Chapter Five
Cora slowly got out of the minivan, looking doubtfully at the ultra modern house before her with all its glass and jutting edges.
“It looks a lot like your last house,” murmured Addison as she came to stand beside Cora.
The dealership had delivered the van this morning to the hotel parking lot.
It was exactly what Cora wanted. It would have room for all three boys plus the ability for them to have friends come along as well.
That was something she hadn’t been able to allow before and now Cora fervently wished that Nick and Oliver could have friends over to her new home.
If she found a new home, thought Cora with uncertainty.
“Candi is really good at what she does,” insisted Britney. “She found Gabe and I the perfect house.”
Somehow Britney had found out Cora was looking for a house. She had provided Cora with the name of her realtor and now Cora found herself with Addison, Britney, and Adriana this morning on the hunt for a new home.
It was slightly disconcerting.
Cora was used to being alone or simply with her children. Having the women in the family start insisting on bringing her into their fold was a bit intimidating and slightly wonderful at the same time.
She desperately missed having friends and tentatively hoped they would start to view her as one.
Cora mused how different her life was starting to become.
She could have friends. She had bought her own vehicle.
She was house hunting and didn’t have to worry about money.
Just this morning, she had bought groceries without worrying about the total amount, without keeping the receipt to give to anyone who would meticulously look it over for errors and get mad at her if there was so much as a dime missing.
It was liberating.
“You don’t like it,” frowned Britney as she took in Cora’s expression. “I gave Candi your former address because I thought you would want something similar.”
“I’m looking for something quite different actually,” murmured Cora.
“Oh look, everyone is here!” an enthusiastic blond woman came walking rapidly towards them with a large smile. “How wonderful. I’m so glad to see you again Britney, why don’t you introduce me to your friends?”
“Adriana, Addison, and this is Cora. Cora, this is our realtor Candi. She was amazing for Gabe and I,” smiled Britney. “However, I might have made a mistake, Candi. I thought Cora would want something like her old home but I guess that’s not the case.”
Candi blinked but her smile didn’t waver. “That’s okay! I’m always up for a challenge. What are you looking for, Cora?”
“Not this,” muttered Addison as she looked at the building.
“Something with charm. Older. At least four or five bedrooms. A nice kitchen. A home. Oh, and a fenced in pool for the boys,” decided Cora.
She smiled hopefully. “Near to the school. I know that’s probably a lot to ask, especially if we can get an almost immediate closing date.
I’m due pretty soon and would like to get settled in as quickly as possible. ”
“I fully understand,” agreed Candi. She pulled a tablet out of her large purse and began pressing the screen.
“Now, with those requirements it might be a little bit harder and we might have to venture a little farther from the school but, oh look, there are two potentials I see right away. I’m just going to give the other realtors a quick call and get you an opportunity to view the properties. ”
“I told you she was good,” mentioned Britney as Candi pulled out her phone and stepped away for a little privacy to talk.
“I do hope she can get us the viewings,” murmured Cora.
“Adriana, how are you settling in with Parker?” politely asked Addison.
Adriana gave a shy smile. “I’m very happy. Things are going to change a little as Parker is going back to work with Gabe this week .”
The young bride glowed. In the van, she had earlier confessed that Parker was teaching her and her younger sisters how to surf and she rather enjoyed it.
“That’s good. I’m glad Parker and Gabe are working together again,” replied Addison.
“So am I,” agreed Britney with enthusiasm. “Gabe really depends on Parker. It took a bit to convince him to come back. All because of that stupid letter from James.”
“What letter?” asked Cora in confusion.
Britney explained that James had written a letter, disinheriting Parker as he wasn’t James’ son. “Gabe has since given back everything to Parker. He said it isn’t right and that Parker is his brother.”
“Parker was lost for a little while. I think he will do better now he has purpose again,” mentioned Adriana softly. “Besides, he helped me to sign up for some part-time classes at the college so I will be busy as well.”
“Really? What are you studying?” wondered Addison.
“Just some reading and writing classes,” shrugged Adriana, but her smile and blush showed she was pleased. “I want to know more about writing books. Parker says I can take as many classes as I want.”
How different from her own husband who had pressured Cora to drop out of college, Cora thought ruefully. She gave Adriana a smile. “Good for you. I wish I had finished school.”
“You still can if you want to,” casually mentioned Addison. “It might be difficult with the new baby, but there are online classes or maybe you could employ a part-time nanny?”
Cora mulled the idea over in her head. She could take some classes if she wanted to. Nate wasn’t here to forbid it and Henry had said to treat the money in the accounts as her own.
She could do whatever she wanted within reason, decided Cora. Possibly even finish her degree. It was exciting to think about.
“Okay, we are going to go to visit what just might be the perfect house,” grinned Candi as she rejoined the group.
Following Candi, they drove to a large estate where Cora put on the breaks at the gated entrance.
“Cora?” gently questioned Addison from the passenger seat.
Cora shook her head. It was too large, too imposing, and the gates made her feel trapped. She wouldn’t be able to breathe in this house which would need paid help to keep it in shape. She didn’t want a full time housekeeper or a grounds person. “This isn’t it.”
“We haven’t even seen it,” frowned Adriana as she looked up the long drive to the large brick house.
“I’ll call Candi. We can go to the second one,” said Britney as she dug out her phone for a quick conversation.
A few minutes later, they were pulling up to the second location. It was in an old suburb with mature trees lining the streets. Cora parked on the street as she looked at the house.
Blue siding with white trim and a black metal roof. The house was Victorian with a detached garage. There were flower beds around the house waiting for springtime. The large porch looked like it had a swing on it along with other furniture.
It looked comfortable.
“What do you think?” wondered Britney.
“Let’s see the inside,” decided Cora.
They joined Candi as she was opening the side door.
“Now we need to temper our expectations on this one. I only put it in the mix because it is near the school and has five bedrooms, even though they are quite small. The property itself isn’t very large by your family's standards. There is one more just a little further away from the school which I think you might like better.”
Candi led the way in. “You can see there is an open concept living room and kitchen area. They did some renovations probably about twenty-five years ago to open up the space and to also finish the basement. Everything is a little tired and needs some redoing. While small, the kitchen has all the basics but you would probably want to do a full renovation on it, get new cupboards and granite countertops. One thing the place has going for it is there are plenty of windows to let in natural light.”
Cora ran a hand over the butcher block countertop. It reminded her of home, where she grew up with her parents before their deaths. With old doors, hardwood floors, and a creaky step on the way upstairs. There was even stained glass over the bay window. “How many bathrooms?”
“Three full baths which is a little unusual in this old of a house ,” replied Candi. “The garage only holds two cars, but there is a small swimming pool in the backyard. It’s also a five minute drive to Livingston Academy which is convenient.”
They looked over the bathrooms, the bedrooms, and the basement which had a rec room and storage area.
The master was on the main level as was a small guest room.
Three bedrooms were upstairs. It all needed some paint and a few small updates in fixtures but overall, it was cozy and comfortable.
There was a deck out back, and an inground pool which took up two thirds of the yard.
There was a small patch of grass and more shrubs.
“The owners were really into flowers and simple landscaping. I know it’s too small for your family and outdated. I promise you, the next one is larger and has been recently renovated with everything you could want,” said Candi as she waved her tablet around.
“How much is this one?” asked Cora. She looked at the patio furniture on the back deck and decided to take a picture of it. She wanted something similar. “When would the owners want the closing date?”
“The owners want an immediate sale as they have already moved to their new property and don’t want to carry two mortgages any longer.
The move in date can be within a few days or after you do whatever updates you want.
” Candi named a price that had Cora blink.
It really was quite reasonable, not that Cora was an expert.
She had only been looking online for the past day at comparable homes.
“You like it, don’t you?” questioned Addison as she looked over the yard. “It’s quite comfortable.”
“Are you sure it will be enough space for you and the boys?” wondered Britney. “Gabe’s and my house is almost three times the size and it’s just the two of us so far.”