CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The One
The following Saturday started with no plans at all.
Luke poured himself a second cup of coffee while Emily flipped through the local newspaper at the kitchen table.
She suddenly stopped turning the page.
“Luke…”
He looked over.
“What?”
“You need to see this.”
Luke walked over with his coffee.
Emily pointed to a small real estate advertisement near the bottom of the page.
Five acres. Three-bedroom farmhouse. Barn. Fenced pasture. Just outside town.
Luke looked at her.
“It can’t be.”
Emily was already grabbing her phone.
“I’m calling.”
? ? ?
An hour later they were driving down a quiet country road.
The real estate agent had agreed to show them the property that afternoon.
Luke kept glancing at Emily.
“You okay?”
She laughed.
“I’ve never been this nervous to look at a house.”
“We’re only looking.”
“I know.”
“But what if…”
Luke smiled.
“I know.”
? ? ?
The gravel driveway curved through tall maple trees before opening into a wide pasture.
Luke slowly stopped the truck.
Neither of them spoke.
The farmhouse wasn’t brand new.
It had weathered white siding, a deep wraparound porch, and flower beds that needed a little attention.
Behind it stood a sturdy red barn.
Beyond the barn stretched green pasture bordered by white fencing.
Emily whispered,
“Oh…”
Luke couldn’t find any words.
It was everything they had imagined.
? ? ?
The real estate agent met them near the porch.
“Take your time,” she said with a smile.
“You’ll probably want to look around.”
Luke and Emily walked through the house room by room.
The kitchen was spacious.
The living room had a beautiful stone fireplace.
Upstairs were three cozy bedrooms overlooking the fields.
Emily stood in the doorway of the primary bedroom.
“I can picture us here.”
Luke smiled.
“So can I.”
? ? ?
Outside, they wandered into the barn.
The scent of old wood and fresh hay filled the air.
Luke ran his hand along one of the wooden stall doors.
“It just needs a little work.”
Emily looked around.
“I already know where I’d hang flower baskets.”
Luke laughed.
“I knew you’d be decorating before we even owned it.”
She grinned.
“I can’t help it.”
? ? ?
They walked out into the pasture.
A gentle breeze rippled through the tall grass.
Emily slipped her hand into Luke’s.
“This feels like home.”
Luke looked across the property.
“I’ve dreamed about a place like this my whole life.”
“So have I.”
They stood quietly, imagining horses grazing in the pasture.
Three dogs racing across the yard.
Family gathered on the porch.
Children laughing someday.
A lifetime of memories still waiting to happen.
? ? ?
As they climbed back into the truck, neither of them spoke for several minutes.
Finally Emily broke the silence.
“What are you thinking?”
Luke looked at the farmhouse one last time.
“I’m thinking…”
He smiled.
“…we just found the one.”
Emily reached over and squeezed his hand.
“Then let’s work as hard as we have to.”
Luke nodded.
“It may take time.”
“I don’t care.”
“It may take sacrifices.”
Emily smiled.
“We’ve never been afraid of those.”
Luke started the truck.
They weren’t homeowners.
Not yet.
But for the first time, their dream had an address.
And somehow…
That made it feel closer than ever before.