My mate and I were back in my car, and I was so disappointed. The real estate site didn’t show the proximity of the other houses. I almost gave up and suggested we go for ice cream. But we needed a home for us and the baby, and neither of our current places were suitable. Sure, we could live in one for a while after the birth, but I suspected neither of us would have the energy to search for a new home and move when we had a newborn.
The second place was a possibility as we drove slowly along the road. If it’s been squished between the other houses, I wasn’t going to stop. But when the realtor showed us the inside, the rooms were small, with tiny windows, and the back yard, which looked spacious in the photos, was barely big enough for a kiddy paddling pool. There’d be no gum trees or kicking a football on that tiny patch of grass.
“Third time lucky?”
Remy shrugged and reached into a Ziplock bag for dried fruit and nuts. What should have been a jaunt was turning into a marathon.
“It looks much better from the outside.” We surveyed the last house on my list.
There were no nearby neighbors because the allotment was massive, and the house was ringed by a huge hedge. I wondered if shifters owned the place because the wording on the site said it was perfect for humans and four-legged creatures.
“That’s kind of harsh for two-legged animals or ones with wings or flippers.”
Remy patted my shoulder and told me they weren’t being speciesist, it was just a way of letting shifters know it was perfect for them.
The realtor unlocked the huge metal gate, and when we wandered in, I knew this was the place, our first home, and the one where our child would grow up.
“I love it.” Remy grabbed my arm and pointed out the names of the flowers and shrubs in the garden beds and ones that lined the path to the front door.
“Fingers crossed on the inside.”
The house was a sprawling bungalow. Neither of us wanted to be running upstairs to change diapers, take laundry from one floor to another, or to chase a kid or kids.
“The current owners updated the kitchen and bathrooms,” the realtor told us as we stood in the entryway.
I liked that there was a vestibule and we didn’t walk straight into the living room from the front door.
“Oh, look at that island.” Remy ran his hands over the smooth granite countertop before admiring the six-burner gas stove. I examined the cabinetry, and my mate outstretched his hands and twirled around. “There’s so much space.”
The house had five bedrooms and three bathrooms, which might have been over the top but one bedroom was quite small, which my mate would use as his office. We’d keep one for guests, and if we had another child, we’d prefer that they each had their own room.
“So far so good.” I squeed at Remy.
We strolled onto the back deck which overlooked a national park, and there was space to plant gum trees for my mate’s koala. I was prepared to contact the garden center and make sure they still had that tree.
Remy was inspecting the ground and saying the soil was perfect for planting.
The realtor gave us privacy while we discussed whether we’d take the house.
“I vote yes.” We’d only looked at three places. There might be a better house somewhere in or around town, but the effort of continuing to look and be disappointed while someone else snapped up this home was not worth it.
“We’ll have to negotiate. If we can save a few thousand, we can put that toward furniture.” Remy was tapping the calculator on his phone.
I wanted to look at the living room, the main bedroom, and the largest spare room that we’d designate for the nursery. Though we’d buy a sofa and armchairs, I was already calculating measurements and pieces that I could make so our home would be unique. I always had a tape measure in the car, and I dashed out and grabbed it. Remy laughed, saying I was a furniture maker, first and foremost.
“Nah,” I whispered, putting my mouth to his ear. “I’m a mate and a dad, and furniture is a distant third.”
He gave me a look that suggested he didn’t believe me. “I’d say the mate and dad parts of you are equal, and coming in second is the furniture maker and lover of wood.”
After starting the process of buying the home, we took photos, and when we got back to Remy’s, I discovered that the gum tree was still available but it would be delivered only after we’d closed on the house. I looked into what I could make with the wood from gum trees but decided the scent was too strong. Nah, that wood would have to stay in tree form outside.
“What’s something that you might like for the living room that my men could make.” We’d decided to have our bed made in the workplace, and I had an idea for something Remy and I could make together.
Though I would love to make everything myself, it wasn't feasible. I had a mate and a baby on the way, as well as a business to run, and we’d be moving into the new house.
“How about a TV console with plenty of storage. I hate wires and remote controls scattered over the living room.”
I sent Callum a text with measurements and asked him to design one. I suggested oak, but I’d leave the choice of wood up to him.I’d design bedroom furniture myself with Remy’s input, but me making the crib was a secret.
