“I already told you it’s done,” Eli whined. Luke wasn’t sure if Noah was so flustered he’d forgotten or if he was simply trying to buy them some time without interruptions. Probably the latter since he didn’t seem like the forgetful type.
“Tell you what,” Luke interrupted, sensing an impending battle. “I need to check some other stuff anyway and talk to your dad. How about you double-check your homework, and then we can do the measurements and map together? That way, we’re not missing anything important.”
Eli considered this, his expression serious. “Promise?”
“Cross my heart.”
“Okay!” Eli bounded back to his seat, pulling the wrinkled worksheet out of his backpack.
Noah watched him for a moment before turning back to Luke. “You’re good with kids.”
“I remember what it was like being his age. Everything’s an adventure waiting to happen.” Luke ran a hand through his hair, grimacing at how it stuck up in wet spikes. “Even broken pipes. And I have a lot of practice with Megan’s kids. You wouldn’t know it now that his entire life is video games, but at one point, her oldest was just like Eli. The greatest bribe in the world was him getting to help me or his Pops in the shop. I’d have tried that on Eli, but I wasn’t sure you’d be cool with me inviting you guys over to my place when there’s so much to do here.”
“Speaking of which…” Noah gestured toward the hall. “Want to see what else is trying to fall apart?”
“Lead the way.” Luke followed him out of the kitchen, trying not to notice how Noah’s wet shirt clung to his shoulders. “Though I should warn you, after that performance, the rest of the house has a lot to live up to.”
This time, Noah’s almost-smile reached his eyes. It transformed his whole face, softening the serious lines and hinting at someone who might actually know how to laugh. “I’m sure it’ll manage to surprise us.”
And wasn’t that the truth of it? Luke had a feeling this house—and its owners—had plenty of surprises in store.
The upstairs hallway creaked beneath their feet, each step releasing the musty scent of old wood and forgotten stories. Luke ran his hand along the wall, feeling the subtle ripples in the plaster where moisture had worked its way in from the roof. The damage wasn’t visible yet, but he knew the signs.
“Tell me you at least had someone look at the roof before you moved in,” he said, tilting his head to examine a suspicious dark spot on the ceiling.
“The realtor said it was fine.” Noah’s defensive tone was becoming familiar. “Just needed some minor repairs.”
“Right. And I’m secretly Batman.” Luke pressed gently against the wall, testing its give. “Your realtor should be arrested for fraud. This whole section of the house has water damage. You’ve got maybe a year before it starts showing up as actual holes.”
Noah’s jaw tightened. “I can’t afford to replace the entire roof.”
“No one said anything about replacing the entire roof.”Yet, Luke added mentally. “But we need to address the problem areasbefore they get worse. Otherwise, you’re looking at structural damage that’ll cost way more than preventive repairs.”
They moved through the house room by room, Luke noting issues while Noah grew increasingly quiet. The primary bedroom’s windows stuck in their frames, warped by years of temperature fluctuations. The bathroom’s ancient plumbing gurgled ominously when Luke tested the faucets. Even the light fixtures seemed determined to remind them of the house’s age, flickering despite new bulbs.
“Dad! Luke!” Eli’s voice carried up the stairs. “I finished my homework! Can we do the measuring thing now?”
“In a minute, buddy,” Noah called back. He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture Luke was beginning to recognize as a sign of stress. “Maybe we should have started with a newer house.”
Something in his tone made Luke pause. “Hey, this place has good bones. Yeah, it needs work, but anything worth having usually does.”
“That sounds suspiciously like something Rachel would say.”
“Probably because she’s usually right.” Luke grinned at Noah’s skeptical look. “Don’t tell her I said that though. She’s insufferable enough already.”
They reached what Luke assumed was Eli’s room, judging by the superhero posters and scattered LEGO. Here, at least, the problems were mostly cosmetic—peeling wallpaper, scuffed floors, a window seat that needed refinishing.
“The previous owners lived here for decades,” Noah said quietly. “Raised their kids here, grew old here. I keep thinking aboutthat, you know? How this place was someone’s home for so long, and now…”
“Now it’s your turn,” he interrupted, not wanting the good memories they were trying to preserve tarnished by whoever thought they could make some cosmetic repairs and call it good enough to raise the selling price of the house. Luke moved to the window seat, running his fingers along the worn wood on the trim next to the little alcove. “Check this out—see these marks? Height measurements, probably from their kids. Multiple generations of them, judging by the dates.”
Noah joined him, squinting at the faded pencil marks. “1962 to 1998. James. Shirley. Michael…” Luke could practically see Noah scouring his brain, trying to place any of the names listed. “Man, it’s sad none of them wanted to keep the house in the family or, at the very least, take something like this with them.”
“You can’t buy history like that in some new subdivision.” Luke straightened, suddenly aware of how close they were standing. “This house has stories, Noah. It just needs someone willing to listen to them. And maybe replace some ancient plumbing while they’re at it.”
That earned him a small laugh, transforming Noah’s entire face. “Is that your professional opinion?”
“Nah, my professional opinion involves a lot more swearing and terms like ‘catastrophic failure waiting to happen.’” Luke stepped back, giving them both some breathing room. “But my actual opinion? This place could be amazing. It’ll take time, money, and probably a few minor nervous breakdowns, but it’s worth saving.”
