I’ll take it.
Ha! Just kidding. I don’t say that out loud, but that’s one thing about these old houses that I don’t like. The closets are usually tiny.
As soon as Bridget opens the door and we step inside, I reach for Nate. “This is perfect.” I know, just from seeing the hardwood floors and the built-in bookshelves on either side of a gorgeous fireplace.
“As you can see, this room is open to the dining room and kitchen through this archway.”
I also love that. It’s open to the other room, but it’s not a vast open space. Each room feels separate and together, if that makes any sense.
“The walls are painted greige…”
Greige. That’s what they’re calling gray these days.
Leaning into Nate, I whisper, “I’d repaint the walls.” Like a soft buttery yellow, maybe.
He leans over to me, gives me a sincere smile, and says, “I know.”
He’s right. He does. I’ve said that in every house we’ve toured because…greige.
We pass through the dining room, which has another large built-in cabinet with glass doors. I can picture some of my mom’s china in that cupboard. Passing through another archway, a duplicate of the first one, we step into the kitchen of my dreams. The cabinets aren’t white. Hooray! There’s a huge island in the center of the kitchen with enough room for six stools and enough storage space to hold all of myandNate’s things.
We quickly check out the backyard, which is a good size. Then, down to the basement where there’s another fireplace and the perfect spot for my mom’s furniture. On the top floor of the house, we check out the master suite, which is huge, as is the bathroom. It’s not as warm as the downstairs half bath, but that’s fine. The walk-in shower with extra showerheads will do.
After peeking into three other bedrooms, one of which they’d staged as an office, Bridget leads us to the final door on this floor. “This is the fifth bedroom.” Bridget looks back at me. “I think you’ll love it.”
Pushing open the door, Nate places his palm on my back so I can enter first. The gasp that follows isn’t mine. It’s Nate’s. Because this room is Brynn’s room. Like the one at my apartment, there’s beautiful wallpaper—in a soft pink instead of green, but there are animals running all over just like at my place. The crib and other furniture is similar to hers as well. But the thing that gets me is the beautiful chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
Before I can even speak, Nate stops suddenly, looks down at me, then over to Bridget and says, “We’ll take it.”
And you know what? I’m not even going to argue with him. Reaching out, I take his hand in mine and look up at him and smile. Because this is it. This ishome.
Epilogue
Nate
Almost three years later.
Standing in our backyard,I look back at our deck at the perfect view. It’s my wife, daughter, and one-year-old son, Nathan. We’re setting up for Brynn’s third birthday party, and I’ve got to say, the kids aren’t much help.
“B-B, honey,” I say in an attempt to help Maggy out. “Come help Daddy.” I don’t need help, but Maggy does.
“Okay, Daddy.” Our beautiful toddler makes her way down the steps to the grass. I meet her at the bottom, pick her up, and blow a raspberry on her little tummy. Pulling her in close, I snuggle her. “Are you excited for your big party?”
“I am, Daddy.” She places her tiny hand on my cheek, leans in close, and says, “Eberyone’s coming, Daddy. Grandma Thara, Papa”—that’s my dad—“Unkee Nick and Unkee Matt.” She has to think for a minute. “Oh, and Nana Robin and Guthy.”
I was surprised to learn Gus was coming. Robin and Gus have been on again, off again over the past few years. I guess they’re on now. Which is good, I suppose. I mean, I don’t know why they keep fighting it. They’re two peas in a pod. They belong together. At least that’s what my wife says, and she’s right most of the time. (But not all the time, no matter what she says.)
“You’re right, B-B, everyone is coming.”
“I want to eat cake first.”
I bet she does. My girl has a sweet tooth to beat all others. “Don’t you want presents first?”
She shakes her head, making her pretty dark curls sway. “Nope. Cake.”
Not a surprise.
Setting her on the grass, I give her little bottom a pat. “Go play. Let us finish setting up before everyone gets here.”
