Sunlight streaked through the windshield as I pulled to a stop and put the rental car in park. I’d have to do something more permanent about our lack of vehicle eventually, but I wanted to leave something for when Georgie got home. There was a risk she’d be feeling left out or pushed at that point thanks to my unconventionally large surprises, and I wanted at least one thing to be completely of her making. Picking out a couple of cars seemed like a good start.
I’d seen fifteen houses in the last two days, and not one of them had been right. Too big or too small, I was starting to feel a little like Goldilocks—lost and tired and hoping someone would show up with some beds. But my Realtor said she had a feeling about this one, and it was located less than thirty minutes from Georgia’s parents, Dick and Savannah, in a pretty little town in New Jersey. I wasn’t sure if that was really a pro or a con, but thirty minutes was safe either way—far enough if she didn’t want to be close, just a short trip if she did. And the work commute to the city wouldn’t be traumatizing either. It often took more than thirty minutes to get from one place in the city to the other anyway.
“Well, what do you think?” I asked, turning to my only companion and helper in the search for the perfect home.
He didn’t say much, but then, I didn’t really expect him to. We were really just starting to come to terms with one another, and he still felt lingering animosity about our most recent disagreement. But Georgie trusted him, so I knew making an effort to show I did too would go a long way toward making her feel comfortable about our new normal. Even though she was the only one going through a major professional change, we were still very much a we now, and I wanted the change to get marked with just enough significance.
“I’m not sure yet either,” I told Walter. “Maybe you’ll know once you lick yourself in a few rooms.”
He meowed in agreement, a huge step in the right direction, and then leaned his head toward me so I could hook the thin leash to his collar.
I hopped out first and helped him to the ground so he wouldn’t hurt his paws. The picture of us together was ridiculous—confirmed by the Realtor’s face on the first day. Kline Brooks, the eccentric billionaire who goes nowhere without his cat.
Far from the truth, but luckily, all I’d had to say was “my wife loves this cat” for the sweet, middle-aged woman to understand.
“Mr. Brooks,” she greeted us as Walter and I climbed the small hill of the driveway.
“Hey, Helen,” I replied, watching with never-ending fascination as she got down on her knees and greeted Walter with strokes and kisses.
“Hello, Walter,” she cooed in his little kitty ear. I swear, this cat was catnip for women. But I guess most of them did love a good asshole.
Holding out a hand, I helped Helen to her feet, and we made our way toward the front door. A huge front porch lined the entire front of the house, and a swing hung in the far right corner. Soft tan siding covered the guts, and tasteful black-and-white accents made up the trim, shutters, and door. So far, so good.
“From what you’ve told me, I think this one is really going to hit on all of Georgia’s tastes. Simple, updated, but with a ton of character in the moldings and fixtures,” Helen explained as she worked the lockbox to retrieve the key. “It’s just gone on the market, and I think it’s priced pretty fair, so there’s a good chance it’s going to move fast.”
“And how much property?” I asked as I glanced down at Walter.
“Just over four acres. The backyard is large and well-maintained, but we’ll get to that. I think it’s got a lot of possibility if you’re thinking about more pets.” She smirked and shrugged. “Or maybe some kids?”
I just laughed, not about to discuss my family’s future plans with Helen before discussing it with my wife, but I appreciated the woman’s sentiment. She could tell I wanted to make a home for Georgie that had room for all the possibilities.
Nothing made me happier than making Benny happy, and Walter on a fucking leash beside me made that really fucking apparent.
“And you told the seller about the quick close?”
“Yes. They’re completely on board. If you’re interested and pay a premium,” she said, cocking her head and smiling. Almost everyone got motivated when you paid extra. “They’ll happily close by the end of this week. But, that does mean we really have to make a quick decision.”
I hummed my agreement. I’d know by the end of the tour. Georgie had been laying down plenty of information about what she preferred and what she didn’t while she helped me with my parents’ Hamptons house, and I’d been storing it all up like a fucking library.
As we stepped through the front door, Walter took off and pulled the leash right out of my hand. Straight through the large, open space, he immediately settled in front of the wall-to-wall glass windows at the back and started licking himself. I took that to mean he liked it.
“Isn’t that adorable?” Helen commented, putting a hand to her chest and sighing. Apparently, Walter knew how to lay on the swoon. I, personally, didn’t fucking see it, but what did I know?