Chapter Eight
Damon detected Emma’s looks and ignored them, giving her time to get used to him again. “I think we’re about there,” he said.
She nodded. “Yes. It’s just around the corner.”
His first look at the house was a bit of a shock.
He couldn’t remember it being white, or that it had a red barn.
He started a mental list of what must be done that he could see.
The lawn needed to be mowed, and if there were flowers or bushes around the house, he couldn’t see them through the grass and weeds.
“Oh, wow. It’s in worse shape than I thought it would be,” she said.
“Your brother says the foundation and bones of the house are in great shape. They knew how to build houses a hundred years ago. I’ll have to check the rest, but everything I see so far is easily fixable.”
She nodded as they approached the house to meet Trent and Mrs. Benson. Damon parked, then grabbed her arm as she went to open her door.
“No, baby. I’ll come to your door. You’re never to open doors if I’m around. Do you understand?”
She stared at him for a moment and then nodded.
He exhaled silently. He’d been afraid she would fight him on it, but it was one thing he wouldn’t compromise.
Call him a caveman, but he’d always had a dominant personality.
It had grown the older he got. He was put on earth to care for the women and children in his life, and he wasn’t ashamed to admit it.
The two walked up to an older woman and Trent.
Trent smiled. “Mrs. Benson, this is Damon, the man I told you about.”
Damon stepped forward and shook her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope he said nice things about me.
Mrs. Benson chuckled. “As a matter of fact, he spoke highly of you.”
“I didn’t think she needed to know about all the times you got me in trouble as a kid.”
Damon snorted. “It was the other way around, bud.”
“I wish I could stand here and talk to you all, but I have a hair appointment,” Mrs. Benson said.
“You’re sure about letting us look around inside?” Trent asked.
“Oh, my, yes. I don’t have any skeletons in my closet,” she said and laughed. “Peek in every corner. I want you to really be sure you want this place. I’d like to know the people living here after I’m gone.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Trent said. “We’ll lock up before we leave.”
“That would be wonderful. Call me this afternoon with your decision. I know I’m rushing, but I’d like to move closer to my sister and daughter.”
“I’ll have an answer for you,” Damon said. “Have you gotten the market value of the place?”
“Yes, Trent has all that information. Bye now.” She waved as she drove out of the driveway.
“Where do you want to start?” Trent asked him.
Damon studied the front porch. He could see him and Emma sitting in rockers, watching their kids and maybe grandkids as they played in the yard. “Let’s walk around outside first.”
Although the outside and barn needed work, it was doable, and he was anxious to start.
They looked in every closet and crevice, and then the basement and attic. The attic was large and had a window that let in light. Boxes of things were scattered everywhere, even a few old-fashioned suits hanging by a cord.
The basement had a plain concrete floor and walls. They wouldn’t use it for anything besides storage, so it didn’t bother him.
“Well, what do you think?” Trent asked.
Damon looked down at Emma. “What do you think?”
Her eyes flew to his. “Oh, well. It’s not my decision...”
“You know better than that. This will be your house, too. Fight it all you want, but the result will be the same.”
He smirked at the frown on her face.
“I love it,” she finally said.
“Good. So do I,” Damon said. “Let’s talk about prices.”
Trent handed him a sheet of paper.
“She wants to sell it to you for this price. She knows she could get more if she had a realtor sell it because there is sure to be a bidding war for it.”
“I would guess that, too. I feel like I’m taking advantage of her.”
Trent chuckled. “You aren’t. Her husband left her well off, and the money just keeps growing.”
“I’ll take it. I’m already preapproved, so this should go fast.”
Trent grinned. “She’ll be happy about that. She asked if she could leave the things she didn’t want to take. She thinks you might be able to use some of them. The rest you’re just supposed to donate.”
Damon nodded. “Of course. One less thing for her to deal with.” He looked down at Emma and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Do you have any questions or concerns?”
“No. Not at all.”
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Good.” He looked at Trent. “We’re going to look at trucks. I’ll have to wait to go to the bank on Monday.”
“She’s going to be so thrilled,” Trent said.
“I know I am,” Damon said, smiling down at her.
“Go to Ames Auto. David will give you a good, honest price,” Trent said.
“We’ll do that.” Damon looked down at her. “Are you ready?”
Emma nodded.
“Hey, sis, if I grill chicken, will you make your hash browns that I like?”
“I don’t know if I’ll be there...”
“Oh. I think she’ll be there. What else do you have going on?” Damon asked.
“Oh, well...”
Damon turned to Trent. “We’ll pick up some things from the store on our way back, so text us what we need.”
Trent grinned. “Sure. I’ve got some work to do, so I’ll be home the rest of the day. I hope you find a truck you like.”
Damon shrugged. “I’m not too picky.”
“And good luck with that one,” Trent said, pointing at his sister.
Emma gasped. “What kind of brother are you?”
Trent laughed. “The very best kind.”
Before she could say anything, Trent was waving goodbye in his car.
Damon squeezed her as she scowled at her brother. “Come on. You can beat him up later.”
“You better believe it,” she growled.
He chuckled and led her to her car. “Let’s go find me a truck.”
The day turned out to be one of the best in his life. He bought a dream house, and most likely a truck, but the best thing was that he finally had Emma in his arms, where she belonged.