12. Chapter Eleven
Chapter Eleven
T hree weeks after she dropped Emma off at college, Nadine closed on the house on Pearl Street. Once the keys were handed over, she had to admit to a bit of excitement and enthusiasm. This was the first piece of property she’d owned in her own name. If she never felt like a grown-up before, she certainly did now. She was more than ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work.
Her mother had wanted to take her to lunch to celebrate but Nadine begged off, saying that she wanted to go over to the house immediately. But she promised she would join her for dinner.
It was a beautiful September day. Everything had a golden-hued cast over it. The trees were still lush and vibrant green. The lake’s temperature was still warm as August had been unusually hot. All the children in Lavender Bay had gone back to school, leaving the streets and beach quiet. It was a pleasant time of year.
With the keys in hand, she stepped up onto the front porch, noting the gunmetal gray paint on the wooden floorboards. She would leave them as such. For now. The house had been vacant for years although Edna assured her that every few months, she’d done a walk-through to check on things for her cousin. Now, Nadine was anxious to do her own walk-through and open the windows and let the fresh air in. She was anxious to get her project off the ground.
She’d spent the previous three weeks throwing herself into research about opening a B the lake lay to the west. Cautiously, she tested out the swing and once she was certain it was safe, she leaned back and enjoyed the view of her new backyard. How lucky was she?
Hydrangeas grew in abundance on the other side of the porch rail, the soil being sandy and perfect for those flowers. There was a small backyard that led directly to the beach. She could see many morning walks for her and Herman.
Although she would need to furnish the empty house, that would have to wait until the renovations were done. She had all the time in the world .
She spent the afternoon going over every nook and cranny of the house, memorizing the rich details of the structure that had stood there for more than a hundred years. From the ornate wooden staircase with its scrolls and newel post to the large stained-glass window on the staircase landing depicting a pineapple, to the upstairs bedroom at the back of the house with its two windows, one facing west and the other, a bay window, facing south, giving the room an expansive view of the lake and the beach. She lingered there for a few moments, taking in the incredible view.
Finally, as the sun began to sink into the horizon on the lake, she made her way downstairs, remembering that she was to join her mother for dinner to celebrate. At the front door, she paused.
Looking around at her new home, she didn’t see all the work that needed to be done. She didn’t see the floors that needed to be refinished, the windows that needed to be fixed and washed, the kitchen floor that needed to be replaced, or that tea-colored stain on the outside parlor wall. What she saw was her new home.
It was the first day of her brand-new life.