Drawing the Line

Chapter 12: Why Not?

A/N: So sorry that it took me so long to update. I have lots of reasons, but that is not what you're here to read! I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think! And thanks to Robin for taking time out of her holiday to review!

We've been house hunting for last two weeks and we're both getting a little discouraged. Nothing is fitting the bill. If it has enough interior space, there's no yard. If it has enough exterior space, there aren't enough bedrooms or enough land to add on. I debate bringing this up, but I take the plunge.

"You know, Baby, our house hasn't sold yet..."

She cuts me off with a sharp, "NO."

"But it's perfect – has everything we are trying to find."

She turns a frigid glance my way, "Yes, it is perfect. That's why we chose it. And then you moved your wife and daughters in and lived there as a family. You think you can just move her out and move me in? You're insane."

I start to rebut and then realize this is not an argument I can win, and it's not worth the fight which will surely ensue. I make a mental note to call my broker and have him drop the price to get rid of it.

We drive the rest of the way in silence and I wrack my brain for a way to get her out of the mood she is in. To my relief, Don calls and invites us over for dinner. Grace is home from college for a few days and he knows Dakota would want to see her. She perked up immediately and was nearly bouncing in her seat as she smiled at me.

"Can we go, please? We don't have anything going on, do we?"

I reach over to take her hand and kiss the back, "Of course we can go."

She bubbles into the phone, "We'll be there, Daddy. Let us take care of Zep and then we'll head out. Tell Kelly I'll be there in time to help cook."

*****

Dinner at Daddy's is just what I needed. I am happily ensconced in the kitchen with Kelly and Grace and we are cooking and drinking wine and sharing girl talk and giggles. I hear shouts from the back patio and I know Jamie is having fun as well. Daddy bought some new putting practice thing for Jasper and all the boys are out there playing. Apparently Jasper is kicking everyone's ass, and my competitive cave man is in his element.

Once we settle down to dinner, most of the conversation is focused on Grace and what she's been doing. Then Daddy turns to us, "How's the house hunt going?"

I groan, "Don't ask."

Jamie reaches over to caress my thigh, "It's a little frustrating. We've seen nearly a dozen homes and none of them check all the boxes."

Kelly sighs, "I watch all the house hunting shows and they always talk about needing to compromise on your initial wish list. Is there anything on your list you could trade out to make your search easier?"

Jamie shakes his head. "I don't think we're too out of line. We want something with a big kitchen, preferably modern, but we can redo it if it's not. We want an open floor plan – nice living space. A decent yard for kids and pets, preferably an outdoor living space with a kitchen setup, but again, we can add that as long as there is adequate space. And five bedrooms."

I shrug, "Maybe we could give up a bedroom or two."

He frowns, "How? We need one for us, one for an office, one for the girls, and a couple for kids to be named later." He grins at the last part.

I snort, "That's way down the road. Who knows how many we'll have or if we'll have any at all."

His hand grips my thigh hard and I hear his intake of breath. Daddy must smell the tension because he intervenes, "Nothing wrong with trying to find exactly what you want. Just be patient. You'll know when you find the right one, even if it doesn't, as you say, check all the boxes."