It had been a good idea, I mean originally, when in my panic, everything had seemed logical. Now, that I was four hours into the drive and the snow was still persisting into spring temperatures, I questioned my sanity.
I wanted to turn around, but I had this letter planned out . . .
Hi Ean,
Please call me.
- Amy Black
It’s all I had, no outpour of love, no, I’m having your child! No nothing. I just needed him to call me; that was my task at hand.
I really hoped he’d hate me. It would make it easier, at least, then I’d be able to keep to my lonely self but if he didn’t hate me, I wasn’t sure what would happen.
I passed the gas station and general store, not realizing I’d been that close. A lump in my throat lodged, making my stomach swarm with butterflies. I was closer than I’d thought.
I wasn’t going to stop at the convenience story to peak my curiosity with Martha. I was hell-bound for his home. I knew what driveway to look for, I had waited to see it coming back from Forrest Mountain with Beth and Steve.
When I saw the originality of the cedar carved house address and the well-built gate that was open, I knew it was the correct house.
My eyes took it in as I pulled up, off the road.
I looked over the intricate engravings, noticing the half covered ‘For Sale’ retail sign in the snow.
“What!” I burst, my heart slamming in my chest. “Shit. What!” I was confused, Ean Hunter was selling his Bushman Inn!
My foot on the break let up and the car rolled forward, moving down the ploughed incline of snow towards the log house.
What if he was home!
What if . . .
I choked on my breath as I pulled up in front of the home, where two cars were parked but not his white pick up. Seeing his house again was one of the hardest things I had endured so far in my life. The image in front of me sent me back to the time I’d spent with him.
I tried not to cry as I staggered out of the vehicle.
“Oh, my.” I breathed as the front door opened and a man walked. He must have been a realtor, he was in a clean, pressed suit and shiny leather shoes.
He smiled and waved at me. “Hello!” He greeted me.
“Hello . . .” I said softly and clung to my open car door.
“Is there something I can do for you?” He asked as he stopped in front of me.
I stared at him, swallowing. “Are you selling this house?”
His smile grew. “Yes, ma’am. Are you interested?”
I almost screamed as I clung to the door. This was seriously happening.
“Is the owner home?” I asked.
Rick shook his head. “Afraid not, we’re trying to get a deal done on it before he returns from out of town. Would you like to see inside?”
I’d already seen every inch of that house and I didn’t need another look.
“I’ve actually got a couple inside right now. They’re taking their time, I think they like it, though. It’s beautiful inside. Top craftsman work, the owner’s done most of it himself. He’s a talented carpenter.”
I wreathed and felt my knees weakening, I knew all that too.
The front door shot open and the young couple came out, bubbling with excitement.
“We love it, Rick!” The woman called across to us.
Rick turned and smiled. “Great, hey?”
My heart slammed in my chest.
“Oh, yes!” Her smile grew, the man beside her pleased that his wife was so excited.
I wanted to rip her up, though, this was Ean’s house. I didn’t understand why he was selling something he obviously loved so much.
“We want to make an offer, today.” The man announced.
My eyes widened and I gasped. “No!”
Everyone fell silent, turning to stare at me as I said, “I’ll pay thirty thousand over asking price.” At that very moment, I decided I had gone clinically insane.
“What?” The woman squeaked.
Rick smiled at me. “Excuse me?”
I bit my bottom lip and nodded, committing to buying his house.
“Uh . . .” Rick looked back to his clients. “I can present both offers to the seller.”
I twitched, now that I was committed, I was going to win. It was part of my personality really, to take others down.
The woman stared at me. “We got here first.”
“No, I got here first.” I shot, but that was true, wasn’t it?
“I can present both . . .”
“No.” The man cut him off. “Don’t worry about it. Enjoy your house, Miss.” He took the woman by the shoulders and pulled them to their car.
Rick went to catch up with them and they heard him out briefly, but then they left. Which meant, I’d just bought Ean Hunter’s house. Thirty-thousand over asking too and I didn’t know the asking, but that was an insignificant point.
I was desperate to know what he was planning on doing after selling it.
Rick came back over once they had left. “Well, do you want to go to town and write up the offer?”
“I just have one request.”
Rick paused, shuffling in his snazzy shoes.
“I need to meet the owner.”
That was it, I was done. I’d not only decided to keep Ean’s baby, but I’d also bought his house. All in one day.
“Ah, well, he’s out of town.”
“I’ll wait till he’s back, I’ll sign the offer in the meantime.”
“I’m sure we can arrange that but can you put a deposit down if my client accepts?”
“Yes.” I nodded, “Ten thousand.”
Rick smiled. “Sorry, I don’t think I got your name.”
There that was again, my name. “Amy Black.”
Rick was static to the information, though. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Black. Why don’t you follow me into town and we’ll get this all going.”
“Sure.”
My head was clouded and as I sat down in my beamer and took in what I’d just done. Rick took a few minutes of organizing himself before he turned his vehicle around and I followed.
I didn’t have a plan for the first time in my life. All I seemed to be running on was hormones and an indescribable need to see Ean Hunter.
What was I going to do with a log home? What was I going to do with Ean’s home!
I had deviated from everything I’d been taught in school, how I ran a company, how I lived my life on a basic level. I mean, to some extent, I could say; I was some other person at that moment.
I was literally losing it.
At the bottom of a hill appeared a small town. It was tiny and seemed basic with its heritage buildings and awkwardly named streets.
I pulled the car up beside Rick at a white building on the right-hand side of the road. The old sign read ‘Realty Office.’
That was original.
I grabbed my purse off the passenger seat and got out, I was nervous too. That was still new emotion for me.
I paused as across the street I heard two men talking and a door of some sorts opened. Turning, I spotted the reveal of a white ambulance leaving the bay.
The realty office was right across the street from the damn ambulance station!
One guy got on the driver’s side and then I turned away as the lights and sirens came alive.
I swallowed and walked quickly into the front doors of the office. I took a moment to close my eyes and calm myself. But it was clear, nothing I could do would take away the fact that I had just agreed to purchase Ean Hunter’s home!