“Nothing, just taken aback by how natural everything looked when I walked in, that’s all. I guess I didn’t expect you to move on so quickly.”
Katelyn sprays hot coffee out of her mouth, ruining her white shirt. “Are you kidding me here, Josie? You think Liam and I are… oh god I can’t even. I just buried my husband. I have no intention of pursuing anything with anyone. Liam is here because I didn’t want him to be alone and I didn’t want to be alone on Thanksgiving and Peyton wanted someone to watch football with.”
“I just thought—”
“You thought wrong. He only agreed because it gave Noah a place to come and stay until he can buy a house.” Katelyn moves to the sink to clean herself up. “In case you didn’t know, that man is still head over heels for you.”
“I know he is,” I mumble. I’m so stupid to think Katelyn would start something with him.
Katelyn wipes her hands on the towel and leans against the counter. “What the hell are you doing, Josie?”
I stare at Katelyn and back at the door before looking at her again. Tears pool in my eyes. I hide my face and fall into her arms.
CHAPTER 27
LIAM
If I ever mention buying a house again, someone please shoot me. Noah and I spent all of Saturday and Sunday wandering Beaumont with my excessively hyper real estate agent. The only thing I learned was how to eye roll like a nine year old.
Sarah, Sadie or maybe it was Suzie – I don’t remember – showed us house after house, none of which met my requirements. Yes, I may be one person with a kid that I will have occasionally, but that doesn’t mean I want a small house. I want two stories with a full basement and attached two-car garage with at least a half-acre of land. I didn’t think these requirements were too over-the-top, but apparently they were.
Now Noah and I sit outside this two-story house in the same neighborhood as my parents. I realized that this was exactly what I was looking for, so we drove though looking for a FOR SALE sign. We found one.
We're waiting for the agent to arrive so we can see the inside, but I know I already want it. I can imagine Noah climbing the giant oak trees that surround the property and can see him throwing the football around with his friends in the yard.
This new agent steps out of his car and waves at us. He’s short and pudgy with white hair. He looks like a marshmallow.
“Hi, I’m Liam Westbury and this is my son, Noah.”
“Nice to meet you, I’m Stu. Let’s go in shall we.”
We follow Stu up the brick steps. The porch is wide with white pillars in desperate need of a paint job. Stu opens the door allowing Noah and I to step in. Before us is the staircase, open on both sides so you can see into the dining room and living room. The living room has two large windows, one in front and one in back, two more on the side. The kitchen is new, with a nook and all new appliances, and windows facing the back yard. There is a nice sized bathroom just off the kitchen. The dining room faces the front yard with one large window and two that face the side yard.
We head upstairs to the four bedrooms. The master is large with a walk-in closet that leads to a bathroom with shower and Jacuzzi tub. One room is decorated as a nursery which I’d have to change. The other two rooms are the same size. All the rooms have ample natural light. There is one shared bathroom upstairs.
Stu is sitting at the table when we come down. “We’re just going to check out the basement,” I say as we pass him. He smiles and nods at us and goes back to his paperwork.
The basement is accessed through the kitchen. We stomp down the steps, testing their sturdiness. There is a laundry room and a very large space.
“What do you think, Dad? I’m thinking a man cave like Uncle Mason’s over there and your studio there,” he points to the wall on the left side of the room.
“Yeah? You know the studio is pretty big. I need a place to set up equipment.”
“I think it will be big enough. What do you think?”
I look at my son. He's beaming with excitement. “I like it. Do you think you’ll like living here?”
“Yeah, I do.”
I put my arm around him and pull him into a half hug. “Let’s go buy us a house.”
We climb back up the stairs. Stu raises his head when we enter. “We’ll take it,” Noah blurts out before I have a chance to say anything.
“Yeah, we’ll take it.”
Stu starts talking about financing and banks. I tell him this will be a cash sale and that I want to move in right away. He calls the homeowners and tells them the deal that is on the table. They accept right away and I agree to show up tomorrow to sign papers in his office.