Chapter 13: Out of the Ashes
JUNE 2017
"I didn't mean to, I was just trying to make toast."
Despite the predicament, the firemen kept straight faces. KT had her hands on her hips, her anger not yet appeased. "I...don't even understand...I only left you alone for three hours."
"I was hungry!"
"God, I don't even want to talk to you right now, I'm so pissed..."
"What, it's not like you paid-" She glared at him. "Oh, you did."
She walked off, seeing what she could salvage from the burnt remains. "At least I saved the sofa!" He shrugged. "But that thing was forged from fire..."
Hank appeared from behind the chimney. "I am sorry, but I could not save the housing structure...There was too much stupidity."
We were all sitting on the grass. "Hank, thank god I still have you!" Ty hugged the large form. I looked up from my phone. "Hey, Hank, find us a place to live."
"Mm...okee-dokee. Searching 'housing retail' in our area." Melody and Ashley were inspecting Hank while he thought. "Oh, I found one."
"What's it like?"
"Three stories tall on 28 acres of land...has a barn and lots of open land that leads to woods in the back. Previous owners were busted for marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Has a basement and attic, five bedrooms, four and a half bath, and a den. Lots of space...spacious hangar like garage, long driveway...and granite counter tops, island included."
KT heard this and appeared at Hank's side. "I'm in, I heard granite."
"How much is it?" I asked.
He was quiet. "$350,000..."
We all looked at each other. "Wow...that's actually reasonable. Can you contact the agent?" She was fumbling in her pocket. I got up. "I can get it."
Everyone was shocked. "What?"
"I'll pay for it, so that if anything happens, it's on me."
KT shook her head. "You don't have to do that."
"Yes, I do. Keep your money to get what you want, I'll get the house and the insurance."
"You're too young."
"Then I'll pay you for it, but I don't want you to waste your money on it."
She hugged me. "That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard! Okay. Hank, get the agent on the phone."
We all got into our cars and headed toward the address Hank gave us. TC drove KT, and I had everyone else. ~"I hear an argument."~
~Where?~
~"Two cars ahead."~
~What are they saying?~
~"Well...This is coming to you live-It's not my fault."~ He got a low baritone voice as he spoke as TC. ~"Of course it is!"~ and a high, bitchy sound for KT. He alternated between them as he spoke. ~"No, it's not...you're supposed to help me, you're my daughter.-oh yeah right! The god of Olympus can't make his own toast? Pathetic.-Well, at least I'm not a bitch!-"~
My mouth gaped open, and I got some strange looks from my passengers. ~"A BITCH?! You're the fucking useless deity who can't even wipe his own ass when he shits!-...I don't even know what that means!-Ya see, useless! What kind of god are you? A fucking ape?-Well, at least I'm not on my period constantly!-Oh fuck you.-Don't make me turn this vehicle around, Missy!-Shut the fuck up, dad!-"~ He stopped. ~"You might want to watch out."~
Their car swerved. "Shit." I kept my eyes peeled on the road. "What the hell are they doing?"
"Being stupid...We're almost there."
And we were. Just before the curve in the road, the house sat. It was huge. "Wow, Hank wasn't joking."
The agent was on the porch. Everyone walked up together. TC was frowning, KT had her arms crossed, and we were all stuck in the middle, along with the agent who was contractually obligated to smile at all times. TC shook his head and his melancholy stupor evaporated. "Hi there!" The lady relaxed.
"Hello. You're interested in this property?"
"Absolutely-"
KT elbowed him in the ribs. "Actually, I am."
TC shrugged. "Too bad, she might burn this one down like she did the last one."
She turned on him quickly, causing us all to flinch. "Excuse me! I don't think so! Your stupid ass caused this mess!"
"Whoa, didn't know we had a badass over here."
The realtor was shaking. "U-hm-who was it I spoke to over the phone?"
"Hank, my secretary...He informed you of my willingness to buy?"
She nodded. "Full price, as well?"
"Absolutely, but, let's get a tour before we finalize anything."
"Wow, not being cheap, eh? Oh wait, your teenage adoptee is paying for it!"
"TC...shut the fuck up or I will destroy you!"
"Aw, that's not very nice..." He crossed his arms. "Now, all I want is a hug and for you to tell daddy you love him."
The realtor looked between them. "D-daddy?"
I walked through them. "I'm choosing my room!"
Ty and the girls followed. "I claim the basement!"
"Of course, Ty. Of course."
"Granite counter tops! Ah my home!"-KT
"Look at the barn for all my llamas!"-TC
"And the field for experimentation...can it get better?"-Ty
"The bathrooms are huge! And the rooms, too!"-Me
"I gather you like it?"
In unison-"Absolutely!"
KT and the real estate agent talked and the petition was finalized. "Welcome to your new home."
After three days of hunting, we were finally settled in with new furniture and the sofa from the old home. My room was freshly painted and posters hung on the walls. "Ah, home."
Ty was in his basement home, setting up his lab. I joined him once I had set up my bathroom. "How's it going, Ty?"
"It's actually coming together nicely...I've got a room in one corner, my lab in the rest of it...I can continue my research."
I sat in his rolling chair, and ended up across the room. "Exciting...What are we going to do this summer?"
"Whatever gets thrown at us?"
I sighed. "Never a boring day."