Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
G randma Sarah Garrison strode into the Tech Galaxy store with the determination of a woman half her age. The automatic doors whooshed open, welcoming her into a world of gleaming gadgets and blinking lights. She was on a mission: she was going to become a YouTube Influencer.
The young salesman at the counter barely glanced up from his phone as Sarah approached. She cleared her throat loudly, and he looked up, startled.
“Oh, hello, ma’am. How can I help you today?”
Sarah beamed at him. “I need some equipment for my new venture. I’m going to be a YouTube Influencer!”
The salesman blinked, momentarily taken aback.
“That’s great! What kind of equipment are you looking for?”
Sarah pulled a crumpled piece of paper from her purse and squinted at it through her glasses. “Well, let’s see. I need a laptop, some lighting, a stand to hold my iPhone for video, and a microphone.”
“All right,” the salesman said, leading her towards the laptop section. “We have a great selection of laptops. What kind of specifications are you looking for?”
Sarah stared blankly at him. “Speci-what?”
“Specifications,” he repeated, a bit more slowly. “Like the processor speed, RAM, storage capacity...”
Sarah’s eyes glazed over. “Honey, I don’t understand a word you just said. I just need a laptop that works and doesn’t break the bank.”
The salesman sighed internally. “Okay, let’s go with something simple. This one here,” he pointed to a sleek model on the display, “is user-friendly and has good performance for beginners. It’s perfect for video editing.”
Sarah nodded enthusiastically. “Perfect! I’ll take it.”
They moved on to the lighting section.
“Now, for lighting, do you want LED ring lights or Softbox lights?”
Sarah raised an eyebrow. “What’s the difference?”
“Well, LED ring lights are more compact and give a nice, even light. Softbox lights are bigger but provide softer lighting.”
“Uh-huh,” Sarah said, clearly not understanding.
“Which one will make me look twenty years younger?”
The salesman chuckled. “The ring light will be just fine.”
Sarah nodded. “Good, good. I’ll take one of those then.”
Next, they arrived at the stands.
“For your iPhone, we have several options. Do you want a tripod, a desktop mount, or a flexible arm?”
Sarah stared at the array of stands, feeling overwhelmed.
“I just need something that will hold my phone steady while I record.”
The salesman picked up a simple tripod.
“This one should do the trick. It’s sturdy and easy to use.”
“All right, that sounds good,” Sarah said, relieved.
Finally, they moved to the microphones.
“Do you want a Lavalier mic, a USB mic, or a Shotgun mic?”
Sarah threw her hands up in frustration.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, just give me one that works!”
The salesman rubbed his temples.
“Let’s go with a USB mic. It’s easy to connect to your laptop and provides good sound quality.”
“Fine, fine,” Sarah said, waving her hand. “I’ll take it.”
They walked back to the counter, the salesman loading up a cart with Sarah’s new tech treasures. As they checked out, Sarah chatted happily.
“You know, I’m going to be famous. I’ll have cooking videos, craft tutorials, maybe even some reaction videos. My grandkids are going to be so proud!”
The salesman forced a smile. “I’m sure they will be ma’am.”
Sarah handed over her credit card and watched as the young man rang up her purchases. “Thank you so much for your help, young man. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
He handed her the receipt, looking slightly exhausted.
“I’ll have someone meet you at the front door. You won’t be able to carry all this yourself.”
“Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. Good luck with your channel.”
Sarah left the store, feeling on top of the world. She couldn’t wait to get home and start setting up her new equipment.
Another salesperson wheeled her items to her car and put them in the trunk. Sarah took out a five dollar bill and handed it to him. He seemed shocked to receive the tip but took it anyway.
“Hey, thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, pleased with how much she’d accomplished.
The two million dollar home on Osprey Lane was gorgeous, but different than any of the other houses nearby. With solar panels on the roof, and energy-efficient appliances, Chelsea was beginning to understand why Steven had said this house was his favorite. The home wasn’t as large as the others on the street and the listing mentioned sustainable flooring and reclaimed materials in its construction.
Chelsea was busy focusing on the home’s sustainable-living features to hear Maggie.
“I know I promised not to talk about the wedding, but you didn’t say anything about marriage. I hope you marry Steven, because I’ll spend all my time here at your new home.”
“Look at this kitchen,” Chelsea yelled. “Have you ever seen anything so pristine…so white? This place is like something out of a fairy tale. Did you see all the vegetation outside? It’s like someone built the home around a tropical forest.”
The real estate agent left Chelsea and Maggie alone to walk through the house after she said a few words. "This house was built in 2018, meeting the latest hurricane codes. Every detail has been carefully considered, with numerous upgrades, including engineered oak floors.”
“Engineered oak floors?” Chelsea whispered to Maggie. “What are those?”
“Beats me,” Maggie answered.
The real estate agent heard them and proceeded to read from her papers on it. “Engineered oak floors are a type of hardwood flooring constructed with multiple layers. The top layer is a thin veneer of natural oak, giving it the appearance of traditional solid hardwood. Beneath the veneer are several layers of plywood or high-density fiberboard that are glued together in a cross-grain configuration. This multi-layer construction makes engineered oak floors more stable and less susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity compared to solid hardwood floors. They are durable, aesthetically pleasing, and can be installed in various environments, including basements and areas with fluctuating moisture levels.”
“I see,” Chelsea said, sounding as if she cared about such things.
“Just ask me if you have any questions,” the agent added.
Maggie smiled, and then stopped and put her hand on Chelsea’s arm.
“Wait. Do you hear that?”
They recognized the voice coming from the first floor. It was unmistakably Isabelle Barlowe.
“Chelsea, darling!” Isabelle’s voice echoed through the house. “What a surprise to see you here!”
Chelsea and Maggie exchanged glances as Isabelle appeared in the doorway, her arms wide open. She was dressed in a bright floral dress, her wild Parisian flair evident in every inch of her appearance.
“Isabelle,” Chelsea said, forcing a smile. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, just a bit of house hunting myself,” Isabelle said with a mischievous wink. “But enough about me. What are you two doing here? Are you buying this lovely house? Oh, I can just see you and Steven living here! It’s perfect for you!”
“We’re just looking,” Chelsea replied, trying to deflect. “Steven is considering some investment properties, and we’re checking out options,” Chelsea lied.
Isabelle’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Investment properties? Nonsense! This is clearly for your future together. I always knew you two would make a great match. Sebastian and I are so thrilled we could introduce you.”
Maggie stifled a laugh as Isabelle continued to gush. “Oh and think of the parties we could have here! The kitchen is perfect for entertaining, and that pool! Imagine all of us lounging by the pool, sipping champagne.”
“We’re really just looking,” Chelsea said again, but Isabelle was already moving on, her attention flitting from one detail of the house to another.
“It certainly is a unique home, isn’t it? I must see the bedrooms!” Isabelle’s enthusiasm was infectious, even if it was exhausting.
Maggie nudged Chelsea. “Let’s go see what she’s raving about now,” she whispered.
They followed Isabelle up the stairs, listening to her chatter about the house’s features. “Oh, Chelsea, this master suite is divine! You and Steven will be so happy here. I can just see it. The walk-in closet is to die for!”
Chelsea glanced at Maggie, who shrugged. “It is a nice closet,” Maggie said.
“Nice? It’s spectacular! I love the center island with drawers.” Isabelle twirled around the room, her arms outstretched. “This house is made for you, Chelsea. Steven will be over the moon when he hears you’ve found the perfect place.”
Chelsea felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.
“Isabelle, Steven hasn’t bought anything yet. He asked us to see what’s available, that’s all. This has nothing to do with me living here.”
“Oh, but you will, you must,” Isabelle said confidently. “You will. This place is too perfect to pass up. And think of all the memories you’ll make here. Your first Christmas together, birthdays, anniversaries…”
As Isabelle prattled on, Maggie leaned over to Chelsea.
“She’s already planning your life together.”
Chelsea sighed. “I know. But she means well. And she’s right about one thing – this house is amazing.”
“Then why not?” Maggie said. “If you love it, and Steven loves it…”
Isabelle’s voice interrupted their conversation.
“Oh, Chelsea, I just had the most wonderful idea! You should throw a housewarming party as soon as you move in. Invite all your friends, and of course, Sebastian and I will help you plan it. It will be the event of the season!”
Chelsea couldn’t help but laugh. “Isabelle, Steven isn’t going to buy an unseen house. That’s not his style, and he won’t make an offer until then.”
“But you will,” Isabelle said with a knowing smile. “You will. This house was meant for you. I can feel it.”
Chelsea shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. “You’re impossible, Isabelle.”
“I know,” Isabelle said, unabashed. “That’s why you love me.”
As they made their way back downstairs, the real estate agent reappeared.
“Do you have any questions about the property?”
Isabelle jumped in before Chelsea could respond. “Oh, they’re definitely interested. Aren’t you, Chelsea?”
Chelsea gave the agent a polite smile. “It’s a beautiful home. We’ll need to discuss it further.”
The agent nodded, handing her a brochure. “Take your time. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or if you’d like to schedule another visit.”
As they walked out of the house, Isabelle chattered on about the potential of the property. “I can’t wait to tell Sebastian. He’ll be so excited. And Steven – oh, he’s going to be thrilled. This house is perfect for you, Chelsea. Absolutely perfect.”
Chelsea and Maggie exchanged amused glances. “We’ll see, Isabelle. We’ll see.”
Isabelle gave them both a hug. “I know you’ll make the right decision. And remember, I’m always here to help, whether it’s house hunting, party planning, or anything else.”
“Thanks, Isabelle,” Chelsea said, genuinely touched. “We appreciate it.”
As they walked to their cars, Maggie looked at Chelsea.
“She’s a handful, but she’s got a point. This place is amazing, and it’s perfect for Steven.”
Chelsea nodded, looking back at the house. “It really is. And who knows? Maybe it is meant to be.”
Maggie grinned. “Well, whatever you decide, I’m here for you. And I can’t wait to see where this adventure takes you.”
Chelsea laughed, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.
“Right now, I’d like this journey to take me to get something to eat. I’m starving, how about you?”
“Sounds good to me. Lead the way.”
As they drove away from the beautiful house on Osprey Lane, Chelsea couldn’t help but imagine the possibilities. No matter what she thought of Isabelle Barlowe, one thing was certain. The woman gave her the most amazing gift when she introduced her to Steve Ellis Thompson.