“It’s not a surprise, just something I want to show you,” he said gruffly. “There’s a guy here to help us.”
“Okay, now I’m intrigued,” Addison said with a laugh. “Since when do you need help with anything?”
Daniel grunted. “Still can't do your damn hair.”
“Mr. Mercer? Ms. Sterling?” A man’s voice interrupted their banter. “Thanks for coming out here on this beautiful afternoon, I’m Trevor Milton.”
He shook their hands and then asked them to follow him inside. Addison leaned up on her toes and whispered to Daniel with a giggle, “He sounds like a real estate agent.”
“That’s because he is,” Daniel responded gruffly.
Addison’s jaw dropped and she stood rooted to the spot until Daniel hooked an arm around her waist and lifted her off her feet and up the stairs. She barely spoke as the man led them through each room, showing them all the wonderful perks of the one hundred and fifteen year old character home. He pointed out all of the original fixtures as well as the recent upgrades and additions. He was careful to point out only the positives of the home and none of the flaws to his potential clients. After about twenty minutes of listening to himself speak, he finally seemed to realize neither of his new clients were speaking, let alone showing even a tiny spark of interest in the home.
“Uh, so that’s the home. It’s been on the market for several weeks, but it’s definitely not going to last. It’s only a matter of time until the right buyers come along and snap it up!” he announced, like Addison and Daniel would be idiots to let it pass them by.
Daniel was staring hard at Addison, trying to discern her mood. “Leave,” he said to Milton.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” the agent said, jumping a little.
Addison felt the tension in the room go up a few notches and reached out to catch Daniel’s arm in case he planned on doing something irreversible to the poor real estate agent. “It’s okay, Daniel,” she whispered.
He ignored her and said to Milton, “Will you leave for $3000?”
Milton apparently had a shrewder mind than he’d thus far exhibited, and balls of steel to go up against Daniel. He thought for a moment and said, “Make it $5000 and call it a deposit on the house and we have a deal.”
Addison felt Daniel tense under her fingertips, then he let out a short bark of laughter. “Deal,” he growled, “now get the fuck out.”
“I’ll go draw up the papers. You can meet me at my office tomorrow to sign for the house.”
Daniel didn’t say anything until Trevor Milton left, then he turned to Addison and said, “Talk to me.”
“You just bought a house,” she said faintly, shaking her head.
“For you.”
“But… you can’t just buy a house for me, Daniel,” she said, hesitantly. “It’s too much, it’s too soon. What if… what if you change your mind about me… about us?”
His arms tightened around her until he was holding her tightly against his body. “Addison,” he said quietly against the side of her head, “when that bitch took you and I thought I might lose you, I was ready to follow you into death. I knew I didn’t want to live if you weren't in this world with me.”
“Oh, Daniel,” Addison whispered reaching out to touch his face, her palms caressing his bearded cheeks lovingly. “Don’t say that, I can’t stand it.”
“Can’t stand a world without you in it. I promise you, I won’t ever leave you, and you won’t leave me. Understand?” he demanded gruffly.
“I understand,” she said through tears.
He hugged her tightly then set her away from him and wiped the tears from beneath her eyes with his thumbs. “Can’t stay in my place. It isn’t a proper apartment. And your place looks like the fucking Mad Hatter had an acid trip paint brush party.”
Addison laughed and hiccuped at the same time. “I let Anya paint it.”
“Pretty sure even you would have done a better job.”
“Was that a blind joke?” she demanded, poking him in the ribs. She rubbed the rest of her tears away using the sleeve of her cardigan. “I want a tour of my new house.”
He took her hand and led her through the house. First, the spacious backyard which he assured her was fenced and big enough to house a dog if she wanted one. Addison stood for a moment with her mouth open and fresh tears in her eyes. Her parents had never let her have pets because of the mess and then, by the time she could afford it herself, she just didn’t feel it was fair to keep a dog in her city apartment.
“Oh, yes please!” she squealed, throwing herself into his arms and hugging him tight. “I want a dog, a little terrier or a Chihuahua that’s missing a leg or an eye and down on its luck like me! Actually, let’s just go to the pound and ask for the dog that's been there the longest, poor little thing. Can we go pick one up tomorrow? Can I name him or her Yo-Yo Ma?”
He picked her up, her arms still wrapped around him, and carried her back inside for the rest of the tour. He explained that it was just outside of the downtown district on the other side of the river, about a five minute drive from King Tower. She teased him about wanting to be so close to work, but was secretly impressed that he was willing to stay offsite in order to live with her in a place of their own. She knew he was dedicated to his job. It showed how much he cared about her and their life together that he was willing to live outside of the Tower.
