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My jaw hit the table when Steve finally pulled out a photo of Victoria in a wedding dress beside an old white man in a wheelchair. “Meet Mrs. Sadie Hager Bancroft.”
CHAPTER 20
SAMANTHA
Iwas happy it was the weekend. After the news from my doctor last night, I was in no mood to deal with contractors, murders, or even Chris. I sat on my loveseat sipping my nausea tea, longing for this phase of the pregnancy to pass. It was seventy-five degrees outside, a great day to go house hunting with Ann Marie. She’d sent me over twenty options yesterday, but I had four houses in mind. I planned on driving my Buick to meet her, but she insisted we drive together for convenience. I was happy to have the break.
When Ann Marie pulled up, I jumped in the passenger seat of her Toyota Rav4. It was well-maintained and smelled like a new car. It made me feel a bit guilty; I had not cleaned the inside of my car in months. I quickly pushed the thought to the back of my mind. I don’t chauffeur people around for a living, who cares? I was enjoying the scenery. It was nice not having to maneuver through traffic. It was high noon and the city was fully awake. Everyone was in a rush to go somewhere.
Ann Marie was a nicely plump African American woman with kind eyes and a contagious smile. The four homes were all in Highland Park. Frankly, I was surprised she found anything in my price range. We pulled up to the first house, and I felt a jolt of energy as my morning sickness subsided.
The house was a tiny ranch with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. A perfect starter home for me and my babies. I was still trying to get used to the fact that I was having twins. We entered the house from a side door.
Ann Marie started walking me through the floor plan and the unique features she thought I would like. I was not in love with the layout but I could easily make changes to that. The master bedroom was big and the master bathroom had been recently remodeled. I could tell the homeowner did the renovation themself. It looked unfinished in some areas. The other two rooms were spacious and the secondary bath was another homeowner’s special renovation. The last place to see was the backyard. We walked out onto a small deck. The backyard was much bigger than I expected. I sat in a patio chair perched on the deck. I imagined my babies running around, playing, and laughing. I instinctively placed my hand on my belly as if protecting the life forms growing inside me.
“How far along are you?” Ann Marie’s question caught me off guard. How did she know? I looked at her before answering, “Seven weeks.”
“I remember those days,” she said. “I sure don't miss the morning sickness.” We both laughed.
“How did you know?” I asked.
“I have three children of my own,” she said with a gentle smile. “I know the glow. When you touched your stomach just then, I knew for sure.”
I stood up and for the first time said the words out loud, “I’m having twins.” She gave me a concerned look and congratulated me. “How does the father feel about twins? One baby is hard enough.”
A flush crept up my neck and nested in my cheeks. “He doesn’t know. I am not sure if I am going to tell him.” I sat back down. This honest conversation with a complete stranger was therapeutic.
“That’s your choice for sure,” Ann Marie said, “but let me caution you, those babies will have the best shot in this cold world with two parents having their back. If he isn’t a detriment to their lives and even if you aren’t together, they deserve to have that.”
I was happy she felt it necessary to tell me the truth. Lizzie was an echo chamber for my insecurities. She also thought it best not to let Chris know about the pregnancy. Sitting on the back porch of a stranger’s house and listening to Ann Marie made me feel comforted. We sat in silence for thirty minutes before heading to the next property.
The other two houses were similar to the first, they were builder-specification houses and had none of the charm or character I envisioned. I was tempted to call it a day when I rememberedHouse Hunterson HGTV.
I’m glad I stuck with the plan.
The final property was a Mediterranean-inspired two-story home. It was sixty years old and still had all the charm and character one would expect. The inside was well maintained but outdated. Ann Marie explained that the current owner was trying to sell his parent’s home. They both recently passed away from natural causes and he was not equipped to keep the house while living out of state. It was a four-bedroom, two-bath home. All the bedrooms were upstairs and the second floor had a kitchen, formal dining room, a family room, and a sunken TV room off the kitchen on the first floor. My mind started racing, and I imagined how remodeling the kitchen would increase the value of the home. I loved the layout, and I liked that it was a two-story house. Growing up, we always lived in an apartment and I dreamed of owning a house with two stories.
I was already imagining my children running down the stairs on Christmas morning and checking under the tree for their presents from Santa. Running from room to room and playing hide-and-seek. I could see myself and my little ones making this a home. I turned to Ann Marie; my eyes filled with tears. “I love it.” She gave me an approving nod and pulled paperwork out of her purse. I made an offer on the spot. I just knew this was what I was looking for; there was no need to look any further.
* * *
I was backin my apartment and I felt accomplished: I had made an offer on my first house. I was having some chamomile tea while I waited for Lizzie to show up for our customary movie night. I hadn’t spoken to her since yesterday. I am sure she was pissed that I hung up on her. I would never admit the truth; it would only make matters worse.
The faint knock on the door only meant one thing, Lizzie had arrived. “Hey, Sis.” I hugged her at the door and she returned my embrace with warmth.
“What’s for dinner? I am starving.”
It was my turn to buy. “What do you think about Olive Garden?”
She was pleased with the choice. “Go ahead and choose what you want.” I handed her my phone. “What are you getting?” Lizzie asked, “Soup and salad. My stomach doesn’t feel up to anything heavy tonight.” I confirmed our order and sat beside her on the loveseat.
“So how are you feeling today?” she asked. “Are you still having morning sickness?”
“I feel a lot better now. Mornings are difficult, but the tea you suggested helps. How did you find out about it?” I was genuinely curious.
“I was pregnant in college.”
I sat up and looked at her. She averted her eyes. “I had a miscarriage.”
