Marin fixed two bowls of oatmeal and one bowl of puppy food. They ate breakfast together, and then Charlotte got dressed and headed out since she had several other showings before Marin’s. Marin spent the rest of the morning with Ember, playing and practicing some basic leash training. Truly, she was exhausted. Her aches and pains wereworse than usual today, and she yearned for a long soak in the tub and maybe a nap.
Ember had other plans. The tub in this apartment was small and cramped anyway. But maybe soon, she’d have something better ...
Marin had a smile on her face as she arrived at the house on Middleton Hill Road that afternoon. She had a good feeling about this one, and that was saying something, coming from a skeptic like her. Marin had never been a “gut feeling” kind of person before she met Charlotte, but apparently she was now.
The house wasn’t much to look at from the outside, with worn brown siding and no garage, but the location was exactly what Marin wanted. There was a small fenced area in back with a large deck, where she could take in the views. Already, she could picture herself and Ember out there this spring, enjoying wildflowers and butterflies. Hopefully the interior of the house was workable. Because the listing wasn’t live yet, she hadn’t seen any photos.
She parked along the narrow road and walked Ember until she pottied, before tucking her into her carrier to go inside. While she’d been walking Ember, Charlotte had arrived. She stood on the front porch, entering the code to unlock the door. “Hi,” she called over her shoulder. “Come on in. They’ve asked us to leave our shoes by the door.”
Marin joined her on the porch as Ember whined softly inside her carrier. Marin took off her boots on the welcome mat and followed Charlotte into the house.
“Let’s see what we’ve got,” Charlotte said. “I don’t often view homes where I haven’t seen any interior photos. I hope I’m not wasting both of our time.”
“If you are, it would be my fault, not yours. I’m the one who got fixated on this house, and ... I think I like it.” Marin walked into the living room. It had light-colored hardwood floors and oversize windows on the far wall that looked out over the hills in back. The house was small. She’d known that going in, but so far at least, it felt cozy and inviting.
And because of all the windows, it didn’t feel claustrophobic. Marin had spent too many years feeling closed in. She needed a home where she could breathe freely.
“I like it too,” Charlotte said. “These windows are incredible, and there’s a woodstove here in the living room. These things are so practical this time of year. You can heat most of the house with it, which saves you on propane and makes the living room super cozy.”
“I love the sound of that.”
“Let’s see the kitchen,” Charlotte suggested. “That’s a room that can easily make or break a house for most people.”
“Agreed. I’m not particularly fussy about the appliances, but my apartment doesn’t have a pantry, and I’m constantly struggling to keep food off the counters. Like, seriously, where are you supposed to put stuff without a pantry?”
“Exactly. It’s impractical. So let’s see if this house has one.”
Marin followed her to the kitchen, which was also small. The appliances were outdated, but there was a pantry and more windows overlooking the backyard, with stunning views. Marin could see herself sitting at the little breakfast nook, reading a book while she enjoyed her morning coffee with Ember lounging at her feet. “I’m still liking what I see.”
“Yeah?” Charlotte turned to face her, eyes sparkling. “That’s awesome. I like it too. It’s cute, and it feels really livable.”
“I canseemyself here, and that’s important.”
“It is.”
They walked through the rest of the house, revealing a guest bathroom, laundry in the partially finished basement, two small guest rooms upstairs, and finally the master bedroom. It, too, was small but indescribably cozy, and it was on the ground floor, which was a huge plus. Its windows shared the view, and the attached bathroom had one feature that Marin immediately focused on. “A soaking tub? Ajettedsoaking tub no less? Sold. I mean it.”
Charlotte laughed. “Seriously?”
“Yes.” Marin set down Ember’s carrier so she could stretch her aching forearm. “Not solely because of the tub, but I think it just sealed the deal for me. I haven’t had access to a soaking tub since my divorce, and while I’ve always loved a good bath, they’re even more important for me now, for pain relief.”
“Let’s get you a soaking tub, then,” Charlotte agreed. “Honestly, this house has a lot going for it. The price is a little high, but that’s Vermont real estate for you, and itiswithin your budget. Getting in before the listing officially goes live means that if you want it, it’s probably yours. So ... you want it?”
“I do.” Marin nodded briskly. “I wasn’t an impulsive person before. I would have gone home and run numbers, calculated costs versus benefits, but the new me goes with my gut, and my gut says this is the one. I like it. It’s cozy in a good way, the views are amazing, and that deck and fenced backyard will be perfect for me to hang out with Ember once the weather gets nicer.”
“Did you map out your commute to the university? What’s that like?”
“I did, and it’s about a thirty-minute drive.”
“That’s reasonable, but also bear in mind that this is a dirt road, which means mud season will be an issue.”
Marin gave her a questioning look. “Mud season?”
Charlotte laughed, a sound Marin loved. It was light and breezy, and it filled her with joy. “In the spring when the snow melts, the dirt roads turn to mud, and it’s pretty awful. Honestly, Vermont has winter road maintenance down to a science. We’re so well plowed and salted, it’s fine. But the mud? It’ll sink your car axle deep. It’s the worst. You’re driving an Outback, which will probably do well in the mud, but keep it in mind as you make your decision.”
“I’ll learn to manage mud season,” Marin decided, because her gut was still sayinggo for it. “I leased the Outback because it would be practical on rural roads, so hopefully it’ll do the job, and if it doesn’t, I’ll get something else.”
Charlotte grinned. “That’s the spirit. So this is it? You’re ready to put in an offer?”
