Chapter Fifteen
Six weeks later.
Andrew walked into the empty oversize bedroom. The master suite was the name the realtor had used. The walls had been painted white and the light-beige carpet throughout the upper level had been installed after the previous owner had moved out. The walk-in closet with built-in shelves was bigger than most bathrooms. Speaking of the latter, the master one had a big shower and garden tub with jets. If Emily decided to buy the house, he suspected she would be happy in it until her death.
His beautiful wife stood by the window. He wondered if she were gazing out at the large fenced-in back yard with a pool and playground set in the far corner or the mountains further away. He came to a halt at her side and found her caressing her belly with one hand and rubbing the heart locket between her fingers as if it were a good luck charm. He’d given her the engraved necklace as a Christmas gift. Inside it had a photo of them together. She wore it every day since their gift exchange in Arizona. The photo album she’d put together for him was the best gift he’d ever received. He looked at it daily.
She smiled at him. “It’s kicking.”
Andrew placed his hand near the center. Through her thin tunic, he felt a light tap against his palm.
His eyes widened. “I love feeling it move.” He disliked referring to his child as ‘it’, but every time they visited the doctor, the baby would be at the wrong angle or the legs were crossed.
“It started moving a few minutes after I stopped to look out the window.”
“Maybe he or she likes it here.”
She inhaled a deep breath. “Maybe.”
“What do you think of it?”
Andrew liked the home after their first visit. They’d checked out several other homes in Saint George, Utah. They’d returned a second time to compare it to two other potential homes. After they’d talked about their options in more detail, she’d decided she needed to see the five-bedroom three and a half-bath house for a third and final time.
“It’s very spacious,” she said.
“Do you still think it’s too big?”
“I don’t know. I like the area. The home feels cozy. It has a pool and playground. The view is great. The area is perfect and safe. Honestly, if spacious is my only complaint then it’s not a good one.”
He brushed her hair back from her shoulder. “Then what’s the problem? What’s stopping you from saying ‘yes, this is the home I want to raise our child in?’”
They’d spent a few weeks in Chandler, Arizona, after they’d left Rockville. Andrew rested for a solid week before they started looking at houses. They’d monitored the DC news to see if his face had popped up as a murder suspect, but it never had. And there hadn’t been any report of a murder in the hotel he’d been in either. Emily confirmed it with the police. Andrew wondered if the body had disappeared. It seemed impossible, yet his arrival on Earth had been equally unbelievable. So they stayed in Arizona and checked out a few potential homes. The Chandler area had been ranked highly for places to raise a child. While the town had been nice and the weather pleased Emily and Matt, Emily decided to visit Saint George to compare it to Chandler. Soon after they’d arrived, she’d said she’d preferred Utah.
She sighed and began to amble in the empty room. “It’s not that I don’t like it here. Compared to the others, this is the best house. It’s not that old. It has many upgrades. It’s clean and move-in ready. I think this is the best home to raise our child in.”
Although she had plenty of good things to say about the home, she had yet to say she wanted to buy it. Something had to be holding her back.
He stepped closer to her. “So, why don’t you want it then?” He took her hands into his. Her belly had filled out quite a bit more in the last six weeks. She finally looked pregnant.
“This is going to sound strange, but buying it will mean… Things are coming to an end.”
He lifted his head in understanding. She avoided discussing his return to heaven because it upset her so much. They had a ‘to do’ list before his departure and buying a house would shrink it. With not much left on the list, his impending death would seem closer.
“Think about your future and our child’s. Think about Matt. He’s family, too,” Andrew said, pulling her close until her belly bumped into him. “This is a start of a new life, a fresh beginning. Don’t think of it as leading to an end.”
“You’re right. It’s the beginning. But we have to reach an end first and no matter how hard I try to rationalize and accept it… I can’t.” Her voice quivered and her eyes began to fill with tears.
He embraced her and kissed her ear. “It’s time to choose a home.” He disliked pressuring her, but she’d already decided she liked the town and the house. To move forward, she’d have to take the next step no matter how emotionally painful it might be.
“I know. This is the home I want. I do. And I know Matt likes it too.” She sniffled and slid away from him.
“He’ll be here to help you with everything.”
She wiped her cheek. “I know. He’s like a true brother. I don’t think I could ever kick him out.”
Matt had told them he’d live with her until she told him to leave. Their dearest friend had been a saint. He’d booked everything under his name and had planned to buy the house, too, with Andrew’s funds of course. Once the paperwork cleared, he’d changed the deed so Emily’s alias would appear on it.
“All you have to do is say the words,” Andrew said.
She took a deep breath. More moisture built in her eyes. “Let’s do it. Let’s buy the house.”
Andrew took her face into his hands and molded her lips with his. With a little coaxing, he managed to end her dreary mood and create a more passionate one. The brush of her tongue heated his blood and sent it south to his groin. He’d never tire of kissing and loving his wife, but he had to put a break on their growing needs. The realtor was sitting in her car while Matt waited downstairs.
“I know the three of you will be happy here,” Andrew said.
She nodded. “We will. I’m sure of it.”
“Let’s go tell them.”
Andrew followed Emily down the hall and front stairs. Reaching the entryway, they rounded the corner. Emily continued toward the living room, but turned to enter the kitchen. Matt stood in front of the patio doors in a military-type pose with his arms crossed and legs slightly parted. He’d worn jeans and button-down green shirt.
“I hope you like it here,” Emily said walking toward him. “Because I’ve decided we should buy it.”
Matt lowered his arms as he turned to face them. “Really? Are you sure?” Excitement laced his tone.
Andrew stopped beside her. “I think this is the best house out of the two. It’s spacious and has plenty of upgrades.”
“I could always live in the basement. It’s big enough you could convert it into a large one-bedroom apartment,” Matt said.
Andrew met Emily’s gaze. “It’s up to you.”
“I don’t know.” She looked at Matt. “It’s something to think about if want to do that, but I don’t mind you living in one of the bedrooms upstairs and sharing the rest of the house with me.”
“It’s an option,” Matt said. “I don’t want you to think I’m crowding your space.”
Andrew smirked. “Crowding isn’t possible in this house.”
“He’s right. If anything, it’s twice the size of what would be more than adequate for you, me, and the baby.”
“She won’t be a baby forever,” Matt said.
“Or he,” Andrew said.
“She or he will have plenty of room to grow,” Emily said. “Did you see the size of each bedroom?”
Matt chuckled. “I’m so glad to hear you like it. This is a good choice. I feel it in my bones.”
Andrew slid his arm behind Emily’s back. He pulled her close until her hip bumped him. “See, the three of you will be happy here.”
“Shall I tell the realtor to get the paperwork drafted?” Matt asked.
“Yeah, let’s try to close before mid-March. We can buy furniture before the baby arrives in April. I’d like to have it in Saint George.” Emily looked at Andrew. “Are you okay with that?”
“Absolutely. As long as Matt’s name stays on everything until I leave, you should be safe here.”
“I’ve been thinking of a few ways to make it more secure. If you’re interested, we can talk about it later.”
“Yes, let’s do,” Andrew said.
Matt gave them a single nod. “All right then, I’ll go tell the realtor I’m buying this house. Once she hears I’m paying for it outright, I doubt we’ll have any problems closing in a month.”
Emily smiled, and it looked good on her. Because of her crazy hormones and the stress of finding a house, the baby, Andrew leaving, and the possibility of Steven finding them, she hadn’t appeared as joyful as usual. But of course he could always find a way to bring her out of her blues.
“We’ll meet you outside,” Andrew said to Matt.
Matt gave him a pat on his arm as he passed him.
“A step in the right direction. This good, Em,” Andrew said.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her belly against him. “Are we going to celebrate?”
“I think that’s a great idea. Did you have something in mind?”
“I did and it involves both us naked.”
His cock woke with a jolt. “We definitely are celebrating.”