Mrs. Johnson laughs. “You've gotten more shameless since you were a kid.”
I laugh with her, stuffing my hands in my pockets. I finally take in the house before me in its full glory. Much more extravagant than the other houses in this part of town. More mansion-like, which I doubt Lana will accept at first, but she will grow to love it when I paint the picture I see in my head.
“Shall we go inside?”
I nod. “Lead the way.”
Mrs. Johnson lets us in and immediately, the entire lower level fills with sunlight from the numerous windows. That’s acheck mark on the list—windows. Lana loves windows more than the normal person. She prefers natural light.
“As you can see,” she says, “windows are in..dramatic supply.”
I snort. “Rooms?”
“Five,” she tells me. “Master bedroom and the other three bedrooms are upstairs. The last room is on the lower level which was meant to be an office space. I believe that kind of room was on your list for a personal library.”
“It is,” I agree.
The floors are white washed wood, and the walls are white and bright. There’s a brick fireplace in the expansive living room, and we can hang a TV over.
“And the view?”
Mrs. Johnson smiles and signals for me to follow her through the house. The back of the house is a wall of glass that gives an entire landscape view of the lake and hills, and there is an expansive patio, and a pool. Sunlight floods the empty space, and I already see it—and this is just the first house.
“You knew exactly what I was looking for, Mrs. Johnson,” I breathe, still stuck on this view. I replay the vision of my future with Lana a few more times and grin.
“I know my clients well,” she says proudly. “But I know Lana well too, and I know that is who you are buying for.”
I sniff. “I am.”
“So?”
“Show me the rest,” I tell her with sore cheeks and a smile still stuck on my lips.
I take mental notes as we finish the tour of the house. The open plan master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom that has both a tub and shower—both big enough for the two of us—and the open closet. The two other bedrooms upstairs areperfect for nurseries that will grow with our little girls, who will share a bathroom in the hall.
Downstairs, the dining room is big enough for our friends to visit for holidays and random gatherings. The living room is large enough for family movie nights and fort building with the girls. The family room has a fireplace and comes with a perfect corner for a tree to set the scene for our first Christmas morning as a family. The kitchen is bright and modern, marble countertops and gold accents, and a large window that opens to the back of the house. Then the extra room will serve as our office, but mostly Lana’s library.
Back in the wide open and bright foyer, I follow Mrs. Johnson back outside. Facing the house, I back up until the entire property comes into view.
“Judging by the smile on your silly face,” Mrs. Johnson says, “you love this house more than I thought you would.”
I stuff my hands in my pockets and I just can’t look away.
“I don’t think I have to see any other ones,” I breathe, still utterly stupefied.
“I thought as much.” She smiles proudly. “So?”
I’m grinning as I nod.
“Wonderful,” she says. “She’s going to love it.”
“I know,” I say. “Can I make an offer?”
Since it’s Monday, I know Lana has taken the day off. It’s become a thing and I’ve encouraged it. She barely takes any time off, so she needs at least one recharging day a week. We’ve compromised on Monday’s.
After seeing the house—and not bothering to see the others—I went straight for the gym. My muscles are still recovering from the intense workout Julian put me through today, both downstairs and upstairs in the ring.
As I pull into the driveway, I feel a certain giddiness about the meeting this Friday. I want to tell someone this secret and what better place than AA where everyone is forced to keep your secrets. And I want to see the look on Terrance’s face when I tell him, a part of me hoping he’ll be proud of me for finding stability and peace. My happy place with my person.
