It's a big one. How would you like to live in a big house with a big backyard?”
“With Cassie?”
“Yes, and with Grandmom, if she’s willing to come.” He looked at his mom and watched her purse her lips in displeasure. “You’d have your own apartment. Amanda McGuire called it a mother-in-law suite. The woman who owns it had her mom living there. It’s one bedroom and quite spacious.”
“So what am I supposed to do, give up my house and come live with her?”
“With us, and you don’t have to sell your house. Amanda said you could rent your house in a heartbeat. It’ll give you a tidy income. You don’t have to make a decision tonight. Think about it.”
“And where is this mansion?”
“Cobblestone. It’s 3816 Baneberry Cross Road. Drive by tomorrow. There’s no for sale sign in the yard. Your door is on the right, the one flanked by geraniums.”
“My door? You’re assuming I’m just going to move in with you.”
“Why not? You want to be near your grandson, right?”
“And if things don’t work out between the two of you, then what?”
“We’ll cross that bridge if we ever come to it. I doubt that will happen.”
“Are you marrying her?”
“Haven’t asked her yet.”
His mom made a little humph sound and then stood. “My dinner break is just about over. Will I see you tonight?”
He shook his head. “I won’t bring Shawn back to Cas’ apartment. If we aren’t in the house by then, I’ll bring him home to you, otherwise I’m staying with Cas.”
His mom kissed Shawn and left without another word to her son. Trent understood she was upset, but he also realized he had his own life to live.
***
Cassie and Trent split the time with Shawn at the hospital. Trent’s job needed him, just as she needed to be at her job. They switched back and forth between mornings and afternoons so Shawn was never completely alone. As his energy picked up, he also became more bored. His therapy kept him busy, and Dr. Ramsey was hinting at the possibility of releasing Shawn earlier than expected. That also meant that Shawn would need to come to the hospital for therapy, and that created its own problems. Cassie assured Trent that she could help, freeing Trent to work part-time.
Cassie looked at her watch, knowing that Amanda tended to be busy in the mornings with her own family. But the wait was chewing at Cassie’s insides. She picked up the museum phone and punched the numbers to Amanda’s home phone. She counted the number of rings.
“Hello.”
“Amanda, it’s Cassie.”
“You were at the top of my list of people I need to call.”
Her tummy muscles tightened. “Oh, good. Wha’cha got?”
“When I checked my email this morning, the appraiser sent me a copy of his appraisal. He’s also emailed it to the bank and the law office. There’s no reason for the bank not to accept it. He’s twenty-eight thousand dollars over the agreed price.”
“That’s good, right?”
“Very good.”
Cassie drew in a deep breath. “Now what?”
“Did you sign all the papers at the lawyer’s office?”
“Yes.”
“Then they will close on the house and record the deed.”
“When?”
“Probably tomorrow. I’ll call the bank and then the law firm. The appraiser was going to hand carry the appraisal to the bank this afternoon. Everything is in place.”
“Do other people get this nervous?”
“Absolutely! I was a basket case when I knew I was getting this house. Are you still planning to paint before you move in?”
“Shawn might come home as early as Friday. I doubt that we’ll have time to do all the things we wanted to do.”
Amanda giggled. “May I make a suggestion?”
“Certainly.”
“Call in the troops. We’ll all help.”
Cassie furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”
“I’ll help you paint. I can ask my brother Ryan to help, since he's home from college for the summer. I’ll call Dallas. You call Tate. If you’ve got all the supplies, it shouldn’t take too long. I’ve got some rollers and things here, but not enough. Tate and Ari probably still have some supplies.”
“Make a list of what I need, because I have no clue.”
“Okay. I’ll email it to you. Can’t promise we can get everything done in a few evenings, but I’m sure we can probably have the worst of it knocked out by the end of the weekend.”
“I haven’t even chosen the paint colors.”
Amanda laughed.
Cassie hung up the phone, hardly able to contain her excitement. She tried to steady her heart that seemed to be beating at twice its normal speed. And as she looked at her desk, she became aware that it was cluttered with papers that needed her attention. What have I done?
***
Cassie walked into Shawn’s hospital room dangling a set of keys. “It’s ours!”
“Doesn’t seem real.”
“Oh, it will. And we’ve got help. In fact, I called home and talked to my dad.”
“You asked him for money?”
“Yes. Well, I didn’t actually ask him, I just told him my situation and what I still needed.”
“I wish you hadn’t.”
“Wipe tha
t look off your face. He gave my brother fifty thousand when he bought his first house.”
“I can’t imagine anyone having that kind of money. So is this a gift or a loan? And what is he giving you?”
She plopped into the chair. “I don’t know. He said he was going to transfer some money into an old checking account that I still have from when I was a student.”
“Did you tell him about us?”
She bit her lip. “No. I figured telling him I bought a house was enough.”
“He's not going to accept me.”
“Yes he will.”
“If that’s true, you would have told him.”
***
“Shawn, I’m going over to the new house to help Cassie. We’ve got a lot to do if I am going to take you there on Friday,” Trent said.
“Is Grandmom going to live there, too?”
“I don’t know.” Brushing the child’s hair from his forehead, he kissed his son. “I’ll be back here before breakfast.”
“Daddy, may I have a fish tank?”
“A fish tank? I thought you wanted a puppy.”
“I do, but I also want fish.”
Trent rolled his eyes and gave his son another kiss. “Fish might be easier than a puppy. I’ll think about it.”
It didn’t take long to get from the hospital to the house, and there were cars parked everywhere.
“Hi. What are you doing here?” Trent asked Amanda.
“Let’s see, I have a paintbrush in my hand, and I’m going to assume that's because I’m painting your living room.” She giggled. “Cassie is upstairs.”
Taking the steps two at a time, he discovered the place was alive with people. He poked his head into one room and realized Dallas was painting Shawn’s room.
“Hi,” Trent said.
“Hi. You’re late. How’s Shawn?”
“He’s doing great. What’s that wood?”
“The baseboards for this room. Berto is going to sand them.”
“Who is Berto?”
“A friend, and the best darn carpenter in this city.”
Trent swallowed. What is this going to cost? He went down the hall, and found three other people and Cassie working in what would be the master bedroom.