Chapter 19
HARI
“We need somewhere on the outskirts of town but not too far from the showroom. And you need a room to use as an office, the baby has to have a nursery that can be turned into a big girl or boy room later on, and it must have a generously sized back yard.”
Remy was beside me, in bed, with his eyes closed. He was used to my pronouncements and didn’t always feel the need to comment.
“And do you think we could grow some gum trees? Like the one we saw at the plant nursery.”
“Maybe.” He rubbed his tummy and said he was more interested in food at the moment than the location of our new house.
I started making breakfast with the phone on the counter, and I looked at numerous homes in the area we thought were a possibility. When I brought in Remy’s breakfast tray, I’d chosen three houses.
My mate sat up and eyed the food, but I shoved the phone in his face as he reached for a piece of toast. He maneuvered around the device and took a bite before looking at what I was showing him.
“They’re kinda expensive.”
But I reminded him that we were selling our current homes, so we wouldn’t need a mortgage, and I asked if he felt up to looking at the houses today. He agreed, and I set up appointments.
The first place had the neighbors' homes so close on either side it was like being the meat in their sandwich. And their homes towered over the one we were looking at, so they might catch Remy shifting.
“We can cross that off our list.”
My mate and I were back in my car, and I was so disappointed.
The real estate site didn’t show the proximity of the other houses.
I almost gave up and suggested we go for ice cream.
But we needed a home for us and the baby, and neither of our current places were suitable.
Sure, we could live in one for a while after the birth, but I suspected neither of us would have the energy to search for a new home and move when we had a newborn.
The second place was a possibility as we drove slowly along the road.
If it’s been squished between the other houses, I wasn’t going to stop.
But when the realtor showed us the inside, the rooms were small, with tiny windows, and the back yard, which looked spacious in the photos, was barely big enough for a kiddy paddling pool.
There’d be no gum trees or kicking a football on that tiny patch of grass.
“Third time lucky?”
Remy shrugged and reached into a Ziplock bag for dried fruit and nuts. What should have been a jaunt was turning into a marathon.
“It looks much better from the outside.” We surveyed the last house on my list.
There were no nearby neighbors because the allotment was massive, and the house was ringed by a huge hedge. I wondered if shifters owned the place because the wording on the site said it was perfect for humans and four-legged creatures.
“That’s kind of harsh for two-legged animals or ones with wings or flippers.”
Remy patted my shoulder and told me they weren’t being speciesist, it was just a way of letting shifters know it was perfect for them.
The realtor unlocked the huge metal gate, and when we wandered in, I knew this was the place, our first home, and the one where our child would grow up.
“I love it.” Remy grabbed my arm and pointed out the names of the flowers and shrubs in the garden beds and ones that lined the path to the front door.
“Fingers crossed on the inside.”
The house was a sprawling bungalow. Neither of us wanted to be running upstairs to change diapers, take laundry from one floor to another, or to chase a kid or kids.
“The current owners updated the kitchen and bathrooms,” the realtor told us as we stood in the entryway.
I liked that there was a vestibule and we didn’t walk straight into the living room from the front door.
“Oh, look at that island.” Remy ran his hands over the smooth granite countertop before admiring the six-burner gas stove. I examined the cabinetry, and my mate outstretched his hands and twirled around. “There’s so much space.”
The house had five bedrooms and three bathrooms, which might have been over the top but one bedroom was quite small, which my mate would use as his office. We’d keep one for guests, and if we had another child, we’d prefer that they each had their own room.
“So far so good.” I squeed at Remy.
We strolled onto the back deck which overlooked a national park, and there was space to plant gum trees for my mate’s koala. I was prepared to contact the garden center and make sure they still had that tree.
Remy was inspecting the ground and saying the soil was perfect for planting.
The realtor gave us privacy while we discussed whether we’d take the house.
“I vote yes.” We’d only looked at three places. There might be a better house somewhere in or around town, but the effort of continuing to look and be disappointed while someone else snapped up this home was not worth it.
“We’ll have to negotiate. If we can save a few thousand, we can put that toward furniture.” Remy was tapping the calculator on his phone.
I wanted to look at the living room, the main bedroom, and the largest spare room that we’d designate for the nursery.
Though we’d buy a sofa and armchairs, I was already calculating measurements and pieces that I could make so our home would be unique.
I always had a tape measure in the car, and I dashed out and grabbed it.
Remy laughed, saying I was a furniture maker, first and foremost.
“Nah,” I whispered, putting my mouth to his ear. “I’m a mate and a dad, and furniture is a distant third.”
He gave me a look that suggested he didn’t believe me. “I’d say the mate and dad parts of you are equal, and coming in second is the furniture maker and lover of wood.”
After starting the process of buying the home, we took photos, and when we got back to Remy’s, I discovered that the gum tree was still available but it would be delivered only after we’d closed on the house.
I looked into what I could make with the wood from gum trees but decided the scent was too strong.
Nah, that wood would have to stay in tree form outside.
“What’s something that you might like for the living room that my men could make.” We’d decided to have our bed made in the workplace, and I had an idea for something Remy and I could make together.
Though I would love to make everything myself, it wasn't feasible. I had a mate and a baby on the way, as well as a business to run, and we’d be moving into the new house.
“How about a TV console with plenty of storage. I hate wires and remote controls scattered over the living room.”
I sent Callum a text with measurements and asked him to design one. I suggested oak, but I’d leave the choice of wood up to him. I’d design bedroom furniture myself with Remy’s input, but me making the crib was a secret.
“We’ll need to have a garage sale because we have two of so many things.” Remy was walking through his place, making a list of items we could sell or donate.
“Have we made a mistake buying a house?” I was thinking of all the work we had to do before and after moving.
“You want to back out?” Remy grabbed both sides of my face. “Now?”
“Not really. I want to spend time with you, not packing, sweating, and having people haggle over our stuff at a garage sale.”
He nuzzled the base of my throat. “We have a lifetime of being together. Life can’t be just about sex.”
I snorted. “I didn’t mention S-E-X.”
My mate put a hand over his mouth and giggled. “Why are you spelling it out?”
“I’m practicing for when the baby is here and is old enough to ask ‘What’s sex?’”
“Oh, good thinking.” He made a face.
“You’re jerking me around.” I nudged him, and he took off and continued making his list.
I grabbed a bottle of water and considered our future, one where we were settled in what I hoped was our forever home.
“The hard work and long hours moving from two houses into one will be worth it.” That was what I kept telling myself.
“Do you think the back yard is big enough for a swing set?” I poked my head into my mate’s office where he was on the floor sorting out books.
“Probably. But the baby won’t be using a swing for a while.” Remy didn’t look up as he put the books into three piles: keep, donate, and sell.
“I wasn’t thinking of the baby. I love swings.”
“In that case, you should go back to the house and measure. I know how you and your tape measure enjoy alone time.” He cackled and went back to what he was doing.
“Pfft.”