“Where are you taking us?” Aimee glanced over her shoulder at Carson, who was fastened safely in his car seat in the back.
“I have a surprise,” Shane explained, beaming. “A big surprise.”
She checked her reflection in the sun visor mirror. “I’d have thought you’d run out of surprises after that stunt at the beach.” She lifted her hand, appreciating the glint in her engagement ring. “This ring really is beautiful,” she sighed.
She leaned and brushed a kiss against Shane’s cheek, immediately bringing a smile to his face. Shane was genuinely happy, and from the look on Aimee’s face, she felt the same. Never before had he felt so settled. Instead of drifting from day to day, focusing on a good time, he looked to the future. A real future, with Aimee and Carson.
“Okay, close your eyes,” he instructed as he pulled up to the gate at the entrance to the neighborhood. Wimberly Ann was standing by her car on the other side. She pushed the remote box and motioned him in.
“Okay, open!” he told Aimee, barely able to hold in his excitement.
Aimee slowly opened her eyes. She frowned. “I don’t understand. Where are we?”
Wimberly Ann waved her manicured hand in their direction.
Aimee pointed. “And who is that?”
“Ta-da! That’s our realtor,” Shane explained. “She’s going to show us some houses.”
This made Aimee even more confused. “Houses?”
Shane nodded eagerly. “We can’t easily raise a family in that tiny shanty, can we?” He put the car in gear and followed Wimberly Ann’s vehicle until she came to a stop in front of the house they’d looked at the other day. Of the three, this one was his favorite. Even so, he’d let Aimee choose which they would put earnest money down on.
“Can we afford this?” she asked. “I mean, I just got my old job back. Tips are good, but not mortgage good.”
Shane explained about the money he’d inherited while he was unfastening Carson from the car seat. “We can’t get crazy. I mean, we still have a budget. Wimberly Ann is going to show us a few today. You can choose which one we’ll buy.”
Aimee beamed. “Are you kidding? Wow!”
Wimberly Ann approached. Today she was wearing a tight-fitted sleeveless dress in yellow. She’d clipped her hair back with an ornamental fake plumeria of the same color. “Well, hey, you two. Are you ready to purchase a house?” she asked.
Shane made introductions. Wimberly Ann cooed over Carson, who had just woken up. The baby’s face brightened into a wide smile, leaving deep dimples in his cheeks.
“Aren’t you just darling?” Wimberly pinched his cheek lightly before turning to them. “Well, let’s take a look at this house.”
The front of the two-story structure was painted blue with white trim. Aimee clapped her hands together. “Blue is my favorite color,” she exclaimed. Shane thought this was a good sign.
His fiancée also loved the spacious living space, the kitchen cabinetry, and the master bedroom with the ensuite bath.
“The location is top notch,” Wimberly Ann explained. She removed a copy of the listing from her clipboard and handed it to Aimee. “The schools are highly desirable and you have grocery stores nearby.” She winked. “And a Starbucks.”
That seemed to sell Aimee. “I love it. I want this one.”
“Are you sure?” Shane asked, hoping she wouldn’t change her mind.
“Oh, yes. Did you see the bedroom with the big window overlooking the palm trees in the backyard? That would make the perfect nursery. And later, when Carson is older, we’ll move him upstairs and convert the nursery into the guest room. Or an office.”
Wimberly Ann was quick to jump on the notion that a sale was imminent. “Excellent! I’ll get the paperwork together and bring it over to you this evening to sign.” She turned to Shane. “You’ll need to have a cashier’s check ready for the earnest money,” she told him.
“No problem. I can go to the bank this afternoon.” Shane’s heart pounded a bit faster. It was one thing to consider buying a home. It was another when the idea became reality. “We’ll see you tonight.”
He reached his arm around Aimee’s shoulder and pulled her against him. “Looks like we’re going to be homeowners.”