As soon as we walked through the door, I fell in love. There were only two bedrooms, but the living room was humongous, and the rear of the home was all glass – giving a great view of the ocean from anywhere in the living room or kitchen. There was no room for a family, but it would be perfect for us and one guest – or entertaining. The home was in the perfect spot – in Point Loma, within walking distance of Sunset Cliffs.

The realtor walked into the kitchen and picked up the spec sheet from the countertop. “Let’s see. Twenty-six hundred square feet, two bedrooms, two full baths, and the owner will pay half the closing costs. Beach view, and a two-car garage. It’s tough to get a garage, so that’s an added bonus.”

“Let us look around,” Cash said.

“Did you see the ocean?” I asked excitedly. “When we parked?”

He glared. “Shh,” he whispered. “Don’t let him hear you. These guys are like sharks. When they smell blood, they strike.”

It was the fourth home we’d looked at with a beach view. Although we’d made offers on the other three, none of them were accepted. It seemed although that we could afford to buy a home on our combined income, having a home with a view of the beach was something we were not going to be able to afford.

It was, however, on Cash’s list of ‘must haves’.

The first bedroom was covered in pineapple pattern wallpaper from the nineteen fifties. The second was faded pink with stains on the walls surrounding the outlets and light switch covers.

Both bathrooms needed more than updating. They needed demolished and redone completely.

In short, I loved it.

When we walked into the kitchen, the realtor was looking under the kitchen sink.

“It appears we might have a small leak,” he said. “I shut the valves off.”

“How long has it been vacant?” Cash asked.

The realtor shrugged. “I’m not sure. It’s been on the market for three hundred plus days.”

Cash pushed his hands deep into his pockets. “Tell you what. They’re asking a million six-fifty. I’ll give a million one. Fifty percent in cash, and I’m prequalified for the remainder. Thirty day close, the owner pays half the closing, and I’ll resolve whatever issues come up in the inspection short of termites. Take it or leave it.”

He chuckled. “That’s sixty-six percent of ask.”

“It’s a reasonable offer. They’ve been sitting on it for a year. It’s worth a million eight in perfect shape, and it needs three hundred grand worth of work. It’ll cost a hundred grand to get it to pass inspection. That’s a solid offer.”

He shook his head. “That’d be stealing this home.”

“It’s what I can afford.”

“Your inability to afford this home doesn’t warrant the owner taking a financial loss. Make it a million four, and I think we can make it work.”

“A million one is all I can do.”

I pulled Cash to the side. “I can take some of my money out of--”

“No,” he said. “I won’t consider it. That money stays in there until you’re retirement age. No exceptions.”

I sighed. “Okay.”

Over and over, I’d heard the same numbers, and the same “I’m sorry’s.” A million one hundred thousand wasn’t going to buy us a home with a beach view. We’d either need more money or to settle for a home without a view.

The problem was that after seeing homes with a beach view, I couldn’t imagine living in one without it.

“Are you going to make the offer?” Cash asked.

The realtor shrugged. “I’ll make it, but I doubt it’ll get a counter.”

“Give it a try,” Cash said.

He agreed, everyone shook hands, and we left. On the hour-long ride home, I was disappointed. The home, although it needed tremendous work, had the best view of all the homes we’d seen. The yard was bigger than most in the neighborhood and would have looked spectacular with my personal touch.

I could see flower beds on either side of the front porch, and a lavishly landscaped area in the back yard. tending my flowers while listening to the waves crash ashore would ease my mind an any worries that could – or would – ever crop up.

I imagined cooking breakfast in the kitchen while I looked out at the ocean. Watching sunsets over the beach while we drank wine in the breakfast nook.

Cash pulled the motorcycle into the driveway and shut off the engine.

“Are you sure I can’t take a little out of my retirement?”

He pulled off his helmet. “No. The answer’s no.”

I sighed, mentally making note of Erin’s proverb about how things could always be worse. “Okay. Well, at least we’ve got a place to call home.”

Still standing beside his motorcycle, he pulled his phone from his pocket and swiped his thumb over the screen. After checking his messages, his face washed with sorrow.

“What?”

He shoved his phone into his pocket. “They said no. A million four. Best and final. I’m three hundred grand short.”

I wanted to cry, but I forced a smile. “I guess we’ll keep looking.”

“Looks like it.”

With his arm draped over my shoulder, we walked up the drive, and to the porch. While Cash fumbled for the key, I noticed the mailbox door was open, and that a small box was hanging out of it.

I grabbed the box, shrugged, and carried it to the door.

“What is it?” Cash asked.

“I don’t know. A box.”

He unlocked the door. “Who’s it from?”

I looked at the label affixed to the box. “R. Hood”

He scrunched his nose. “R. Hood?”

I looked at it again. “That’s what it says.”

“What’s the return address?”

I glanced at the label. It had my address listed as the return as well. “It has mine for both.”

We stepped into the living room.

“Open it,” he said.

I got a knife and cut the tape from the ends of the box, and then opened it. Inside, a bundle wrapped in brown paper was tied with a red bow. A small white card – similar to one that would be sent with flowers – was tucked under the bow.

I removed the card from the small envelope and opened it.

“What’s it say?” he asked.

I handed him the card.

He read it, and then laughed out loud.

“What?”

“It’s from R. Hood. And, he signed the card Robin. Get it?”

“Robin Hood? Oh.” I chuckled. “Cute.”

I untied the bow, unfolded the paper, and gasped at what was in my lap. Stacks of hundred-dollar bills, bound by yellow ribbons declaring ten thousand dollars per stack.

Cash and I counted them. There were twenty-nine in total. And, a smaller bundle of six thousand dollars.

“It’s two-hundred-ninety-six thousand dollars,” I said. “In cash.”

Cash pulled the phone out of his pocket and punched his fingers against the screen.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Just doing some figuring.”

“It’s exactly what we need for that house. Well, four thousand short, is all,” I said. “You didn’t…this isn’t from you, is it?’

He shook his head. “No.”

“Can we spend it?” I asked.

He nodded. “We can.”

“Do you know who it’s from?”

His mouth curled into a smirk. “I do.”

“Who?”

“I can’t tell you,” he said.

“Why not?”

He shrugged. “Because I can’t.”

“But it’s okay to use?”

He smiled. “It sure is.”

I was so excited that I was shaking. “Do you want to call him, or can I?”

He handed me his phone.

With trembling hands, I opened the text message from the realtor, and pressed the little phone icon in the corner.

“There’s nothing I can do to get them to come down,” he said upon answering. “So, don’t ask.”

“Will they come down four thousand dollars?” I asked.

“Kimberly?”

“Yes, this is Kimberly.”

“Four thousand?”

“Yes,” I said. “Instead of five hundred fifty thousand in cash, it’ll be eight hundred and forty-six thousand.”

“Consider it done,” he said. “I’ll draft up the contract.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll be in touch.”

“Thanks again.”

I handed Cash the phone.

His eyes widened in wonder. “Well?”

“People who steal from the rich and give to the poor, are awesome.” I chuckled. “Tell the Prince of Thieves thank you. And, get your paint brushes ready. You just bought a house.”

“We,” he said.

“Huh?

“We bought a house. You said you bought a house. I didn’t buy it. We did.”

“Our house,” I said.

“That’s right,” he said. “Our house.”

It had a nice ring to it. I couldn’t wait to say it. Welcome to our home. Or even, hey, we’re free tonight. Would you like to come to our home? We can watch the sunset over the beach.

“I like that,” I said with a smile. “It has a nice ring to it.”