Almost
July, 2002
“I’m standing in it right now! It’s ours Leo! I can hardly believe it, but it’s ours!”
Looking out of the kitchen window and into the backyard of my new house, I’m smiling from ear to ear as I watch Kendall run around like a crazy person who just chugged two liters of Coke (which I’d never give her) and ate four cupcakes (which I don’t know how to make).
“We’re officially ready for you, so please come home now!”
As of thirty-one days ago I still hadn’t found the right place to call home and Leo agreed with every listing I faxed to him that none of them felt right. They either didn’t have enough bedrooms, the kitchens were outdated, there wasn’t a pool, or the lot was too small. House after house was disappointing and I was running out of time. After touring twenty-four homes in Lafayette, I was starting to get discouraged that I wouldn’t find the right house before he moved back in July.
And thirty-one days ago I set out on what I thought would be another exhausting house hunt with our agent, but to my surprise I stepped foot into the most perfect home to start our new lives. And today I got the keys! Yep, right now I’m on the phone with Leo and I’m standing in our three thousand square foot totally remodeled rancher. The quintessential California home! It has three spare bedrooms that are all located as far from the master bedroom as they can possibly be! The backyard is humongous and totally loaded with every toy a grown-up (because I’m officially one of those now) could ever want. It’s got a pool, an outdoor kitchen and a fireplace, and it also has the most charming garden that I can already see all of our kids digging around in. Gone are the days when I long to live in Danville again. In fact, Danville can eat me!
When I faxed Leo the listing, he called me right away and said, “That’s it!” So I put in a full price offer and never looked back. Well except once, when I was packing up the cottage and called him crying.
My cottage had become like an old friend to me and the thought of saying goodbye to the kitchen counter where Holy F*cking Shit night took place or the front door that Leo slammed in my face on Lo Siento night or the cozy little living room where I found out Kelly had pancreatic cancer on Duck, Duck, Duck, Goose night, totally depressed me. Sure all of those nights were horrific, but I got through them because I had my tranquil cottage to seek refuge in and I was having a hard time walking away from it. But, as usual, my beautiful Leo had a brilliant idea. He said, “Let’s keep it!” Apparently he’s going to have tons of out of town guests for work and he thinks it’ll be a great place to set them up. After reassuring me that his business is doing better than I could ever imagine and we could afford it, I worked out a deal with the landlord and resigned the lease for another three years. Leo was not kidding AT ALL when he said he’d do anything to make me happy.
“I wish so badly I could come home right now, but I can’t.”
“I figured you couldn’t come early. I guess I’ve waited this long, what’s three more days, right? Besides, it’ll give me time to unpack. I want this place to be perfect for you when you get here.” Catching a glimpse of Kendall blowing bubbles in the garden, “Oh my gosh, Leo, you should see her-”
“I can’t come home in three days.”
All of a sudden my head is spinning.
“I know I didn’t hear what you just said.”
“It’s not that bad, I promise! I just have a few more things to wrap up, so I have to push the date out a little.”
“How little?”
“September.”
“September? We’re getting married in September!”
“And I’ll be there for it, please don’t worry.”
“Leo, do you realize we’ve only seen each other once in…”
“Three months, three days and sixteen hours. Trust me, I know.”
“Then why? Hold on a minute, is that Italian bastard doing this on purpose?”
His laugh is deep and sexy and hearing it makes me madder than ever!
“Leo, I’m serious! This is ridiculous! Kendall doesn’t even know what a f*cking snipe is anymore, and I’ve become re-virginized!”
“Well, one of those is a good thing.”
“Stop! This isn’t funny. We were supposed to do this together.”
Pausing for a long time because it hurts him so much that I’m hurting, he finally says, “Believe me, I don’t like this anymore than you, but it’s really important that I stay these extra few days. I promise, Chrissy, I’ll be there on September first and not a day later.”
“Can you at least come for my birthday next month?”
“I don’t think so, baby. I’m supposed to be in Texas.”
Jesus Christ, it feels like I’m Diane Lane all over again and I’m back in that Lifetime made for TV movie. I mean, seriously, what normal person gets custody of her dead best friend’s kid and has a fiancé who’s resurrecting his lucky-to-be-alive best friend’s business all the way across the country?
Staring at Kendall, I let out a big sigh. “What am I supposed to tell the snipe hunter about the delay?”
“The truth. That I’m doing this for you guys. I meant what I said last December. I will honor the memory of Kelly and Craig and be the best father I can be to Kendall. You know I wouldn’t stay these extra few weeks if I didn’t think I was doing that, right?”
“I guess so.”
“You trust me?”
“Of course. You trust me too, right?”
“Are you wearing your ring?”
“Every single day.”
“Quick! How many sapphires are on it?”
Knowing I wouldn’t know the answer unless I actually had it on to count them, I swiftly deliver the answer that I hope, once and for all, puts him at ease.
“Eight.”
“Okay, I trust you. It took four years, but I think we’ve arrived.”
On that note, Leo and I hung up the phone, and I took Kendall back to the cottage where we’ll remain until he arrives. I want our first night in the new house to be together...as a family.