"This house was built in 1925," the realtor started, unlocking the door of the brick and white house. "It's 1600 square feet with original floors and windows. It's been in the same family since it was built."
Adam glanced over at Lindsay and smiled at the look on her face. They were barely in the front door and she was already in love. She was taking in the old wood floors, the white woodwork on all the doors, the narrow staircase that was the first thing you saw when walking in the door and she was going to a place where nothing could convince her that there was any other house in the world for them.
The realtor led them left, through old French doors into the living room where a small white brick fireplace stood. The room extended almost the length of the house, and through a small door was the laundry room and back entrance. The living room connected to the dining room via a small hallway, which also had the door to the basement. They walked into the dining room and Adam and Lindsay didn't have to say a word to each other as they both silently approved of the size. It would be perfect for family dinners. They walked through to the kitchen and Lindsay almost stopped short. It was perfect. A window over the deep sink looked out over the large sideyard and street corner. It was too narrow a room for an island in the middle, but other than that it was perfect. The entire room was white and the cupboards had glass facings and it would probably have sun shining through the window most of the day. She stood there for a long moment, taking it all in, willing her heart not to beat too heavily. They came back around to the front door and started up the stairs, noticing how it creaked under their weight. At the top of the stairs was a bathroom with black and white tiles, a small shower and an old clawfoot tub. They peeked into the bedrooms, one on either side of the house, both long and skinny with windows at one end and a closet at the other. The bedroom that stood over the living room was slightly smaller, and the hallway that ran next to it led them to yet another staircase. This took them up to the third floor, or "master suite" as the realtor called it. It had just been finished in the last few years and had windows overlooking the front yard and both sides of the house. The ceiling was sloped just four feet shy of the floor and the closet was nothing more than a little nook, but they could both picture themselves up here.
They spent another ten minutes going through the house again, looking a little closer at things, seeing if it was something that had hidden problems or hidden potential. Everything looked to be as wonderful as it had seemed the first time, and after a while, they bid the realtor goodbye and made their way back to the car.
"You want it," Adam deduced with a grin, watching her as she put her seatbelt on.
"I don't not want it," she replied carefully, leaning back in the seat and putting a hand on her stomach.
"Linds."
"I love it. A lot."
"But?"
"But it's at the higher end of our price scale. It doesn't come with appliances, and the bedrooms aren't all on the same level, and I know you wanted that."
"It was a preference, not a must have. And we can offer something a little lower. We're not taking out that huge of a loan in the first place."
"Yeah."
"Lindsay, I can see how much you love that house. That makes me love it too."
"Really?"
"I can see Christmas morning by that fireplace. Breakfast in the kitchen. Family dinners in the dining room. So what if it only has one and a half bathrooms? So what if the halls are narrow and the stairs are steep? It feels like home to both of us, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, it does."
"So then… let's make an offer."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Really, really?"
"Yes. We'll get an inspector out here and figure out what has to be done before we can move in, you can go look at paint colors and furniture and tell Austin how close we'll be to them, and I'll figure out how we're going to get our bed up two flights of stairs."
"We're really doing this."
"We're all grown up now."
She took a deep breath and squeezed his hand.
"Let's buy a house."
Committing to buying a house may have been scary, but later that afternoon, buying kindergarten school supplies seemed much more daunting. Lindsay and Austin had both perused the list several times unbelieving that their children were already in need of school supplies, and would be embarking on kindergarten very shortly. Part of the reason for moving specifically to Brooklyn was so Colton and Isa could go to school together. It was still up in the air if that would happen or not, but so far the kids hadn't asked and were just excited to be headed to kindergarten. They held their mothers hands and laughed together as they made their way into the store, both immediately going for the display of backpacks they spotted first.
"Mama, I need this! It's a dinosaur! I need it so bad mama!" Colton said, jumping from one foot to the other. Lindsay sighed, suddenly wishing they had come without the kids. There were too many school supplies adorned with cartoon characters and animals, and she was sure they weren't going to get out without a few bouts with the gimme's.
"We'll put it in the cart and think about it," she said finally. He whooped and threw the backpack into the cart, while Isa tossed her selection in as well.
"This is going to be a long afternoon," Austin sighed, having had a talk with Isa about not throwing a fit or yelling and whatever mommy says goes.
"We'll enjoy it and be sentimental about our babies growing up, and then we won't be so desperately wanting some tequila at the end of it all."
"Plan."
They made their way to the school supplies, which were all displayed brightly, even though it was still early summer. Lindsay told Austin all about the house as they picked their way through erasers and glue sticks and scissors and the kids picked out their crayons and folders.
"I don't know if they'll take our offer, but I really, really want this house."
"I can tell."
"I'm probably letting it get to my head too much, because nothing says we'll get it but… it's just so perfect. I'm already thinking about how I want to paint the master bedroom and shouldn't be thinking like that because I'm going to get disappointed. What do I do if we don't get it?"
"You look for something else and realize that the perfect family doesn't always need a perfect house."
"Yeah, I guess."
"Buck up, private. You're going to get out of that apartment, one way or another."
"Yeah, that's true."
"So when's your next doctor's appointment?"
"Next week."
"And you're going to find out?"
"Yeah, and I'll tell you, I promise. We figure after the appointment we'll spill the beans to everyone else."
"I don't like admitting this, but I feel kinda special that you guys told us first."
"Of course we told you first. Told you first last time too."
"Even before your family?"
"Yeah. The only time I didn't tell you first was the first time and… well anyway."
"Anyway."
They moved on from the subject and started contemplating the price of crayons, and if the kids really needed the 64 pack that they so desperately wanted.
"Colton, do you know how many of these crayons are going to get busted or lost and you'll be upset and I'll have to buy you a whole new 64 pack?"
"No, but I want a lot of crayons."
"But the list says a twelve pack is all you need," she argued, pulling a twelve pack off the shelf.
"Sweet Thing, you see what she's trying to buy me?"
Isa looked at the small box and raised her eyebrows.
"Indy, don't you know nothin' 'bout kids?" she asked, one hand on her hip in the most striking display of being Austin's daughter that Lindsay had ever seen.
"I guess not. Here I was thinking kids would want some ice-cream after shopping. I must have been wrong. Pity."
"Yeah, I was under the impression that kids liked sprinkles on their two scoops. That must be just for mamas. We'll get ice-cream. You two can look at your crayons."
"No, we want ice-cream too!" Colton said, looking over at Isa whose jaw had dropped in astonishment.
"I don't know Linds. Maybe if they agreed to split the big pack we could take them out for ice-cream."
"Yeah, maybe that would be okay."
"We'll split it," Isa promised. "Even Steven, like daddy makes me and Sarah do with cookies."
"Yeah, we could split as long as I get the gold color."
"Okay! I hate that one. It's trashy."
Austin laughed silently and shook her head, wondering how Isa came up with some of the things she said.
Once the crayon debate was settled, the kids forged ahead with looking for folders and notebooks, Colton stopping to smell a box of pencils.
"What is your kid doing?"
"He had a little nervous moment this morning and I told him that when I was little I loved the smell of crayons and pencils and it made me feel better when I was homesick at school."
"Are you kidding me?"
"No."
"Wow. I can't even… wow."
Lindsay shrugged and took the bag of erasable pens out of the cart.
"Taylor set her wedding date."
"And now you shall weep and feel old."
"Basically. It's two weeks after the kids start school. I think I'll only go out for three days, but maybe four. I'm not sure yet."
"Who's going to watch the boys while Adam's at work?"
"Faye said she could come for a day or two, Ellie might take a day. I'm not totally sure but we have a while to figure it out."
"Can I go with you?" Austin asked, before she had really thought it through.
"What?"
"I dunno, I just… suddenly want to go with you."
"Really? To Montana."
"Yeah. You always talk about it and when we were there for your wedding I didn't really get to see much and the guys promised that someday we'd get to have a girls weekend with no kids."
"You're right, they do owe us."
"I don't have to come with you, I just thought it might be fun."
"Are you kidding? You can't back out now. You're coming with me."
"You won't be embarrassed of me for being such a city girl?"
"I don't think anyone will understand us enough for me to be embarrassed."
"True that is."
Lindsay chuckled and found a pencil box for Colton.
"This will be the best vacation ever."
"I'm actually pretty thrilled myself. No glitter glue, Isabeth."
"But ma-"
"Remember our talk?"
"No glitter glue," she sighed, putting it back on the shelf sadly. Austin crouched down and pulled Isa into her arms whispering something in her ear that made her giggle. Isa took off running, crashing into Colton and tickling his sides as he laughed and tried to get away, then turned the tables on her, grabbing her in one arm and tickling her with the other.
"Colt no!" she squealed, twisting in his arms.
"Okay, now we're all filled up on ticklin' okay?"
"Okay."
They shook on it and moved on down the aisle while Lindsay and Austin shook their heads.
"Hey Isa?"
"Yeah?"
"Is your rootbeer almost gone?"
Isa slurped through her straw and grinned.
"Is now."
"You wanna share mine?"
Grinning, she pulled her straw from her rootbeer float and stuck it in his.
"I just got spittle left in mine," she informed him.
"Let's drink it all. Ready? Go!"
They slurped until the rootbeer was gone and all that was left was a warm blob of ice-cream.
"Are you happy for school to be starting?"
"Yep. But I wish Sarah could come with us too."
"Yeah. We will miss her."
"She's pretty cool for bein' littler than us, huh?"
"Yep. We will go to school and learn how to do all of it and then we will teach Sarah and she will be the smartest kid in her kindergarten."
"And then she could come to the next kindergarten with us!"
"Yeah!"
They high fived over the table, then sat back on the high stools, grinning. They were very excited to get to have their own table while Lindsay and Austin sat halfway across the shop, and were feeling quite grown up without the supervision.
"Daddy says that in school you have to have homework," Isa sighed. "Did your daddy say the same thing?"
"Yeah. Mama too. But they promised to help me. I don't want to do bad on my work."
"I don't either."
"Maybe we could help each other too."
"Yeah! We will always help each other, huh Colt?"
"Yep, all the time. Did you know that I love you?"
She giggled and twisted a strand of hair around her finger.
"Yeah, I know that."
"I love you like my daddy loves my mama. He said he loves mama so much that when she comes into the room his heart beats faster."
"My daddy says he loves my mama so much that his arms hurt when he's not huggin' her," Isa said with a nod. "You love me that much Colt?"
"Well my arms never hurt," he said, contemplating what she said. "But I sure like huggin' you sometimes."
"Will you be my best friend forever and ever and ever?"
"Yep. Maybe someday we will get married and live in a house together. And we will have family dinner and you will cook."
"I can't cook, I'd blow up the whole place!"
Colton laughed.
"Do you wanna get married Isa?"
"Yeah, when I am a grown up lady."
"Okay. I will wait for you to be a grown up lady."
"Colt?"
"Yeah?"
"What if you love someone else when you get to be older? What if you marry some other grown up girl?"
He shrugged.
"I will still love you for all the days Isa. I can't break my promises."
A grin cracked across her face and they leaned closer to each other, pressing their noses together.
"Hey Colt. You only gots one eyeball."
"You do too. Your eye is a different color than mine."
"Yep. Yours is brown. Your mama and Ben gots brown eyes too, huh?"
"Yeah. Daddy gots blue ones. Your daddy has blue ones too. And Sarah and Junior too?"
"I think so. You got freckles too huh?"
"Yeah, mama says I get them in the sun but they go away in the winter. She had freckles when she was little like me. Hey, you kind of have cute ears."
"Why are you lookin' at my ears, Colt?"
"Because they're just sittin' there," he explained, keeping his nose against hers.
"Sometimes you say things that your daddy would say."
"Yeah, I know."
"Hey, wanna try to kiss again?"
"I don't think so. Remember it was spitty last time?"
"Oh yeah. Kissin' is gross. Why do the grown ups do that?"
"I don't even know, Isa."
Colton sat on his bed, staring intently at the school supplies spread out before him. Lindsay had told him he could look at them but he couldn't lose any and he wasn't allowed to play with them until school started. That was fine with him, he was more concerned with fitting everything into the Yankees bag that Danny had gotten for him. Isa had one also, and they had been thrilled to come home and find those waiting for them. He'd packed the bag three times now, wondering how it would work best.
"Hey buddy, time for bed."
He looked up from his plastic ruler and smiled at Adam.
"Daddy, how many more days until school?"
"Two months."
"That is so long."
"It won't be too bad, I promise. Let's put your stuff away."
They packed the bag up and Colton slid under his covers, yawning a little.
"Where's Ben?"
"He's cuddling with mama for a little bit. Want me to read to you?"
"No. Could you tell me about school?"
"Again?"
"Yes."
"What do you want to know?" he asked, smoothing Colton's hair back from his face.
"Is school scary? Are the teachers mean? What if I don't like school, can I come home?"
"No, school isn't scary bud. It might be a little intimidating at first, but you'll get used to it and it won't be so bad anymore."
"Will I make friends?"
"Of course you will. People would be silly not to be your friend. Of course there's always some kids you won't get along with, but if you are the nicest person you can be, I don't think you'll need to worry about having friends."
"Daddy?"
"Yes?"
"If school is bad, can I just wait and try again later?"
"Nope."
"Okay. I just wanna know my options."
Adam chuckled and leaned over, kissing Colton's forehead and giving his hand a squeeze.
"I love you bubba."
"Love you too daddy."
They shared a hug and Adam stood up, turning the light out before going back into the living room. Lindsay and Ben were curled up on the couch together and he was nearing sleep, but just wanting to be around his mama for a bit longer. She was whispering gently to him and brushing his hair back from his face, and Adam stepped a little closer so he could hear what she was saying.
"I know it makes you feel left out when Colton gets to do things that you don't get to do. It's just because he's older so it's his turn to do them. But in a few years it will be your turn to go to school."
He nodded and played with her hand, spinning her ring around her finger.
"Ben stay home mama?"
"Yeah, you'll stay home with me or daddy when Colton's at school."
"Cole bye lots?"
"No, not very much. Just a few hours in the mornings."
"Ben miss Cole."
"I know you'll miss him, but it won't be very much and you'll get mama or daddy all to yourself those days."
"Mornin'?"
"No, kindergarten doesn't start in the morning. Not for a long time. You are going to have plenty of time to play with your brother before that."
He sighed and cuddled into her more, patting her stomach.
"Baby sleep?"
"Yeah. And it's time for you to go to sleep too."
His arms went around her neck as she picked him up and carried him into the bedroom.
"You want to sleep in your bed or Colton's bed?"
"Ben bed."
She pulled the covers back and settled him in under the firetruck quilt, then leaned down to kiss him.
"I love you Benjamin."
"Ben love mama. Sleep night."
She slid his glasses off and he closed his eyes, sighing and letting sleep take him. She moved over to Colton's bed, kissing his cheeks and his forehead before tucking the blankets just a little closer around him.
She tiptoed into the kitchen, finding Adam raiding the freezer for dessert. She smiled and walked up behind him, sliding her arms around his middle and resting her head against his back.
"Hey. I found cream puffs in here."
"I haven't bought cream puffs in a really long time. Actually I don't think I have ever bought them."
"Then what are they doing in our freezer?"
"Obviously they're on a suicide mission," she chuckled as he pulled the box out of the freezer and opened it.
"Well their plan backfired because they are freezer burned and I am not eating them."
She chuckled and leaned back against the counter, watching as he threw the cream puffs into the trash.
"Well now what are you going to do?"
"It must be a sign that I should skip dessert. I've been putting on sympathy pounds you know."
She smiled and shook her head while he stuck his stomach out.
"I think I'm even bigger than you are babe."
"Stop standing like that, you're going to throw your back out."
"I'm not that old," he said, walking over and placing his hands on either side of her.
"Yes you are. You're ancient. You're creaky. You're three days away from needing a wheelchair and fake teeth."
"You wound me."
"Cradle robber."
He smiled and swooped in to kiss her, then tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Adam?"
"Yes?"
"Can you hug me for a while?"
His arms clamped around her and drew her to his chest where she buried herself and closed her eyes. Neither one of them said anything for a long time, they just stood together and breathed.
"Feeling like things are moving a little too fast?" he asked after a moment.
"Yeah."
"Me too."
"We should schedule some downtime."
"We're going to be really busy really soon."
"I know. Maybe we can take the boys to the beach, just for the day."
"I think we should. Just us."
"It would be nice to get away for a little bit."
"We'll find some time in the next month or so."
She nodded and he began to sway them slowly, to music that didn't exist, music that they didn't need, because happiness was their rhythm.