Playing For Keeps

28-Your Grandma Would've Loved It

Casey

I was finally ready to put the house up for sale.

I had a local Realtor helping me sell the place and the moment the giant for sale sign was put out front I wanted to cry.

This had been one of my favorite summers in this house but it would also be the last and that hurt more than words could express.

I had the girls coming over today for one last brunch where I would let them tour the remodel.

They haven't all been back here since I started renovating it and I knew they were curious to see the changes I had made.

I had done a walk through last night on FaceTime with Rowan and Fallon.

The place had a facelift but the bones of the house were the same and I hoped they remained that way forever.

The doorbell rings and I rush over to see Brenda standing there.

She smiles and pulls me into a hug, "Oh dear, I am so proud of you."

Her words fill me with warmth as I guide her inside and to the patio where all the food is preparing and waiting.

"I can not wait to see what you did with the place, just from the lookie I got, you did a glorious job." She beams before biting into a piece of bacon.

"Thank you." I tell her.

Hearing that built my confidence in the house.

All the girls show up and then we start to eat. I look around and realize just how crazy it is that these women have managed to stay friends for so long.

They've gone through relationships and kids and never drifted apart.

I hope that's me with Fallon, I can't imagine doing anything without her. Hell I might make her move in next door with me and we can raise our kids and carpool together.

Fallon would never settle for the suburban white picket fence life but a girl can dream.

"Can we take that tour now?" Renata asks, "I would love to see what you did with the guest bedroom upstairs."

I take the girls on a tour through the house and answer the millions of questions they fire my way.

What exact shade of green is this?

Who installed this ceiling fan?

This new tile is gorgeous, where did you find it?

Does the porch swing hold more than one person?

I answer them all with a smile on my face and we end the tour in the living room.

"Your grandma would love it." Erin says, stopping beside me and squeezing my shoulder.

I smile at her, a genuine one, "You believe so?"

Out of all the girls Erin was closes to Grandma Jo and I know her death affected Erin the most. It brings me right back to Fallon, yeah she might have to get used to that white picket fence life.

"I'm not just talking about the house, Casey." She gives me a knowing grin, "All your grandma ever wanted for you was to experience the love she shared with your grandpa and I think you did. This place brought them together and it brought you and Rowan together too."

I shrug, "We're not that serious." I lie.

I want to spend forever with him but that's getting ahead of myself.

"Oh please, you might be able to fool everyone else, hell fool yourselves, but you can't fool me." She tells me, "He looks at you like you hung the moon and you look at him like he painted the stars."

"Getting poetic in your old age, Erin?" Tracy asks making the redhead laugh.

Her words, ever poetic, make me think of how people see Rowan and I.

Do we look like two people who can't seem to part from one another?

🏒 🏒 🏒

A week and a half later I get the call during lunch.

The house had been sold and the person who remained anonymous bought it way over asking.

The price I had decided on felt as though it fit just right but I guess someone felt it was worth more than that.

I still couldn't believe this house had been sold and I couldn't wait to tell Rowan later.

It was a bittersweet feeling to know this house was no longer mine but to know that I was finally heading towards my future.

This was a house full of memories and I hoped it would be the same for the next person to own it.

That night when Rowan and I FaceTime I tell him about the house.

"No way, baby, that's exciting." he says and I beam, "I know right, I mean they're an idiot for paying that much but it must have meant the house was just too good to pass up."

He grins as if he knows something I don't.

"What?" I ask him and he shakes his head, "Nothing, so does that mean you're coming back soon?"

I nod, "I just have things I need to finish up but after that I'll be back."

Rowan's birthday was also coming up which meant I had to figure out what to get him. There was a million things on my mind but none of them seemed right.

"I can't wait, our soon is coming." I tell him.

Soon, I'll be wrapped up in my boyfriends arms and all will be right in the world.

"Are you planning to use my key and surprise me?" He asks and I roll my eyes playfully.

His apartment key is attached to the keychain ring on my purse and yeah maybe I've fantasized about waiting for him in his apartment wearing nothing but his jersey.

I know Rowan would love that, hell I would too.

Yawning Rowan looks down at his watch, "I hate our time difference."

I understood that.

"Like I said, babe, soon."

Rowan gets off the phone and I start getting ready for dinner.

Time here is coming to an end so I want to enjoy it and go each out on the porch and watch the sunset.

Which of course reminds me of Rowan.

Soon I reminded myself.

Soon.