Chapter 37
Maya's POV
I feel like I'm turning into Topanga, because the first thing I wanted to do after Josh accepted the job was to make a checklist of everything we need to get done.
The first thing we had to do was tell our families, and then figure out what to move.
When we got back to the house, we called everyone into the living room for the big announcement.
"We have an announcement to make." Josh stated.
"Maya is pregnant?" guessed Morgan.
"No. Am I getting fat or something? Why does everyone keep thinking I'm pregnant!" I answered.
"You took the job." Riley said sadly.
"Sorry, Riles, but yes. It was too good an offer to turn down this kind of opportunity. They want me to be the head of the Art Department, and teach a couple of classes. They offered a really nice salary, with full benefits, and moving expenses paid." Josh answered.
"What about Maya? She is still going to school, correct?" Dad asked.
"Yes, Dad. Along with Josh's salary, I get free tuition. They also gave me a supply budget of a $1000 a semester. There's a work space in Josh's office that I can set up as a studio on campus." I answered.
"So I'm assuming you want the house?" Ma Amy asked.
"If you are still offering, then yes. With the understanding that we will do a little redecorating. Mom, you've always kept the house looking nice, but I think we will need to make some changes to make it our home. I don't want to feel like I'm still living in my parents' house." Josh explained.
"Well, I'm proud of you son. I know you will do great things, and the college wouldn't have offered you the postion if they weren't sure of you also. I think instead of sitting here, we need to grab the boxes I put in Feeny's house, and get to boxing up our stuff, and cleaning this house out." Papa Alan said.
"Maya, why don't you and Riley look around and get a picture of what colors you are thinking. While we are all here, we can at least help you get some walls painted and the guys can move furniture around." Mom suggested.
Lucas and Josh went to get the boxes, and Ma sent Dad up into the attic to bring down some boxes she had started.
"Now it isn't time to look through these, but as we clean and sort, I thought you might find things you want to add to your boxes." Ma Amy explained.
She set 5 plastic totes in a row along the wall. Each was labeled with a name: Eric, Cory, Shawn, Morgan and Josh. Each had mementos from their childhood and clipping of their accomplishments. I knew it surprised Dad that she had a box with his name on it.
I grabbed my phone to make notes, then Riley and I started walking around the house.
"I'd like the kitchen to be more bright than classic." I thought outloud.
"Ooh, I saw an idea online last week. They had lime green walls, with orange and teal accents. They painted their island teal." Riley showed me a picture.
"Lime green, dark orange, and teal for the kitchen it is. The back stairs can be the same teal as the island. I was thinking a sky blue for the bedroom." I noted.
"What about the little sitting area in the master bedroom?" Riley asked.
"I think I'm going to paint it the same color as the rest of the room, but leave it bare for now. Instead of a sitting area, I think it will make a good spot for a crib whenever we have kids. There aren't any other bedrooms downstairs, and I don't want an infant upstairs if we are down here." I pointed out.
"Good idea, you can always add a mural to the wall once you get pregnant." Riley added, as we made our way upstairs.
It felt weird dreaming up paint colors while everyone else was cleaning closets and packing stuff up.
The bathroom upstairs just needed some new kid friendly decorations.
The bedroom that used to be the boys' room, we decided to paint in shades of blue, doing 5 sections fading up the wall. I can come back and add details to make it a kids room later on down the line.
The room that was Morgan's is already a soft buttery yellow, so I think we will leave it alone.
The living room I will have to decide what color to paint it after we pick out furniture. The little couch we had in our apartment won't even begin to fill this room.
Josh and I headed to get paint and supplies while the rest of the family started moving furniture into storage.