Disclaimer: I am back! Finished my exam. Got certified to teach a dance class. My eyes have been glued to the election map all week. COVID sucks. Waiting for my new gig/job to begin.

Sooo new chapter time!

XD


Buying a house together was a first for Levi and Petra. They discussed the realm of possibilities all evening once Petra returned home.

Petra found her two boys avoiding each other. When she asked Levi, she bit her lip to prevent the giggles from escaping. Clive perched his furry bum back at the window and Levi showered a second time after that incident.

They immediately prepared to go into a local realtor's office the next day to begin their search. After walking into quaint little office they were greeted and sat together waiting.

"Remember, we don't need a lot of space, just enough." Petra said looking around the office at the ensemble of pictures decorating the walls. Each depicted different vacation hot spots or some exotic location. The walls underneath the pictures were taupe and the temperature was a bit chilled. "This person must make a killing to visit all these places."

"Or they googled the photos and had them blown up." Levi countered monotonously, not really interested in the pictures. "We don't need a three story mansion but at least three bedrooms or four."

A tiny woman stepped from the long hallway toward the back and clicked her tongue against her teeth and adjusting her thick glasses before reading the names of her next appointment, "Ackerman and Ral?"

Petra and Levi perked up and looked at her. Thick rimmed glasses and bubble gum pink lip gloss which did the fair skinned woman no justice at all. She slouched slightly and the beginning of wrinkles on her forehead were evident. Even her blouse was wrinkled. The woman smiles and motions for them to follow her.

"Great." Levi mutters as they walk some feet behind her. "We have no chance of getting anything."

"Relax Levi." Petra assures him as they see the woman stop at a door which they assume is her office.

"Come in and have a seat so we can talk. My name is Jodie Maxx." She introduces herself warmly. The room didn't have a lot of space. Just enough space for a desk, computer, and chairs on the opposite side for the customers. There are two filing cabinets and a shelf full of folders and forms. There were no pictures of exotic locales or vacation hot spots. A lavender aroma wafted through the room.

"What can I do for you today?" She asks as they all sit down and she reaches for a manila folder from one of the shelves beside her desk.

"We are looking to a buy house. It doesn't need to be in the city necessarily. We're just tired of renting."

"Too many noisy neighbors?"

"Something like that."

She nods, seemingly understanding and jots down their contact information as they talk. Levi shifts uncomfortably in his seat, preferring to let Petra do most of the talking anyway. He was aware people found him unpleasant to discuss business with. He didn't do small talk very well.

"Anything specific you want or will anything go?"

"We don't need three floors of space. We have a cat who likes exploring and he needs space to roam too. Preferably hardwood floors and more than a single bathroom and bedroom." Petra explained looking to Levi wondering if she forgot anything. He nodded and slouched a bit in his seat watching the woman write all of it down.

"We have some new listings on the far south side. Is that too far for you? It is around Rose Prosper."

Rose Prosper is one of the nicer neighborhoods right outside of the city. Some places came with a fair amount of land while others were straight up townhouses beside the only local park. Petra knew of the area but also knew some of those houses could be expensive. "It isn't too far out. How expensive do those houses get?" She asks beginning to fidget with the material of her long boyfriend fitted shirt.

"Some are 200k while others are up to 350k or more. Depends on your preference and how much you want to pay." Jodie stated pushing her glasses up on her nose a bit. "I have details on a few if you'd like to see pictures." She reached for another folder with 'Rose Prosper' on the label and pushed it across the desk to them and sat quietly turning to her computer.

Levi straightened up and flipped the folder open and the two began looking together. They were really nice houses. The first had a long stone walkway to the front door with a wrap around porch. There were flowers planted around the front sides of the porch. However, the price was definitely over 250k. The floorplan was open concept and there was definitely enough space for the three of them. The next house didn't have a wrap around porch but did have a back porch on the second floor that allowed for viewing the sunset and Rose lake and offered three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The only drawback was the flooring was carpet and two of the bedrooms looked more like closets in the pictures.

"I guess you could also say the richer population live in the area too. There is a school half a mile from the area."

Petra felt her cheeks burn and looked at Jodie without a word and then to Levi. He didn't seem to notice or didn't care either way. He just focused on the different houses and their pluses and minuses.

Levi's brow furrowed in frustration and looked up at Jodie, "Are these all you have, Ms. Maxx?"

"In this area? There are seven. If you'd like to take the folder home and give me a call if anything floats your boat, you're welcome. They don't stay on the market for long, unfortunately." She turned back slightly surprised to hear from Levi who had sat quietly but still smiled despite his frustrated tone.

"Thanks. I guess it couldn't hurt." He agreed and looked at Petra who nodded. She snatched the folder in her arms and they stood and said their goodbyes. The receptionist smiled warmly at them on their way out as well.

Outside, Petra stopped him and quirked an eyebrow. "Are we rich or something? Over 350k for a closet styled bedroom is terrible, Levi."

"So is a plantation style wrap around porch. Are you concerned we couldn't afford this area? There are other areas just as nice. I don't have to live there around snobs."

"Can we afford it if we like one of these?" Petra asks curiously. She had savings but they weren't enough to cover the down payment. She knew he was well off but she definitely didn't know if he could.

For a moment Levi pauses and looks at her intently and she can't read him. She just waits for his response or any indication of what is crossing his mind. He looks toward his vehicle and back at her, "Yes, if you liked one of these, we can definitely afford it." He walks to the vehicle without another word until they're both inside and he puts the key in the ignition.

"I received a phone call before coming in that my uncle died not long ago. We weren't really on good terms. So I thought." Levi started explaining as they drove back to the apartment. "He left his estate to me. All the funeral expenses and everything else has been taken care of. The inheritance he left me could buy one of these measly over priced houses if we find something we both like. We don't need a loan, Petra."

"Oh." She said regarding his story for a moment. "I'm sorry about your uncle."

"Don't be. He was a real shit at times when I was growing up. He hated that he had to take me in and that I eventually left for school. He reached out once and asked how I was. Other than that, I didn't know he was sick. I didn't know he left everything to me."

"Do you need to take care of anything?"

"He picked another person to be executor of his estate when he passed. That's who called me and he knows better than to fuck everything up."

Petra opened the folder again, looking through the listings but still not seeing anything she liked. She tried really hard to pick but nothing was worth the kind of money they asked for. She closed the folder and sighed. "Let's just see if anyone we know has seen any listings. Would you prefer a fixer upper?"

"If it means I don't look like I own a fucking plantation, I prefer a fixer upper."

"You need to get over the plantation looking porches." Petra grins as they cut off the road and into the parking lot of the apartment building.

Levi puts the vehicle in park and turns to her, taking her hand in his and leaning over to kiss her cheeks and telling her, "I will never get over it, brat." They get out and begin their tread back inside the apartment building, hand in hand.