It’s a joke, and she laughs, which I love. She may have money, but she’s not weird about it. Which is great. I don’t give a shit if she’s got two cents to her name. A woman with a sense of humor and a low-key attitude is worth her weight in gold.
As we drive, I point out the schools and parks and other little points of interest. Star Falls is a great place to live. Great people, beautiful land, big sky. I love it here, and it must show.
“You sound like an official tour guide,” she says, but there’s a smile in her voice.
“Small-town living,” I tell her. “Can’t beat it.”
She’s quiet, staring out the window as we turn onto the street where the first house is. I know the area, but I don’t see a for-sale sign in any of the lawns or front windows, so I slow down to a crawl.
“Did you ever live anyplace else? Ever want to live someplace bigger?”
“Like Los Angeles?” I ask but don’t give her time to reply. “Nah.” I wrinkle my nose. But then I stop and really think about it. Something about her makes me want to dig a little deeper. Give her more of me. “Let me rephrase that. I would absolutely consider moving away from Star Falls for the right reason. I actually applied for a job at a bigger firehouse about a month ago.”
“Yeah?” She turns fully in her seat to look at me, but then Juniper starts fussing. “We’re almost there, honey.” Eden turns in her seat to pick up the bunny that’s somehow been slingshotted deep behind the driver’s seat. She bends and twists, and I keep my eyes on the damn road, refusing to ogle her while she’s picking up her baby’s toy.
Once Eden has the bunny, Juniper stops squirming, and I see a for sale sign up ahead about another half block away.
“That looks like our stop,” I tell her. “Juniper, we’re almost there. You ready to look at a new house?
“Yah, yah, yah.” In her excitement, she throws the bunny again, and it must land behind me, because Eden shakes her head and blows air through her lips.
“Baby, we’re about to get out of the car. I’ll get your bunny in a sec,” Eden tells her.
Juniper seems fine with that, so as I find a place to park on the street near the property, Eden asks me a gentle question. “But you didn’t get the job? Or you did and didn’t take it?”
“Didn’t get it,” I say simply. “I’ll tell you what happened on the way to the next house. If you want to hear the boring story.”
She nods, and I kill the ignition and offer the key back to her.
“You hang on to it,” she says. “As long as you don’t mind driving to the next place?”
I nod and jump out of the car. I run around and open the door for her, then stand by while she gets Juniper out of the back.
“Ready?” I ask, locking the car and slipping the fob into the pocket of my jeans. “This could be your new home.”
She looks nervous but excited, and she nods vigorously. “I’m so glad you came. Thanks for being here.”
A wave of sweet warmth floods my chest at her words, but I just urge her ahead. “Come on,” I tell her.
We walk up the drive, but we don’t even make it to the front door when a very stressed-looking woman meets us.
“Eden?” She’s waving her hand and trotting down the concrete driveway in ridiculously high heels. As she meets us, I can’t help noticing that even in heels, she’s like six inches shorter than Eden.
“Hi, Taylor.” Eden secures Juniper on one hip. Since I have the diaper bag, she’s got a free hand to shake the real estate agent’s hand.
“So nice to finally meet you,” she says to Eden before turning her attention toward me. “You must be Dad.” She extends her hand.
I chuckle and Eden’s about to say something, but I shake the lady’s hand. “What gave me away?”
I’m not trying to horn in on Eden’s party or nothing, but if the real estate lady thinks there’s a man in the picture, who knows. Maybe the sellers will be more reasonable if they think some happy couples about to buy their dream home.
Taylor steps a little closer to us and lowers her voice. Her bright-pink lipstick has smeared onto her front teeth, and she’s got a light sheen of sweat on her forehead. “I hope this won’t make you uncomfortable.” She tosses a look behind her toward the open front door of the house. “The homeowner was supposed to leave to let you view the place privately. It’s something we ask, but this homeowner won’t go.”
I look at Eden for guidance on this. “You want to pass?”
She bites her lower lip. “It’s really cute,” she says. “I’d like to see it. Do you think it’ll be too awkward?”
“We’re fine. Eden wants to see this house, she’s going to see the house. It doesn’t bother us that the man is home.”
