Life as I know it

Five

We arrive at the hotel suite and get Luke settled for a nap. We have our first house to look at this afternoon so we order food and have it delivered

Bullet. So the house we are looking at first is a four bedroom three bath with a finished basement. Tomorrow we have three houses to look at. Do you want us to come with you or stay here with Luke?

I'd like for you both to come along with Luke. This is just as much my home as it will be his. So I need to make sure he likes it as well.

We pull up to the first showing and I instantly don't like it. It's not modern and it doesn't look like it's up to date on interior.

We get out the truck and I grab Luke as we walk up. In the driveway is a charger that's all blacked out. I like the car better than the house.

Mom this house is ugly.

Let's just go see what Lacey has to say. You never know.

We knock and when the door opens I'm speechless. In front of me is a young woman. In her 20s and drop dead gorgeous.

Hello. My name is Lacey Titan thank you for meeting me here. Do you want to look around?

Hello Lacey. I'm Kayleigh and this is my husband Ethan our son Rhyker and grandson Luke.

Well come on and we can talk. I can already tell this isn't the house so maybe we can discuss face to face so I can make sure the others are worth the see.

I'm utterly speechless not because the house isn't what I was looking for. No it's the woman in front of me. She stole the breath right out my lungs. The feeling I have is exactly the feeling Rhyder said she felt the moment she met Logan.

Walking into the kitchen I see a little girl with light brown hair sitting in the corner no paying us any attention. Luke looks at the girl with a curiosity of a four year old. Daddy can I go by her?

I look up at Lacey and see her nod saying it was okay. So I shake my head and luke as he walks over to her and sits down while she watches her tablet.

So I wanted to show you this house not because of the way it looks, but the neighborhood. It's about five miles from a decent school and also have a park nearby. It's way under budget so you could make it your own. It's priced at $280k, but between us I'd offer $250k at most.

The layout isn't bad really. It's open enough, but it's not my style really. Can you show me the other houses and I can look to see if they are even worth looking at?

Of course. So this one as you can see isn't much better than this one and it's on the other side of town. Closer to the stadium and downtown.

How far away from Elite Prep?

So I have one home that is about 10 minutes from that school. Actually that is where my daughter will be started in August. Is your son going their as well?

Yes so I'd rather be close enough to be able to get to him in case of an emergency. How far away is the stadium from this home we are discussing?

It's about 30 minutes out. Is that an issue? I can probably find a penthouse downtown, but like I said then you would be about 20 minutes from the school.

Let's take a look at the other two homes you have for us to look at tomorrow.

During this entire encounter my parents have not said a word. I know what they are going to say the moment we are alone. The problem is I know they aren't wrong. The blushes Lacey has showed when we speak to one another. The warm feeling I have. It's all new to me and I don't know why.

Can I ask a question? Your mother said your price limit was max at $700k would you be willing to go a little higher?

My max is $500k. Mom seriously I said $500k not $700k.

Bullet the other money was suppose to be for your college, but since you had a full ride we put it away for this specifically.

Lacey $700 is max cash price.

If the house you are thinking that I would choose is a little above the price which my mother has agreed upon I could make an obsession. I mean.... ummmm yeah I could make an exception.

Well okay. This house is actually the last one on the plan to view tomorrow. What do you think?

From the outside it's what I am looking for. What are the details?

Five bedrooms, pool, workout room in basement, garage and a media room. It's actually everything the email stated. It's just a little big higher than what I was told, but I thought I'd give it a shot.

What about the neighborhood?

It's in a gated community. With a security at the gate at all times. Only those with a key card or on the list will be able to get through. It's pretty secluded.

What about the school?

It's around the corner. They also have a community center near by and is mostly higher establish people.

Do you think we could see it today? School starts in 3 weeks and I'd the house is what I want is like to place my offer.

Let me make some calls. You can look around if you want I'll just be a few minutes.

I go and walk out the back door to clear my head. The house sounds like a dream. My dream that I've worked so hard for.

Son.

Yeah dad.

We need to talk.