Chapter 9
"I can actually have you closing this month if it works for you," John said on the other end of the line.
Carlisle and Esme stood side by side in his office. She held Marshall and Carlisle kept the phone extended in his hand and on the speaker setting.
"That would be great," he said, catching a smile from Esme.
"Daaaaad," Marshall said impatiently, nearly knocking the device from his father's hand.
Esme put a hand over her mouth before quickly pulling their son back a few feet.
Carlisle smiled and asked John to repeat his previous statement.
"Is there someone trying to hello to me?" the outgoing realtor asked on the other end of the line.
"I love this guy," Esme whispered, motioning to the receiver.
Carlisle grinned and informed John that their son Marshall was also listening in on the conversation. After a short discussion about how the new residence would be a great, safe place for children John returned to his original point.
"The seller would be able to close this weekend," he went on, "I know this is way earlier than we spoke about, and things never work out this quickly. We can still keep the original date, but I think the guy who owns the house now is some kind of eccentric billionaire, you know the type that owns his own island or something."
Esme laughed out loud, mentally noting that John had no idea that the two of them accurately fit that description.
Carlisle grinned, enjoy the private joke with his wife, "Yeah, I know the type."
"Right, well..." John continued, "He's going away for a month or something and won't be back until close to the date we set now. I was told he wouldn't mind getting the house off his hands early so he could enjoy his extended vacation and would be willing to close now but only if it worked out with you. This is probably too short notice, but if you can be back out here by this weekend, we could get this thing wrapped up early. Totally up to you."
Carlisle looked to Esme and raised his eyebrows. He shrugged and she nodded so he responded without looking away from Esme. "Yeah, this weekend?"
"Yes," John said, "Saturday around five to be exact. We can get the paperwork started and then I'll hand over the key."
"Is another vampire family living there?" Esme teased, prompting Carlisle to snicker and put a finger up to his lips.
"What's that?" the realtor asked.
"That sounds great," Esme said, making a face, hoping he didn't hear her witty comment.
"Great!" he said with enthusiasm, "Gosh, you are the best couple I've worked with in a long time."
"You've been great to us, John," she told him, "I guess we'll be seeing you this Saturday."
"Yes ma'am," he replied, "Let me know if anything changes. I'll give you the address of my office. We'll meet there first to do the paperwork."
"Excellent," Carlisle said.
"Thanks," Esme told him.
"You're quite welcome. Check your email for the address."
"We will," she said.
"Bye, bye now."
Carlisle looked at Esme and hung up the phone. "You're sure that's okay?"
She smiled. "What else do we have to do?"
...
Alice had already packed Carlisle and Esme's bags by the time their phone call with John had come to a close. While everyone was curious about the house, they decided to let the two of them take the journey on their own. The plan was still to leave permanently in September, though everyone agreed that closing early gave each of them the freedom to move in at their leisure rather than rush.
Carlisle and Esme now sat together, signing their lives away on the sheets of paper they had seen far too many times.
"Isn't this the worst part?" John asked with a laugh, "Sign here, initial there." He pointed to several spots on the official documents. "I mean, the best and the worst at the same time."
Esme smiled and looked up in between the messy scribbles that had gotten monotonous.
"You certainly fit the doctor cliché with that messy signature," John joked, motioning to Carlisle.
Carlisle smiled and let out a laugh, "I suppose I do."
"Just kidding," John added, flailing his hand limply.
Esme couldn't help but smile when their real estate agent was around. He was so cheery and happy all the time. She had trouble picturing what he might have looked like in a state of anger.
John held the final paper in the air and placed it down with some force and smile. "Last one." His teeth were nearly glowing from how perfectly white they remained in a perfectly straight row.
Carlisle looked at Esme, and they shared a grin before their signatures were scattered across the bottom of the page.
John slid the paper back carefully toward him and sighed, then cracked his knuckles upon adding it to the stack that stood several inches high. "Well folks, it's been a pleasure. He removed a small envelop from the pocket of his sport coat and grinned again. "There's a set of keys in here."
"Thank you," Esme reached for it and handed it over to Carlisle.
The two of them stood up and shook the man's hand who had come to be a pleasure of work with.
"You were wonderful," she went on, "Really, we had fun working with you."
John grinned again, "Most of them do." He then added, "And this won't be the last you see of me. I still have Rosie's deal to close."
Esme laughed at how at-home he felt calling Rosalie by her newfound nickname Rosie.
"We'll be seeing you in September then," Esme said.
John followed to where Carlisle had already taken a few steps toward the door. "Have fun," he told them sincerely.
Carlisle shook his hand another time and Esme gave a wave before the two of them headed to the car.
"Let's head over there," he said with a grin.
Esme nodded, "You don't want to wait for the kids to come?"
Carlisle smiled, "Nope."
She grinned and the two of them headed through the new town they called home.
