Chapter Twelve - U Turn

Next Day - 3rd Apartment Viewing

"Abby this is so boring can't we just decide?!" Carter whined as Abby continued to look around the third house they had viewed already.

"No John we've got to get one we really love!"

"Yeah but it's so boring! This ones okay!"

"I don't wanna move into a really expensive house which you think is 'okay'! We need the perfect house."

"Fine. But don't worry about the cost Abby, I got it."

"John you are not paying for it all by yourself."

"No but when we get married we'll have a joint account where all that's mine, is yours, and vice versa."

"You want one of those?! Richard was so against it."

"I'm not Richard Abby. I'm not greedy and selfish!"

"I guess you're right."

"I am."

"So what's our price range?"

"As high or low as you want."

"Really John, tell me. We're supposed to be getting married so I need to know how much money is gonna be mine!"

"Fine fine. But don't tell anybody okay?"

"I promise!"

"Well, for the house you can go as high as you like."

She gave him an evil look.

"Alright. I'll give you number but remember you can go higher okay?"

"Sure."

"Okay. Well this house is $500,000 so you can go up to about $10,000,000."

"10 million dollars! John that's too much!"

"You did ask."

"Yeah but I was expecting about a hundred thousand!"

"Only the best for you honey." He said sarcastically as she continued to look stunned.

"God John that's a lot of money."

"We don't have to spend that much, but you can go as high as that. Maybe higher."

"I don't think I could spend that much!"

"Oh trust me, you could."

"Abby come and check out this bedroom it's huge!" Shouted Maggie from the other room.

"Just coming!" Abby shouted back. "Come on John this is fun!"

"Oh god." Moaned Carter as Abby dragged him into the room.

4pm - 7th House Viewing

"Seventh house, could be lucky." Said Abby as she followed the tall skinny woman who had been showing them around the houses all day.

"It better be I'm beat." Replied Carter as Abby took his hand and pulled him into the house.

It was a very large house. It was a little drive to get to the door along a long drive which went in and then out in the adjacent exit. Pebbles spread out along the whole U-shaped drive. It led them up to a large Mansion house, not nearly as big as the Carter mansion but large enough for about 10 people. Abby was overwhelmed by how big it was, maybe it was too much?

"Here we have the main lounge, the other smaller sitting room is just at the back of the house."

"Wow it's nice huh John?"

"Yeah it's really nice."

"Are you being sarcastic again?"

"No I really like it." "Good so do I."

"Can we have a look around ourselves?" Carter asked the woman.

"Sure. If you have any questions I'll wait right here."

Abby and Carter walked off leaving Maggie chatting to the woman about the special features of the house. The large bathtub with Jacuzzi and the twin basins in the master bedroom.

"So what do you think so far?"

"I think it's great."

"Really?"

"Yeah, and there's only the one bedroom that needs decorating."

"I think I know what we can use that for."

"What?"

"The baby's room. Imagine it Abby, we already know the sex so we can decorate it now if we wanted to. We can hire a designer to create a really nice room for the baby."

"You've thought about this a lot huh?" Abby asked curiously. He was making it harder for her to tell him her worries about it when he was being so excited all the time.

"A little." A cheeky smile spread across his face.

"A lot, more like! You're not scared?"

"No why would I be?"

"No reason."

"So you like this place?"

"I love it. But it's so big, don't you think it's a bit extreme?"

"Not really. I think it's just right."

"You think just right is 6 bedroom, 4 bathrooms and a kitchen as big as my apartment?!"

"Yeah!"

"I'd hate to think what you'd call extreme!"

"Come on Abby I think it's perfect for us."

"Yeah me too. I just don't want you to spend too much money."

"Abby I told you don't worry about it I can afford it."

"If you're sure. But I'm paying you rent!"

"Okay we'll make a deal..you let me buy this for us, and you pay rent my living in it with me?"

"That sounds like a plan!"

He pulled her towards him and she wrapped her arms round his neck, staring into each others eyes.

"So we have a deal?"

"We have a deal." Answered Abby as she moved in for a kiss.

"So you two, have you decided yet?!" Burst in Maggie.

"Yeah. We're taking this place. We love it." Answered Carter.

"Oh this is so exciting! There's not much to be done to it is there?!"

"No which is great. Just the baby's room."

"I'll bet you've got some ideas for that Dr Carter!"

"You can call me John, Maggie."

"Sorry."

"It's fine really. But I think as I'm going to be your son-in-law, you addressing me in such a formal way is a bit much."

"Sure. John!"

"That's more like it!"

Maggie smiled at Carter as he pulled Abby under his arm and they stood together as the tall skinny woman came up the stairs into the master bedroom they were in.

"Have you seen everything yet?"

"Yes we have. And we've decided we want it." Answered Carter.

"That's great. I've got all the paperwork back at the office so I'll fax it through and the lawyers can sort it all out."

"Sure. Thank you for all the help today. It has been a bit of a nightmare."

"My pleasure it was no problem."

"Well I think we all need to go home to bed I'm getting tired!"

"Really? I thought we could have a look around a few more places, just in case we find one we prefer?!" Said Abby pretending.

Carter gave her a questioning look and she cracked up.

"Just kidding John!"

"That's really not funny!" Laughed John as they all walked down the stairs and outside.

"Well thanks again Laura, you've been a great help." "It's was no problem really. I'll get the details to you as soon as I can."

"Great. So you like this place then Abby?"

"I love it."

"Me too. Maggie?"

"I think it's perfect for you two!"