Chapter 89:
"So, I've been thinking…" Dave folded the newspaper he had been reading and set it on the end table next to the couch where he sat.
Haley looked up from the book she had been reading, True Betrayals by Nora Roberts, and smirked at her boyfriend. "That could be a good or a bad thing." She said teasingly.
He chuckled and dropped his hands to gently massage her calves since her feet had been resting in his lap. "Remember how I talked about selling my house in Tampa and moving up here? Before the whole Randy and Eve drama?"
She placed her bookmark on the page she had been reading and set the book aside. "And I was going to sell my townhouse. We were going to find a house for us to share together."
Dave grinned, pleased she remembered. "I think we should still do it. I think we should put our houses on the market and start house hunting."
"Actually," She smiled secretively. "I don't think there will be much hunting involved. I got excited when you first brought it up and I found something I think we'll both like."
"You did?" He asked, looking surprised.
"In Ipswich, Massachusetts. It's about thirty miles north of Boston, an hour drive depending on traffic." She smiled. "It's a single family home, four bedrooms, three bathrooms. It's colonial base, but with some contemporary architecture in the front porch. My father explained that part to me when I emailed him the link."
"You're in love with it already aren't you?" He asked with a knowing look on his face.
"It's beautiful. The house is green, deep, dark forest green and Dave, it's private. It's not in a busy neighborhood. Can we at least go look at it?" She pouted slightly, a hopeful look in her eyes.
He reached over and pulled her to him to kiss her lightly. "Call the realtor, we can definitely go look at it. And if you still love it after we see it, we'll work on buying it."
She squealed loudly and kissed him again before leaping off the couch and heading into her office to find the number for the realtor.
Dave laughed at her enthusiasm. "God I love that woman.
Several Days Later…
Caroline Jenkins looked just as pretty and polished as the picture on her business card. She was trim and professional in the charcoal gray pencil skirt, white blouse and matching jacket. There was sunny smile on her face to go with her big blue eyes and curly blonde hair. She waved cheerfully as Dave drove the GMC Sierra down the gravel driveway.
Haley was staring up at the house with a huge smile on her face. "Oh it's even better than the pictures, Dave!" She exclaimed.
Dave killed the engine and chuckled. "And just think, the blonde over there, the one who looks like she swallowed a bottle of liquid sunshine, has the keys so we can look inside." He joked.
Haley laughed and slapped him lightly on the arm. "Be nice! She is going to show us the house after all." She admonished lightly before opening the truck door and hopping out. "Hi there!"
"You must be Mr. Bautista and Ms. Mariano!" Caroline strode forward and offered her hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Call us Haley and Dave." Haley shook her hand.
"Then please, call me Caroline." The Real Estate agent smiled warmly. "Are either of you from around here?"
"I've lived in Mass all my life." Haley nodded. "But Ipswich is new to me. Dave grew up in D.C. and currently lives in Tampa."
"Ah, well you're in for a much colder Winter if you wind up here." Caroline lightly joked.
"I can deal with the cold." Dave slipped his hand into Haley's. "I grew up in DC, plus Haley doesn't want to leave Massachusetts so I'm going to become a New England kind of guy."
"That's very sweet of you." Caroline's smile grew brighter if that were possible. "Please, allow me to take you inside. As I said to you on the phone," She directed toward Haley. "This is a colonial house built in 1999, with a little more contemporary feel to the outer architecture. Inside we have a spacious kitchen, dining room, half bath and family room and there are four bed rooms upstairs with two bathrooms."
"Plenty of room." Haley said softly to Dave while Caroline inserted the key to unlock the front door. "And decent acreage."
"I get it, you want it." Dave squeezed her hand gently. "let's just look at the inside first, it could have real ugly interior."
"As if!" Haley snorted, but put a smile back on her face as Caroline opened the front door and gestured inside.
Haley gasped as they stepped into the entryway, with it's high vaulted ceilings and four light chandelier that was designed Spanish Mediterranean in style and made with wrought iron. The floors were a bright polished hardwood made from Laurel. And the walls were a neutral white that left room for so much potential.
"Here is the front entryway," Caroline explained closing the door behind Dave. "Which of course holds the staircase leading to the second floor." She gestured to the staircase off to the right side. "But first,"
The pretty blonde led them through the first opening on the left. "This would be the Great room, or your living room, family room, whichever you prefer to call it."
The living room was fifteen feet wide and twenty-two feet long. The room was carpeted in a warm, inviting blue color and the texture was plus so that it cushioned their feet. A large bay window overlooked the side yard where the previous owner had taken the time to design a beautiful landscape.
"This is the same size as the master bedroom of course, since it's located directly above the great room." Caroline smiled in satisfaction seeing the happy expression on Haley's face. She had already figured that if Haley loved the house it would be a done deal. Dave seemed to be the type to do whatever would make his woman happy.
"That's bigger than any of the hotel rooms we stay in." Haley grinned at her boyfriend. "What's next?"
"The kitchen." Caroline gestured her back out into the small hallway and pointed out a coat closet and powder room along the way before leading the couple into the kitchen. The kitchen was traditional in design. The cabinets were mahogany and had fluting trim. Stainless steel appliances gleamed alongside granite countertops and there was even an island and breakfast nook. French doors looked out over the backyard where a table could be placed for informal meals.
"Dave does all the cooking for the most part." Haley chuckled. "But I love how roomy and open this feels. It's welcoming. Dave?"
The Animal glanced around him in approval. He liked the size, the updated appliances, but the old world feel the room gave off. "It suits me." He assured his girlfriend.
"The dining room is through here." Caroline opened another set of French doors that led to a smaller room off to the side.
Caroline continued their tour. Showing them a laundry room in the finished basement which also had room for an office the two of them could share. Three of the upstairs bedrooms were roughly the same size and Haley fell in love with the master bedroom the moment she laid eyes on the extra large walk in closet since between herself and Dave they had a lot of clothes.
The grounds were well kept with an in ground pool directly out back, complete with small pool house that already boasted a bar for hostessing. Plus Haley was happy to note there was plenty of room to build a small barn when she retired so she could once again own horses. There was a three stall garage camouflaged by several trees that could house Dave's Lamborghi and Mercedes. Plus Haley's truck and the BMV 745Li he had gotten her upon the death of her beloved Saturn, could rotate which sat in the garage and which sat in the driveway.
At the end of the tour, Haley didn't even have to say anything. She simply smiled when Dave turned to Caroline and asked, "Where do we sign?"
After exchanging information and promising to call Caroline in the morning with the down payment once the sale of Batista's Tampa home became official, Haley and Dave got back into the truck and headed back towards Boston.
"I can't believe it!" Haley squealed. "A home, a real home! All thanks to MVP for buying your house in Tampa. Plus once my townhouse sells we pay the rest of the house off! Oh Dave I'm so happy, thank you, thank you!"
He chuckled at his girlfriend's excitement. "Baby, the longer we were there, the more you fell in love with it. If this is the house that really makes you happy, then come hell or high-water I'm getting it for you. Fortunately MVP wants my house so I'll sign the deed over tomorrow morning, then we can put pay the down payment on this house."
Haley smiled softly. "Dave, I really love you, I hope you know that."
"Of course I do, Baby. And I love you too. As long as you're happy I'm happy." He reached over and squeezed her knee gently. "Now, we better call the movers. We're going to have to madly pack up my house in Tampa and get everything shipped up here."
"It'll be worth the stress. We're putting your cars on a train though I'm not doing that drive." Haley laughed. "Wow, a house! Dave we're buying a house!"
"I know."
A/N: D'aw! Don't you just love them? I mean really really love them? Baley is too freaking sweet! Plus we needed this moment for them. They're buying a house together, yay!
Chang-Tong I am aiming for 100 Chapters like in Over It, so while this fic is winding down, No Boundaries will begin very soon ;)
Some of you maybe have noticed already, but Haley Mariano has hacked into my FF profile and claimed the ending portion for herself! :-0 She wants to interact with her fans and who am I to deny her. So, make sure you check out her little blog, which will update with every chapter I post ;)
Enjoy! Happy Reading! Love you all!