“Are you too tired to go look at a house?”
He told her what little he knew about the place and how Cathy insisted it ticked off all the boxes on their long list of must haves.
“It sounds perfect, and if it’s as great as she says, others will be looking at it too,” Cree said. “Let’s get something to eat and then go check out the house.”
“Okay, baby. I’ll have something here for you to eat, and then we can head to Wilmette.”
“All right. See you soon.”
Two hours later, as Cree rode in the passenger seat while Tristan drove them to the house, she felt almost human again. She’d been dead on her feet when leaving the office, feeling as if she didn’t have enough energy to think, let alone walk out the door.
But after eating and then going back to Tristan’s place to change into something more comfortable, she felt like herself. During the ride to the house, she’d been telling Tristan about her meeting with Warren. Cree didn’t miss the way her husband’s hands had tightened on the steering wheel during certain parts of the story.
He seemed to relax a little when she told him that she and Warren had agreed to sign an NDA regarding information that the PIs shared. Tristan laughed awhile about how she had bluffed about having had Warren investigated. Cree had been surprised he hadn’t asked for proof. Maybe because she hadn’t pushed to see the report he had received from his PI. Cree was glad that part worked out, and they agreed Felicia and no one else needed to know about that particular agreement.
Tristan reached over and linked his fingers with hers as he divided his attention between her and the highway. “Do you think it will take as long as you originally thought to be totally done with the firm?”
“No, I’ll pay the agreed-upon fees for breaking the contract. I’ll also need to cover my share of liabilities and the firm’s debts, and then I also offered to pay what the three of us are calling incidental fees.
“I’m taking ownership of the fact that I was in the wrong for dating a client. Though I know you wouldn’t have sued us or somehow made trouble for the firm,” she said to Tristan. “I did put the company at risk. So that was on me. I made a financial offer, and the partners accepted. But it’ll probably still take at least forty-five to sixty days to take care of everything.”
She intended to work mostly outside of the office but planned to show up in person for any necessary meetings. She also had some vacation time which she would use between the Thanksgiving holiday and New Year’s Day. Which was another reason she hoped they found a house soon. It would be great to have time off while she and Tristan got settled into their new home.
“What about your clients?” Tristan asked.
“I’ll be taking those who are interested in moving with me. All in all, I’m happy things turned out as well as they did.”
A few minutes later, Tristan found the block where the home was located, and Cree smiled as they drove along the cobblestone, treelined street. Excitement sprang to life inside of her. The peacefulness of the area was felt as they drove slowly, taking in well-maintained yards and passing one beautiful home after the next.
When Tristan reached the front of the property, they stared out at it, taking it all in. The real estate agent mentioned the owner had purchased the adjacent land years ago, and now the stately home sat on two lots with a huge yard surrounding it.
A big yard had been one of the items on Tristan’s revised-home-buying wish list, second to five garage stalls.
“We’ll have to get a better fence because this one doesn’t offer any security,” he said of the white picket fence as he drove slowly up the driveway. “I want us to have an eight-foot wrought-iron fence around the entire property, and a double-hung gate and call box installed at the entrance.”
As Tristan thought about security, Cree’s attention was on the professionally done landscape. Statuesque trees were perfectly placed around the yard, and a three-tiered lighted fountain was positioned near the front of the house. Flower and rock beds, as well as various sized shrubbery were strategically placed.
This is it, a small voice said inside Cree’s head as the home came fully into view. This could possibly be the house they raise their family in.
Tristan parked in front of the garage next to Cathy’s vehicle. When they both climbed out of his sports car, Tristan held Cree’s hand while they stood outside the home. The structure was made up of white painted brick and some other type of material Cree couldn’t identify. She loved how the black trim made the house look modern, but still homey. There were also a ton of windows, which she appreciated.
Cathy opened the front door with a cell phone to her ear and her hand over the mouthpiece. “Come on in and look around. I’ll be right with you.”
When Cree and Tristan entered the home, they stood in the grand foyer and glanced around. Straight ahead was the large living room with a breathtaking fireplace taking center stage. To the left of it was a wall of windows that overlooked a deck and yard. They both loved open floor plans, and a portion of the kitchen could be seen just off the living room.
For Cree, it felt like home and she hadn’t even seen the whole place.
She looked at Tristan just as he turned to glance at her, and he smiled.
Oh good. He feels it too.
Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, he pulled her to his side and kissed the top of her head. “Well, Mrs. Whitmore, this might be the beginning of the rest of our lives.”
Cree chuckled as giddiness bubbled inside of her. The last few months had been like a fantasy that she hadn’t dared to ever dream. The love of her life was back, they were married, and she was on the brink of starting her own law firm.
And now this. They might have found their forever home.
Her heart was so full, she was afraid it would burst from her chest.
