“How can I help you?”
“Do you know if there are any houses to rent around town?”
“Are you looking to settle down around here?”
I grin. “Yes, me and my boyfriend are having a baby, and we need a home before our little one comes along.”
“How lovely. I don’t know personally what’s available but I’m sure there’ll be something on the board by the bathrooms.”
“Thanks.”
I finish my meal and pay the bill. Grabbing my purse, I find the notice board easily enough and glance over the ads.
I pluck the one house rental ad and head back to Shane’s truck. I’m sure he would’ve told me to stay at the diner so I was away from the club, but it’s not like I’m leaving town.
There are no more texts or any missed calls when I pull out my phone, and I focus on the ad. I key in the number and sigh with relief when the landlord answers.
“Hi, I’m calling about the ad in the diner for the three bed, one bath, rental.”
“Oh, yes. Hi.”
“I’m hoping to view it as soon as possible.”
“I’m available this afternoon.”
“I’m in town now, I was hoping to see the place as soon as possible.”
“Oh, okay. Um, I can shuffle around a few things. How about half an hour?”
“That will be perfect, thank you.”
He rattles off the address and tells me it’s two streets over from the high school. I find it easily enough and sit in the truck for fifteen minutes before he shows up. The front of the house and the front yard are in immaculate condition, and I can see myself and Shane living here. His bike on the drive and a few kids toys scattered around on the lawn. Like a normal family.
I jump down out of the truck and introduce myself as the landlord hobbles over. He’s older than he sounded on the phone and my great feeling about this place intensifies.
“I’m Jack, it’s nice to meet you.”
I follow him up the front path as he tells me, “My wife usually does this so forgive me if I’m seem out of place.”
“It’s fine. Take your time.”
He unlocks the front door and when I step inside, it’s like stepping into a ready-made home. The living room is perfect. Cosy yet big enough to buy a new sectional sofa so Shane can have the guys over.
The kitchen screams cottage vibes and I see myself stood at the oven baking cookies for our child. I glance out into the back yard and it’s the icing on the cake. There’s a swing set and a slide.
“Yes, the previous tenets left the kiddie toys behind. You’re welcome to keep them, or if not, I can arrange for them to be taken away.”
“No, we’ll keep them. I’m pregnant, they’ll come in handy in a few years.”
“So you’re looking at leasing the place long term?”
“Yes. I can pay up the first year today if you like.”
He suddenly smiles but it drops. “It would be great but as you can see I’m an old man. I don’t plan too far ahead. You should know my wife recently passed and when my day comes, this house will be passed down to my son. I couldn’t be sure if he would want to keep it on or just sell it.”
I don’t like the sound of that. “How about I buy it?”
The conversation soon turns and after an hour, we leave with him going to contact his solicitor and me waiting to hear from him. This is where I want my child to be raised. I can already imagine every day of his life here. And when me and Shane are alone, I imagine us christening every room, repeatedly, for years and years.
