Chapter 8 #3
Looking up places that would remodel his home, he found two that were promising.
He thought about using the same crew as Brew had, but decided that he wanted to spread his money around.
He knew that Brew had spent a great deal on having his home redone and thought that if he could find a reasonable company that needed a little boost, he’d like that even better.
Even as he was looking things up, he realized that he should have invested in a staff, too.
His home was full of cobwebs and other creatures that he didn’t want to think about.
Then he thought about the faeries that the others had and decided that he’d have the place cleaned up by them so it at least didn’t look like a vampire lived here and didn’t have the sense to dust once in a while.
“I just need it to be cleaned up. It might improve things somewhat.” The faerie, Gloom, just looked around, so he did as well. “I know that it’s a mess, but if I get it cleaned up, I might be able to get someone to come in and remodel it for me.”
“I don’t think that will work.” He said he didn’t think it would either. “You should allow us to do the house over for you, and you’ll be set if your mate comes along soon.”
“Do you mean to tell me that she’s coming soon?
” He said that the others had their mates, and there was no reason for him not to have one as well.
“I see. Not very helpful, but I guess you don’t want to give away too much.
All right. You guys bring it up to this century, and I’ll be happy to have it done.
I might even like it here better if it’s in better condition. ”
“Sorry to say this, sir, but you might not like it at all even if we were to bring it up to this century, as you said.” He said he was afraid he’d say that.
“How about we clean it up so that you can sell it and bring in some of the modern things, like more bathrooms, and you decide where you want to live. I’m to understand that you have some land that you could build on.
Lord Rance has built his house on his land, and it is quite nice. ”
“I don’t have the magic that he does. He’s always been powerful, and now that he has a mate, I’m to understand that he’s more so.” He said that he was. “Good to know. I want a home that I can be happy with. I’m assuming that you can do that for me.”
“We can, and it would be our pleasure.” He asked him how long it would take. “Not long at all. Only a few days. Especially if you have an idea what it is you want.”
“I don’t have any idea.” He’d never seen a faerie disappointed before, and he didn’t care for the look.
“I tell you what. While you’re cleaning this place up, I can go and see other houses around to see what I like in them.
That way, you can put together something that will be a combination of all the houses that I look at. ”
“Excellent idea, sir. Yes indeed. We can even make the house look smaller from the outside and bigger once you get inside.” He said he didn’t know how his mate would like that. “Oh yes. We must think about her when we’re deciding. I’m glad that you thought of that.”
“I do have a good idea on occasion.” The little man just nodded. “I’ve been thinking about having a pool. She might enjoy that. I’ve not had an occasion to have a pool myself, but perhaps it would be a good way for the other women to get together once they’re all here.”
“You have been thinking about the house. Good for you.” He felt slightly embarrassed but didn’t say anything.
It was just a pool; it wasn’t like he had a house to go with it.
He could use a pool house, he supposed, but that wouldn’t do in the winter months.
Smiling to himself, he wondered what the little man would say if he told him that he didn’t need a house but a pool house to go with the pool.
He’d probably have a fit or something. He wondered if they ever got more than disappointed in someone.
Rutger spent the rest of his day going in and out of houses.
He was glad that he was looking at them this way so that no one could see him.
Some of the houses were in worse shape than his own had been.
At least his wasn’t cluttered all around with junk.
Some people collected the strangest things, he thought.
He had some ideas on what he wanted in the way of a house.
He did want to have more than a couple of bedrooms. He enjoyed going into houses that had children in them.
They made the house cluttered, but it was warm too.
Like, just having children in a house turned it into a home.
He’d have to talk to his mate about children and hoped that she’d want a couple.
Hell, he’d give just about anything to have a couple of children so that he could be around their scents.
Over the next couple of days, he could see improvements in his home.
It had been bad, and he felt terrible that he’d had his friends over to it.
He wondered what they thought of him when he’d had more cobwebs than chairs in his living room.
There were even small brownies living in his house that he’d not known about.
They were left alone, but he was going to have to find them a better place to live once he decided to move out.
They looked like his house, old and neglected.
He was going to hire staff so that nothing like that ever happened again.
When his house was finished being renovated, he was pleased with it.
It must have taken a great deal of their magic to do it because he noticed that someone had brought in sugar cubes to replenish their energy.
Just as he was making notes on the things that he wanted to get in his new home, he heard from Rance again.
“I was just thinking about you and your house. Why don’t you come here and stay a couple of days so you can see what it’s like to have staff around?
They go about their jobs quietly, but they are something that you have to get used to being around all the time.
” He said he might take him up on that idea.
“Good. Also, we can help you hire a staff so that you don’t get someone in the house who is going to take advantage of you.
I know you don’t need to rest during the day much anymore, thank goodness, but it would be nice to know that they’re not going to take all your treasures while you’re out and about. ”
“Good idea. Apparently, the faeries can hire them as well. I don’t know why I keep thinking I’m going to have little people working for me all the time, but I can’t seem to get that out of my head.
Can you imagine them at the stove? It would take about fifty of them to use the skillet.
” They both got a kick out of that thought.
“I’ve been looking around and so far I know that I want a kitchen like yours is.
Big and usable. Oh and a pool. I don’t usually swim in one, but perhaps the women would enjoy it. It’s just an idea.”
“A good one too. I’m going to have one put in next summer.
Kimber loves to swim, and I never thought of us not having one until she mentioned it.
” Rutger had never been complimented as much as he had been over the last few days.
It felt good, too, and he was going to spread a little of those good feelings around, too.
“I’ll talk to you in a couple of days. We have rooms all ready for you now, so whenever you want to stay, just come over. ”
After closing the connection, he went to his room.
It was stark like the rest of the house, and he was glad that they’d taken the time to clean his rooms up too.
Opening the curtains that were forever closed, he was happy to see that he had a view of the backyard.
He wondered if he’d ever get used to the sights of the seasons like he did now.
He loved being able to be around nature when he could.
When he’d been growing up, he had hated that he needed to rest during the daylight hours.
He usually wouldn’t rest well for wanting to go out and see what wonders the world had to offer while he was resting.
It was why he never gave up on the feelings of having his home filled with nature.
That had gone the wayside when he’d been living for so long and had gotten bored with life and the things that it had to offer him.
Now he was getting back into it and hoped that his mate enjoyed the natural setting of things as much as he did.