Chapter 2 #2
“Do you ever answer your phone, Keaton Maxwell?” she chided gently in a motherly tone.
He tapped his hand against his pocket, realizing he had left his phone on the breakfast table. He wasn’t a person glued to his cell as others were, texting every five minutes and scrolling through and posting on Instagram.
“Sorry. What’s up?” he asked.
“Since the gallery is closed, you have time to come with me now. I found it. The property you’ve been wanting.”
His heart quickened. “Where is it located? Does it have enough acreage to build a good-sized house, plus an art studio in back?”
“It’s definitely waterfront property, but you won’t need to build. A house already sits on the land, along with a gatekeeper’s cottage, which would be ideal for your studio.”
He frowned. “Where? Whose house?”
“John Smith.”
“John Smith, the tech guy?”
Smith was the most famous resident of the Bay. He had developed a dating app which had gone viral and was still popular fifteen years later. He had also created a new social media platform which teenagers and young adults flocked to.
“Why would John Smith want to sell? I’ve driven by the house, and it’s gorgeous. He’d be crazy to leave it.”
“It’s Anna Smith who is wanting to move. Both their children live in the Houston area, and that means their grandchildren do, too. Anna has been working on John to move ever since the third grandbaby arrived this spring. She’s finally convinced him the time is right.”
Excitement rippled through him. “So, they’ve put the house on the market.”
“No. It’s a pocket listing. That means it’s not on the market just yet, but I’m allowed to show it to whomever I choose.
” Hillary grinned. “I choose you. The Smiths closed on a house in Houston three days ago, and I just got off the phone with Anna. They’ve also bought a summer beach house in Galveston.
That way, the entire family can spend long weekends together by the water. ”
She smiled. “I’m sorry I couldn’t share anything about the listing with you before now.
Anna and John are very quiet, private people, and they didn’t want word getting out about the sale.
Now that they’ve purchased something new, I have permission to show the house. You were the only person I thought of.”
“Then let’s go see it,” he said, not hiding his enthusiasm.
Keaton retrieved his jacket and told Hillary he would meet her at the property.
When he pulled up in front of the house, his gut told him this would be his forever home, based on the outside alone. He had salivated when driving past this house ever since moving to the Bay. It was a mixture of wood and glass, with beautiful landscaping.
He wanted it.
Hillary was getting out of her sedan, and Keaton joined her.
“Let’s walk the exterior first while I tell you a little about the house,” she suggested.
As they moved about the property, he learned that it was over four thousand square feet, with five bedrooms and six bathrooms. A three-car garage. It had a private beach area at one end and a dock and boathouse at the other.
“If you decide to move forward, the cigarette boat will be included in the purchase price. Anna said it would be simpler for them to buy a new boat in Galveston rather than transport this one up there.”
The backyard also included a long, rectangular pool and a sleek, covered patio running the entire length of the house. It had various sitting areas cooled by ceiling fans, along with an outdoor kitchen. He couldn’t have dreamed up something so perfect.
They entered from the rear of the house and stepped into the great room.
The entire wall of this room which faced the ocean was made of glass, making for a spectacular view.
Hillary escorted him through the first floor of the house, pointing out various things, and he saw there would be no updates needed.
Reading his mind, the realtor said, “Anna redid the kitchen and all the bathrooms two years ago, anticipating this move. It really is turnkey, Keaton.”
“Let’s see the rest of it,” he said, knowing in his heart that the realtor had already made her sale.
Once they had seen the upstairs and returned to the first floor, Hillary said, “Oh, I forgot! We didn’t go to the caretaker’s cottage. It’s actually on the east side, and we didn’t go around that way.”
As they exited through glass doors onto the deck again, he asked, “Will the caretaker mind us going through it?”
“Anna just called the structure that. They’ve never had a caretaker. The previous owners did. Anna simply had housekeepers come in for cleaning. A landscaping company tends to the grass and flowers. If you’re interested in using the same crews, I can pass along that information to you.”
She looked at him hopefully. “That is, if you’re interested.”
“You know I’m interested. This is everything I was hoping for. More, actually. I can’t think of one box on my list which this doesn’t check. Hell, it even added things to the list that I didn’t even know I wanted. Like the coffee bar.”
She opened the door to the cottage, and they went inside the empty structure.
The entire space was probably twenty by thirty feet, with a small kitchen area running along part of the back wall.
The farmer’s sink would be perfect for rising his brushes.
He also could put in a fridge so he would have drinks and snacks available and not have to return to the main house when he was working.
Hillary showed him a full bath which was off the kitchen, along with a large closet where he could store his art supplies and completed canvasses.
“How much will this set me back?” he asked.
She named the price, which Keaton thought was reasonable for a type of property this size in this market and location.
“If everything passes inspection—which I’m certain it will—you can count me in,” he told her.
“It’s too late to have anyone out today, especially with tomorrow being Christmas Eve. I’ll set up the inspections for Monday. Tuesday at the latest in case they already have something on the books. Do you mind if we call the Smiths now and give them the good news?”
“Sounds good to me,” he said, grinning from ear to ear.
Hillary put the call on speaker. “Anna, it’s Hillary. I’ve found a buyer for your house.”
“Oh, Hillary, I am delighted to hear that. You did it so fast. Is it someone local?”
“Yes, and you know him. Keaton Maxwell. He’s with me now on speaker, Anna.”
“Mr. Maxwell, I am so happy our home will go to a good person. I’m sure you noticed one of your paintings hanging in my husband’s study.”
“Yes, ma’am, I did. I remember you coming into the gallery this summer and purchasing it. I believe you said it was a birthday gift.”
“Well, I know Hillary will need to set up things on her end. Inspections. Paperwork and whatnot. John and I will need to contact a moving company on our end. Oh, I dread all the packing. Are you eager to close quickly?” Anna asked.
“Take as long as you need, Mrs. Smith. I’m in a rental and extending month-by-month while I’ve been looking for my permanent home in the Bay. As of now, I’m contracted through the end of January.”
“Then that should be plenty of time for the sale to go through and us to be out,” Anna assured him. Again, I’m thrilled the house is going to you. I hope you will enjoy your time in it.”
Hillary said, “I’ll return to the office now and get the paperwork started. I’ll message everything to your attorney in Corpus. Have a wonderful Christmas with your family, Anna.”