Chapter 17
Clay carried the last of his clothes out of the apartment he shared with Cruz and laid them on top of the belongings he’d already loaded in his car. He paused to lift his face to the sky and soak in the warmth of the sun.
“So, that’s it. I did a quick walk through and other than the furniture, you have it all packed,” Cruz said.
Clay turned around to look at him. He smiled.
“You look more relaxed than I’ve seen you in a long time,” Cruz said.
“It’s crazy how much lighter I feel knowing I’m not coming back here.”
“I get it. I’ll probably feel that way in about fifteen years,” Cruz quipped.
“Hey, you’re the one who wants to become a lawyer so you can become a judge, so you can run for office and start showing people the right way to do things. You could get a four year degree and call it good if you really wanted to,” Clay said.
Cruz grinned. “Nah, I think I’ll stay with the plan for now. I’m kinda committed to it.”
“I knew you were,” Clay said.
“You want me to ship some of this furniture home to you?” Cruz asked.
“No, it’s yours now. Do with it what you will. All I ask is that if you come across something I’ve forgotten or left behind, bring it with you the next time you come home,” Clay said.
“Consider it done.”
Clay stood there for a second, then stepped closer to Cruz. “I’m going to miss you. I’ve gotten used to you being around every day.”
“Me, too. I’ve gotten used to seeing you every day. It’s going to be different without you here. I’ll miss the company.”
“I’m still just a phone call away. We can even video chat if you prefer.”
“I’ll definitely be taking you up on it. I’ll miss my bro, you know?” Cruz said, trying to be funny but at the same time get the emotion he was feeling across.
“I have to admit that it’s been really special living here with you. It’s just me and my parents, and while we have the whole damn Pride as family, it would have been nice to have a sibling. I’ve come to think of you that way,” Clay said.
Cruz stepped forward and grabbed Clay, hugging him tightly as he patted his back. “Me, too. I mean, I have Darcie, but it’s not the same as a brother. You’re my brother.”
“And you’re mine. Doesn’t matter if we’re both here or in different places. You call any time day or night, no matter what. I’m on my way.”
They both nodded and stepped awkwardly back away from each other.
“So, you going now?”
“Yeah. I have to meet with the Bigsbys tomorrow morning and get the purchase finalized, then get ready to spring it all on Harper.”
Cruz shook his head. “Still can’t believe you’re just springing it all on her. No discussion, no feeling her out, not even a ‘hey I think we may be mates’ for her to deal with before you hand her a horse farm and arena and all the land it sits on.”
“I’ve been feeling more and more hollow without her. There’s no thinking we’re mates. I know for a fact we are. I know she’ll be excited.”
“I’m hoping you’re right,” Cruz said.
“She’s my mate. And I’ve been crazy about her all my life. I can’t imagine anything going wrong.”
“And now you’ve jinxed yourself. Don’t say shit like that; you’re just tempting fate when you do.”
Clay laughed and held out his hand for Cruz to meet his and complete their fancy handshake combination they always did when saying goodbye for any length of time. All the guys in the Pride had one.
“Drive safe, yeah?” Cruz asked.
“Always. I’ll send you a text when I get there.”
“I’ll call if you don’t.”
“Oh, you don’t have a car now.”
“I don’t need one unless I need to go home or come back here. I’ll make sure that Sebastian knows to pick me up when he heads home.”
“If he forgets or doesn’t want to leave when you do, let me know, I’ll come back to get you and even bring you back to school if you need me to.”
Cruz nodded, then watched as Clay got in his car, and after another quick wave, drove away. He walked back into his apartment and looked around. He’d never had his own place before. “This is going to be pretty good,” he said aloud.
~~~
Just before 11:00 A. M. a sleek Lexus sedan drove up to the Bigsby’s home. Mr. Bigsby looked over at Clay. “You ready to be a land owner, son?”
“You have no idea just how ready I am to get everything about our next chapter started.”
“Let’s go say hello, then,” Mr. Bigsby said. He and Clay both stood from the rocking chairs they were sitting in and walked over to the porch stairs, then down into the yard to wait for Ms. Griffith from Rune and Rune to make her way over to them.
They watched as she got out of the car — a very well put together young woman wearing a very expensive ladies suit and Italian heels, carrying a matching attache case and purse. She smiled as she approached. “Mr. Vega? Mr. Bigsby?”
“I’m Clay Vega, and this is Mr. Robert Bigsby. Welcome.”
“Thank you. I’m pleased to be here.” Ms. Griffith stopped before she went up the steps and onto the porch.
She looked around at the land that would be changing hands today.
“This is certainly a beautiful piece of property. And the horses grazing in the pastures just make it a picture perfect place to be in.”
“Thank you,” Mr. Bigsby said. “We’ve loved it here for many years — more than I care to count sometimes,” he said with a chuckle. “And now because of Clay, we’ll get to live out our lives here without the stress that has ridden us of late.”
Ms. Griffith nodded and smiled easily. “I have to say, this is the easiest contract of land exchange that I’ve ever had the privilege of working on.
I can’t honestly say I’ve ever seen a contract that benefits both parties equally, nor have I worked with a set of land owners who are each more concerned about the other party more than they are themselves.
It is refreshing in the climate that I usually work in. ”
Mr. Bigsby nodded and lifted a hand to pat Clay on the shoulder. “This is an unusual young man. I’m pleased the place will go to him and remain intact as it is today.”
“I’m thankful that Robert has agreed to sell me this place. He knows the whole reason is to gift it to my girlfriend as an engagement gift when I propose. She’s loved this place and the Bigsbys all her life, so it just seemed like the most logical thing to give her to begin our lives together.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you two come to this agreement?”
“I just couldn’t see it being a good thing for Harper and me, if it meant that the Bigsbys were going off to begin a life alone in a different state where they had no one.
So, I offered a compromise. We’ll buy it for a fair price, but they retain use of their home and the land as needed, as long as they were okay with us living here in our own home as well.
Harper’s been helping them run this place and it would mean the world to her for them to remain here and help guide us if we needed it.
And in addition, we’ll be here if they ever need our help in any way.
They won’t have to worry about living so far away from medical facilities. ”
“They won’t need to be guided. The plans he’s got for this place, it’ll be more successful than we’d ever hoped for,” Mr. Bigsby said. “But we do love Harper, and we’ve gotten pretty fond of this young man, too. This is a really good thing for all of us.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Again, I’m pleased to be part of such a wonderful arrangement, and happy that you both thought to make it legal and lay everything out clearly from both sides so that there will be no confusion or misunderstandings in the future.”
“Come on, Ms. Griffith. Let’s get this all finalized so we can all sleep a little better,” Mr. Bigsby said.
“Is that convenient for you? I could just as easily take care of it all out here on the porch. I don’t want to disturb your wife.”
“Oh, she’s fine. She’s inside watching her stories on the television. I told her that you were coming to finalize some paperwork for Clay to buy one of our horses. She’s not as clear minded as she used to be and as long as nothing disrupts her routine, she’ll be just fine.”
Ms. Griffith smiled and nodded. “If you’re sure I won’t be that interruption, I’d appreciate the air conditioner inside.”
“It is hotter than I remember this year,” Mr. Bigsby said, leading the way inside. “Y’all come on in and have a seat. This is my bride, Mrs. Bigsby, but we won’t interrupt her stories.”
Ms. Griffith smiled at Mrs. Bigsby who waved at her as she focused her big blue eyes on her, before she held her finger up to her lips and gently shushed her.
Ms. Griffith nodded and returned the gesture as she tiptoed to the kitchen table and took a seat across the table from Clay and Mr. Bigsby.
She opened her attache case and took out four copies of the contracts she’d drawn up.
“I’ve made all the changes you both asked for, and I just need you both to read them carefully to be sure that they are to your acceptance.
Once you’ve read them and agree that everything you want laid out has been addressed, we’ll sign them.
I’ll notarize them, and then the exchange will be official.
“You made sure that the land becomes the property of Clay Vega and Harper Vitrano the moment we sign these documents?” Mr. Bigsby asked.
“Yes, sir, it’s right there,” Ms. Griffith said, turning the pages to show him the passage that said just that.
“It also indicates that a down payment of $100,000 and monthly payments of $2,300 a month until your death will be sufficient as purchase rather than the original agreed upon purchase price.”
“Wait, I didn’t agree to that. I can’t do that. This land and the buildings and animals are worth so much more,” Clay objected.
Mr. Bigsby smiled at Clay. “And that is why I will accept nothing more than this. You’re too fair, too good, and I don’t need anymore than that.”
“Mr. Robert…”
“You and Harper will be living here and taking care of the land won’t you?”
“Well, yes, sir,” Clay said.
“And you said that you would be taking care of the house, and us as needed when we need you.”