OUR NEW HOME
A follow-up to Getting to Know You
CHAPTER FOUR
Late one afternoon Bianca and Marissa completed the final walk through of their very soon to be new home. The estate on Crescent and Pine was precisely in the condition as agreed upon between the buyers and sellers. The next morning all parties including the buyers, sellers, the attorneys, bank rep, title search company rep and real estate agent all met for the closing or settlement. The Real estate attorney, Tim Higgins, representing Montgomery and Tasker, took the lead in completing the transactions. Countless documents were reviewed, signed and initialed by the buyers. Cheques were collected by the seller for the purchase monies and a cheque was collected by the Real Estate Broker for the sales commission.
While copies of all paperwork were being made Marissa watched a pleased Bianca twirling her Mont Blanc pen on top of the notes she had taken. As Bianca felt eyes upon her, she looked up to see Marissa wink at her.
"Ever playful?"
"You know it."
"Indeed, I do."
The two women left the office arm in arm with keys in hand. Upon reaching the car in the lot neither could contain their excitement. Each turned to the other reaching in for a tight hug. Marissa was so excited and animated that she knocked Bianca off balance and against the car.
"Happy, my love?"
"Oh, Bianca, I don't even have the words for how I feel. Happy! Ecstatic! Over the moon!" she gasped. "I have everything I want. You. The kids. Our new home. My heart is bursting!"
They just held each other for a while basking in their love and joy.
"B? I know we don't move in 'til tomorrow but do you think we could go to the house for a bit now?"
"Of course, Baby. We are on the same wavelength on that note – as usual. Let's go." With that they shared a nice kiss and climbed in the car to head to their new home.
They held the key together, turned it in the lock, and threw the door open. They turned to look at one another, clasped hands and were about to enter side by side when Bianca quickly changed her mind. She instead bent and swept Marissa up into her arms and carried her over the threshold.
"Why Ms. Montgomery, aren't you the romantic." sighed Marissa in her best Southern drawl.
Bianca set her gently to the floor saying, "But wait, there's more!" She pulled a satchel from her shoulder. From it she removed two glass flutes and a bottle of chilled Veuve Clicquot La Grand Dame Brut Champagne 1998.
"Montgomery, you truly are over the top. And…apparently you have taught me well."
Bianca leaned Marissa's backside up against a kitchen cabinet, tilting her head down, their lips merely centimeters apart. "Oh, I'm over the top all right. I'm equally pleased with the bottom. And I think we teach one another very well. Ongoing home schooling is a requirement."
"Mmm, nice. You should know then that I don't plan on ever graduating."
"Oh, Rissa, you're well on your way to your first degree."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. Naturally, being the curious minds, bodies and souls that we are, we will be life-long students."
"Sign me up, Professor!"
The now impassioned women slid to the floor and christened the kitchen.
/ / / / / / /
"Hon, I'm thirsty. Let's pop that champagne!" encouraged Marissa. "And, uh, earlier when I said that you had taught me well…this is what I meant," as she held up a bottle of the same bubbly.
Bianca held the cork as it popped. "Well, that's the second explosion in my hands today."
"Okay, hot stuff, pour us."
"Congratulations on our new family home, my love. Cheers!" Bianca toasted.
"And congratulations to you, too. Cheers!" They sipped.
"Santé."
"Salud."
"Prost."
" Skål."
"L'chaim."
"Cin cin."
With each pronouncement they giggled and sipped.
"Kippis."
"What the hell is that? You're just makin' shit up now!" Marissa laughed.
"Finnish."
"What, you're done?"
"No, kippis, it's cheers in Finnish…as in the language of Finland."
"Oh, okay. In that case," and she drank. "You and that freakish memory of yours."
Bianca clasped Marissa's free hand. "Come with me."
"Not again, Bianca. I don't think I could."
"Ha, ha, funny girl."
"What can I say? We're so crazed by one another everything is open to double and triple entendre," she spun to face her, finger pointed. "And don't use that one."
"Yes ma'am. Then, follow me please."
Bianca led her up to the office. There was a very large object completely covered by a sheet. "For you," Bianca pulled the covering off as if performing a magic trick.
"Partners desks! For us!" She clung to her very own partner. "They're perfect, B! Thank you!" She turned to take her place in one of the chairs behind a desk. "Join me?"
"But of course."
"Bianca, really, you're amazing!"
"They are antique English partners desks done in burled walnut with gold tooled inlayed black leather tops. Circa 1900."
"I adore you."
"I know."
/ / / / / / /
"Now it's my turn." Marissa led Bianca to another corner of the room and handed her a card. The card read, "For my dearest, dearest heart, if I could, I'd give you the world." Marissa lifted a box cover from a base and beneath it was a globe made of lapis with semi-precious gemstones demarcating each country.
"Thank you, Baby. You, the kids, my sister and my Mom are my world."
Marissa then took Bianca back to their master bath. There they found the massage table that was the second part of her gift.
"Oo, la la. I like this notion. Massage courtesy of an at one time masseuse. And if I play my cards right…perhaps a 'happy ending'? I worship you."
"I know."