Stay With Me

Chapter 17

"This house was built in 1958, 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. There's a finished basement I think you will like as well and a fenced in backyard." Our realtor drags us through yet another house. We've been through at least 10 this week and still can't decide on anything we like.

"I like that the rooms are upstairs and are really good sizes. And that everything seems to be updated. And the floors, these are pretty." I tell her and she nods in agreement.

"Yes, the new wood flooring was actually put in about 3 weeks ago." She tells us. Ian opens a closet door and looks in.

We walk down the stairs to the basement and see that it's finished and has French doors leading out to the backyard.

"Is that a tree house?" Ian's face lights up and he opens the door to walk outside. He runs to the tree house like he's a child again. I can't help but laugh and take a picture of him climbing up the tree.

"I think your fiancée has found his happy place." Barbara our realtor says.

"I believe so. I really like this house. It's updated so we can move on in with no issues, it's in a great family neighborhood. The fenced in yard is nice if we decide to get a dog. And the tree house seems to be a plus with the kid." I point to Ian who is now swinging on a rope swing.

He jumps down from the rope and walks back over to us.

"Did you enjoy your playtime?" I tease him.

"I loved the tree house I had back in Louisiana. Our baby needs to grow up with one. And I hope you like this house as much as I do Nina. I think I found the one." He smiles at Barbara.

"Well let's go inside and talk prices and everything then. The house has been on the market for about 5 months so maybe we can get the home owners to lower the price. What would you like to offer?" We walk inside and over to the kitchen island.

"Let's go in with $275,885 and if they don't do that we can go up a little more." Ian says. Barbara tells us she'll be right back as she goes to make the offer with the home owners. We walk out onto the porch that over looks the back yard and I can't help but picture us here in a few years watching our son or daughter playing in the yard.

"I really fell in love with this house." Ian wraps his arms around me from behind.

"It really is nice. And we won't have to do any work, so that's a plus." I say. He kisses my cheek and we hear Barbara come out on the porch.

"Ian and Nina, congratulations! You're now new home owners! They accepted the offer!" Barbara says and I throw my hands over my mouth in shock. I can't believe we own this house.

"That's so great! Baby we have our house!" Ian hugs me and I kiss him.

"This is where we will raise our baby." I smile.

"Let's head back to my office and do the paper work and celebrate!" Barbara says.

"Candice you guys need to come over and have dinner with us tonight and be here to share the news of the baby. Paul and Phoebe are going to bring Ezra so Ellie Kate will have someone to keep her company. Please." I've been on the phone with Candice for 5 minutes now.

When she finally agrees to come over for dinner at the condo I hang up and meet Ian in the kitchen to help start cooking.

"She coming?" He asks. He opens the oven and sticks the pizza inside along with breadsticks.

"Yeah she and Joe and Ellie Kate will be here." I smile.

"Good. I'm glad we got our best friends to come over. I can't wait to tell Paul and Phoebe the news." Ian wraps his arms around my waist and kisses my neck. We are telling Phoebe and Paul early about the news of the baby. And also the new house. We're telling our family next week on Christmas when we have our first family Christmas together.