CHAPTER THIRTY
Taking the Leap
Luke couldn’t stop thinking about the farmhouse.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the wraparound porch.
The red barn.
The white fences.
The open pasture waiting for horses.
Emily wasn’t doing much better.
Three days had passed since they toured the property, and somehow it had become the topic of nearly every conversation.
? ? ?
Tuesday evening found them sitting at the kitchen table once again.
Only this time, instead of vacation brochures or house listings, the table was covered with paperwork.
Bank statements.
Pay stubs.
Savings account balances.
Luke leaned back with a sigh.
“I think this is the most paperwork I’ve ever seen.”
Emily smiled.
“And we haven’t even talked to the bank yet.”
Luke laughed.
“I suddenly miss doing taxes.”
She slid a calculator across the table.
“Let’s see what we can realistically afford.”
For the next two hours they added numbers, crossed out expenses, and searched for places they could save.
Luke finally set his pencil down.
“If we cut back on eating out…”
Emily nodded.
“And I stop buying coffee on my way to work…”
Luke smiled.
“I’ll stop buying gummy bears every week.”
Emily raised an eyebrow.
“That sounds painful.”
“It is.”
“But worth it.”
She reached across the table and squeezed his hand.
“We’re doing this together.”
? ? ?
The next afternoon they met with a loan officer at the local bank.
Luke felt more nervous walking into the bank than he had during his job interview.
Emily leaned over and whispered,
“You’ve got this.”
Luke smiled.
“So do you.”
The meeting lasted nearly an hour.
They reviewed finances, employment history, and savings.
The loan officer smiled as she closed the folder.
“You’ve done a good job preparing.”
Luke and Emily exchanged hopeful glances.
“There are still a few steps to complete,” she continued, “but you’re in a much better position than you probably think.”
Emily’s eyes lit up.
“Really?”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
Luke let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.
? ? ?
On the drive home, neither of them could stop smiling.
Emily looked over at Luke.
“We’re actually doing this.”
“We are.”
“I can’t believe it.”
Luke laughed.
“I don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet.”
Emily looked out at the passing fields.
“Can you imagine Christmas in that house?”
Luke smiled.
“A fire in the fireplace.”
“You making hot chocolate.”
“You stealing all the marshmallows.”
Emily laughed.
“I would never.”
Luke looked at her.
“You absolutely would.”
She grinned.
“Okay… maybe.”
? ? ?
That evening, Luke walked out onto the back porch of their little rental house.
Emily joined him a few moments later with two mugs of hot chocolate.
She handed one to him.
“What are you thinking?”
Luke looked up at the stars.
“I’m thinking this little house has been good to us.”
Emily nodded.
“It really has.”
“It was never our forever home.”
“No.”
“But it’s where we learned how to build a life together.”
Luke smiled.
“And because of that…”
He looked toward Emily.
“…I’ll always be thankful for it.”
She slipped her hand into his.
“No matter where we live…”
Luke smiled.
“…home will always be wherever we’re together.”
Emily rested her head on his shoulder.
Ahead of them were inspections, paperwork, waiting, and uncertainty.
But for the first time, their dream no longer felt impossible.
It felt close enough to reach.
One signature…
One decision…
And one mile after another.