by Ann, Natalie
He laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. “You’re right. But I’m here and now I need to do this.”
He pulled to the side of the road. He didn’t feel anything. No pounding of his heart. No flashbacks. No screaming voices in his head.
“I’m going to guess one of these houses was yours since we are stopped.”
“Yeah. That one right there,” he said, pointing to the brick colonial. “It’s a lot smaller than I remembered it.”
“Things are bigger when we are kids. How do you feel right now?”
“See, it’s things like that. You get me when not many do. That’s more important than if my grandparents like you or not.”
He looked over and saw her eyes start to fill and felt like shit he might make her cry. He reached up and touched her cheek and wiped away a stray offender.
“Sorry. That tear came out of nowhere. I have no right to be nervous and I know it. And I’m sorry if it bothered you. Why don’t you show me the playground and play area? I bet yours is nicer now.”
He laughed. “I’m sure it is. This is a great area and the houses are still maintained well, but it’s nothing like what I’m moving into. Paradise Place,” he said, shaking his head again. The guys at HQ had been busting his ass when they found out where he was buying.
He pulled back to the street and drove the block over. She was right, this was so much smaller than he remembered. And as he drove past it, he knew he’d never come back.
There were things that he needed to put behind him and he was glad he was able to do it with Ruby.
17
More Relaxed
“Josh, come give me a kiss,” his grandmother said and reached for him. Ruby was trying not to grin at the short older woman that reminded her of a sweet granny that she’d never had or even witnessed other than on TV. She supposed it was nice to have her first experience be with the boyfriend she seemed the closest to.
Josh leaned down and kissed his grandmother on the cheek. “Grandma, this is Ruby Gentile. Ruby, my grandparents Theresa and Bob Turner.”
“Nice to meet you,” Ruby said, reaching her hand out to Theresa only to have her pull her in for a hug.
“I don’t shake. I like to hug. Ask Josh.”
“She does,” Josh said, winking at her. “My grandfather will just nod his head from his chair. The pregame is on. That’s important to him.”
Bob turned and grinned at her, lifted his hand and winked. “Josh knows us well. Welcome,” he said. “Theresa has been in the kitchen making all of Josh’s favorites for snacks. Hope you’re hungry. Now that you’re here maybe we can get something.”
Josh laughed. “Sorry. I would have come sooner if I knew Grandma was making you starve.”
“You know your grandfather never starves. Have a seat and let me bring out some snacks and then you can tell us all about your new house.”
“Let me help you,” Ruby said. Josh went to sit with his grandfather and Ruby followed Theresa to the kitchen.
It was a nice house. Definitely maintained well. Not old fashioned like she might have expected from someone living in the same house for most of their lives. Josh had told her his grandparents had lived here since his father was a kid.
When they were in the kitchen, Ruby saw trays of different snacks on the table. Way too much food for four people. “Are more people coming?” she asked.
“No. Just the four of us. I worry that Josh doesn’t get to eat much. I’ll send him home with most of this.”
There were pepperoni and cheese, dips and chips, shrimp cocktail, and pigs in a blanket. “I bet Josh loves the mini hot dogs the best.”
Theresa giggled and it was such a cute sound coming from a grandmother. “You know him well.”
“Comfort food,” she murmured.
“I’m so glad you were willing to give up time with your family to spend it with Josh and meet us,” Theresa said as she pulled out glasses.
“Oh, I brought wine. Josh left it in the car. I’m so sorry. I guess I was distracted when we pulled up.” And nervous as all hell. “I’ll have him go get it.” Better than trying to explain that she didn’t have a family. Josh had told her he’d told his grandparents about her, but she was wondering if he omitted that part.
“Wine is lovely. I do enjoy a glass of it myself.” Theresa turned and put the everyday glasses aside and grabbed two wine glasses and a beer glass. “Josh will have no more than two since he has to drive back. I know he’ll want one now before the game starts. Why don’t you bring him this and tell him to get the wine.”
She walked out and handed him the beer. “Can I have your keys to get the wine?”
He stood up. “I completely forgot it in the backseat. I’ll get it.”
She walked out with him to the foyer. “Your grandmother mentioned something about me not spending time with my family to meet yours. I thought you told them about me.”
“I told them about you now. Not your childhood. I’m sorry. I didn’t think anything of it, to be honest. What did you say?”
“Nothing. I said I forgot the wine and the subject changed.”
He leaned down and kissed her. “No worries. She’ll take that as a hint to not bring it up again. I’ll tell her another day if you want.”
“Thanks,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if it comes up again.”
“It won’t. Trust me on this. She’s pretty sharp.”
Ruby stood there while Josh ran to his SUV and came back with the two bottles of wine, then she returned to the kitchen. “Why don’t you bring out the snacks and I’ll pour us each a glass. We can all relax for a bit before I need to get back to dinner.”
“That sounds lovely,” Ruby said. “And I hope you’ll let me help you with dinner. I do love to cook.”
“Sweetie, I’m so glad to hear you say that. Now I won’t worry so much that Josh might starve.”
When all four of them were in the living room, Bob asked, “So do you have a closing date yet?”
“Not yet,” Josh said. “Should be less than two weeks though.”
“We don’t normally get a firm date until a few days before. The lawyers and banks all have to get on the same page. Lots of paperwork.”
“Bank?” his grandmother said. “Why aren’t you just paying cash for it? Haven’t we taught you anything about your money?”
Ruby almost started to choke on her wine but didn’t say a word.
“The interest rates are low and it’s a write off,” he mumbled and Ruby was pretending she didn’t hear that. “I’m making more in my investments and didn’t want to cash them in if I emptied my savings. I shouldn’t even have that much in savings.”
“Leave the boy alone, Theresa,” Bob said. “He knows what he is doing. We taught him well. So tell us about the projects you’re doing. You said it’s a fixer upper.”
“First thing is the floors,” Josh said. “There is carpet throughout, but the original floors are hardwood. I hope they’re in good enough shape to just refinish and stain. I’ll put new floors in the kitchen and at least the master bath. That’s the next project. Tile my shower, new vanity, new floor. Kitchen cabinets are in great shape so I’ll paint them. New appliances and counters.”
“Are you doing it all yourself?” Theresa asked. “Bob spent years in construction and taught Josh everything he knows,” she said to Ruby.
Which explained why he wasn’t afraid to take on the project, though by the sounds of it he could hire anyone he wanted to.
“Most of it. I’ll hire out for the counters. I’ve got a few weeks before my lease is up that I can get the floors done. I’m going to take a week off and just work on the house nonstop if I can. I’d like the floors, kitchen, and master suite done before I move in. I can work on the rest as it comes.”
“Smart boy. Don’t spend your money on two places,” Theresa said.
She found it so sweet they were worried about him, but it sounded to her that Josh was a heck of a lot smarter than anyone thoug
ht with his money.
What was said earlier? That no one would look at them and know the childhoods they had? Wasn’t that the truth.
* * *
Josh couldn’t believe his grandmother had to go and pretty much say how much money he had.
It was one thing he tried to keep private. Not that Ruby didn’t know some of it. He was putting over a hundred thousand down on the house and she did see what he was pre-approved for. But that approval came from his income and savings, not his investments which he had no intention of touching for anything.
“I’m hoping to put Ruby to work in the new house if she has time.”
“I’d love to help. I told you I’m good at painting. Wallpaper removal too. Oh, the ugly rooms I’ve seen. You’re lucky your house isn’t that bad. Some primer and paint and most of the rooms are ready to go.”
“Do you own your own place?” his grandfather asked her.
“No. I rent right now. I can’t seem to find the perfect place for me. I think it comes from seeing so many houses that I can’t decide and always worry that it’s not the best investment.”
“I plan on putting her painting experience to use,” he said, winking at her and dropping his arm over her shoulder where she’d sat next to him on the couch. He kissed her cheek and then leaned forward to fill his plate with snacks. “Thanks for the pigs in a blanket, Grandma.”
“I wouldn’t forget,” his grandmother said. “Josh’s mom used to make them on holidays as a snack and Josh and his father would eat the whole plate by themselves. No one else had the stomach for them.”
Josh grinned. It didn’t bother him to hear about his parents. Or talk about them. He enjoyed doing it when he could. His grandparents never let their memory die for him like so many might do when they were grieving themselves.
“And my father was a Cowboy fan. My grandfather, the Giants. Lots of arguments in the house on Thanksgiving since the Cowboys always played,” Josh said.
“My son was a traitor,” his grandfather said. “I still loved him for it, but a traitor he was. My boy Josh takes after his grandfather though.”
“That’s because you told me I had to if I wanted to watch football in the house,” Josh said, laughing.
His grandfather grinned. “So glad to have you here, Josh. Ruby, did Josh bring a cooler?”
“He did,” Ruby said, smiling. He looked over at her to see how she was handling things and she seemed so much more relaxed.
He gave her another kiss on the cheek. “Grandma, did you make sauce for me? I told Ruby no one makes sauce and meatballs like you.”
“You know I did. And I expect you to come back another weekend with Ruby so she can have it fresh.”
“I’d love to,” Ruby said and Josh knew it was sincere.
None of the women he’d brought home over the years felt comfortable around his grandparents for some reason. Or maybe they didn’t like that his grandparents talked about his parents as if they were just vacationing for the moment rather than being gone for almost thirty years.
Not Ruby. As nervous as she was, she seemed to be fitting right in as if this was a place she’d love to be.
He hoped so, because he knew he was already falling in love with her.
18
Too Close
Ruby zipped up her skirt and slipped on heeled ankle boots with her black tights.
Normally she wasn’t excited about a closing, but today was Josh’s closing and she couldn’t be more thrilled than if it were for her own home.
Deep down she kind of felt it might be. She’d found this place for him and they’d spent hours talking about all the changes he was going to make.
He even asked her to help him, which she couldn’t wait to do.
Not this weekend though. He had a bunch of guys showing up tomorrow to help him pull up carpets. She’d stop over and say hi to them all, bring them food and drink, but she wouldn’t stay long.
However, she had every intention of taking a day off to help paint when he needed it. He wasn’t even taking the week off next week but rather was going to go there after work each night to do what he could until the floors were completed since he couldn’t walk on them while they dried.
Once she checked herself out in the mirror one more time, she grabbed all her stuff and left to go to the house for the final walk through before heading to the lawyers. The closing was first thing and then Josh was going back to change locks and “putter around” were his words.
She tried to keep her schedule as light as she could for the night so that she could spend the time with him. Maybe walk around and listen to his ideas and give a few of her own.
Then she told herself that maybe she needed to take a few steps back. That she was getting a little too close to Josh in just over a month.
She wouldn’t say she’d ever been in love before, but she was starting to think she might be sliding into it the way a kid ran and jumped on a slip and slide and lost control spinning and turning until they reached their destination.
The question was, would she like the destination or the position she landed in? Or would she run in the other direction before she had a chance to get wet?
She pulled into the driveway to see Josh’s SUV already there waiting for her. “Excited?” she asked.
He yanked her forward and wrapped her up tight, then landed a kiss on her lips. For early December it was still pretty nice out. High forties and no breeze, but Josh’s touch was warming her up as if she were sitting in front of a roaring fireplace.
“Does that answer it for you?”
“Let’s go in and check everything out before you sign your life away.”
He laughed. “I don’t think it really feels that way. Do most new homeowners say that?”
“Most do when they sign the paperwork and see all those zeroes. Or when they hand over that certified check for the closing costs.”
His was bigger than most because of the amount he was putting down, then all the fees and taxes. He’d ended up putting down forty percent and she wasn’t shocked after she’d found out the cash he’d had.
“It’s only money,” he said and followed her up the stairs.
So say people that have more than most. And she rubbed elbows with a lot of people that had more money than she’d ever have.
“Still give you that feeling?” she asked when they walked into the foyer. The dining room and formal living room were completely empty. Rather than the house feeling eerie, it actually still felt welcoming.
“It does,” he said looking around. “Not only did they empty it, but it’s spotless.”
“I put that in all the paperwork when I close. I can’t tell you the number of times someone said they didn’t need that and when we did the final walk through there was crap left behind that the new owners had to throw out or messes to clean up. Most just want to move in that day. Most have to.”
“Have to?” he asked.
“Not everyone has a few weeks window before they can move in. Plenty close on one and purchase on another on the same day. They are packed up and just drive their stuff to the new place and have to sleep there that night.”
“I didn’t think much of it,” he said.
“Because you are in a position to not have to worry about it. It’s a nice position to be in.”
They moved to the kitchen and looked around. She opened up a few cabinets. Not even a spider web to be found. She started to turn the faucets on, checking the water, then went to the half bath to flush the toilet.
“What are you doing?”
“Making sure there aren’t any plumbing issues.” She opened up the cabinet under the sink and looked. “A lot can happen in the past thirty days. I’m making sure there aren’t leaks or anything that is different. Once we sign those papers, this is your place and your headache.”
“True. I guess since I’m changing so much it’s not that big of a worry to me.”
“I understand that, but you still don’t want to
walk into a place and know something happened and you signed the papers.”
They made their way through the rest of the house, noticed everything was fine and were getting ready to leave when he pulled her into his arms and kissed her again.
She leaned back gasping for air. He really did have the magic touch with her. “What was that for?”
“Our first kiss in the house. I wanted to do it before we left. We’ll do it again later.”
“I’m going to hold you to it,” she said.
* * *
Josh walked out of the lawyer’s office the proud owner of his first house.
And when he’d kissed Ruby in it, it felt like a home to him rather than a house.
As much as he saw himself getting closer with her, he had a feeling she was holding back and he wasn’t sure why.
They’d kept it businesslike—she shook his hand when it was done rather than giving him a kiss—but he understood why.
She had a professional image she had to maintain and giving her boyfriend a hug and kiss in a lawyer’s office wasn’t her way.
When they were in the parking lot, she reached for his hand and gave it a little tug. “Congrats.”
“Thanks. Dinner tonight?” he asked. “Back at my place?”
“I’m not sure how long I’ll be. No later than seven, I think. How about I grab a pizza on the way?”
“That works for me.”
He watched her walk away while he climbed into his SUV and drove to the hardware store to get new locks. That was the first course of business in his eyes.
When he pulled into the driveway, he hit the garage door opener and pulled in. He hadn’t had a garage to pull in once and knew he was going to love this. No more cleaning snow off this winter.
He grabbed his toolbox and went in the mudroom off the kitchen.
