I turn around and hold my head back. “How many kids do you think we’re going to have?”
The corners of his mouth turn up and he crinkles his eyes. “At least five.”
“Ha!” I laugh and shake my head. “You must have me confused with someone else. Two is my quota. Maybe three, if you’re lucky.”
“Y’all are never going to believe this,” Kaitlyn says, hurrying back over to us on her skinny high heels. “A house just went on the market a few blocks from here. It’s much smaller than this, at around nine thousand square feet, but still has everything you’re looking for…a gym, a music studio that can be converted to your art room, a pool, a four-car garage, and a nursery built right off the master suite,” she says, touching my arm. “What do you say? Do you want to head over and take a peek?”
I look at Sam and shrug. “Okay.”
We follow behind her silver Range Rover as she leads us down a tree-lined street to the other house. The dappled sunlight shining through the branches throws shadows on the windshield and reminds me how much I miss suburban life. I’ve been in the city so long, I forgot how comforting it is. “I miss this,” I say, looking out of the window at the manicured lawns and houses we pass.
“What?”
“Trees. Grass.” I look over at him. “I like this neighborhood.”
“Me too.”
“I still think this house is going to be too big, but maybe it could work.”
Kaitlyn turns down a driveway and stops in front of a closed wrought iron gate that’s flanked by jasmine-covered white brick walls. She lowers her window and enters a code on the keypad, and the gate slowly opens. Sam winds the steering wheel and his engine purrs as he turns into the driveway and follows behind her.
We drive up the paver driveway and park in front of a cozy two-story white brick home that’s adorned with modern black carriage lights and dark wooden garage doors. Green jasmine is climbing up a few of the walls. A set of arched, walnut-colored double front doors are situated in the middle of a wide front porch that’s covered in varying shades and shapes of gray slate tile. Two oversized, cushioned white wooden swings are hanging in front of the windows behind the tall white columns, adding to its charm.
“I like this house,” I say, getting out of the car.
Sam smiles at me over the roof of the car and shuts his door.
“Okay, y’all, what do you think?” Kaitlyn asks, walking up the steps to the front door.
“I think it has tons of character,” I say, walking up the steps behind her. I squat down and touch the half-inch grout between the stone tiles. “This is beautiful. Sam, look at this craftsmanship.” I stand up and look at the glass inserts in the front doors, appreciating the straight, clean lines.
“These doors were custom made,” she says, unlocking them. “Aren’t they gorgeous?” She smiles and waves us inside behind her. “Well, come on, y’all.”
I walk in before Sam and I’m enveloped in clean white walls, textured wooden floors, and vaulted ceilings that are adorned with weathered wooden beams and large glowing light fixtures that warm the entire space.
“The seller is calling this farmhouse chic,” Kaitlyn says, walking through the house. “Everything you see was designed by one of Atlanta’s top interior designers.”
“What kind of farmhouse looks like this?” Sam asks, shaking his head.
“Come on, let’s go check out the kitchen.”
We follow her into the open kitchen, which is nestled in the back of the house and surrounded by windows that overlook a sparkling blue pool and large green lawn that’s bordered by thick trees.
“Look,” I say to Sam, pointing to the far corner of the yard. “A playground.” I turn around and see him smiling, leaning against the white marble counter that cascades down the side of the island, and I know…we’re home.
“I like it,” he says to me.
“Me too.”
“You’ve got white uppers,” Kaitlyn says, looking at the tall cabinets that encase the kitchen. “But these dark lower cabinets will be great for hiding little fingerprints.”
“I love the contrast.” I look around the open space and touch the shiny white backsplash. “Especially these tiles.”
“So, you don’t think it’s too big?” she asks, raising her eyebrows over a small smile.
“No.” I shake my head and look at Sam. “It actually feels really cozy. I like it.” I bite my smiling lip. “A lot.”
He turns his hat around backward and looks at Kaitlyn. “We’ll take it.”
“Sam!” I laugh.
“Don’t you want to see the rest of the house first?” She looks at him like he’s crazy. “At least let me show you the gym. And the nursery!”
“Yes,” I answer for him, wrapping my arm around his waist. “We’d like to see the rest of it.”
Chapter 16
Lucy, One Month Later
I love this town,” Sebastian says, standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in my and Sam’s suite looking down at the Las Vegas strip that’s glittering below.
“Too bad Paul is missing it,” he says, shaking his head. “But duty calls.”
“Well, I’m just glad he’ll be your plus-one for the Aurelia Snow exhibit later this month. It’s been a while since we all hung out…Ahh”—I shake my hands out in front of me—“every time I mention it, I get butterflies now. It’s like the closer it gets, the more nervous I get.”
“That’s because it’s everything you’ve been working for since I met you. New York is your endgame.”
I put my hands on my growing stomach and shake my head. “I’ve got a new endgame now.”
“Just don’t forget that as soon as she’s out, you’ve got five other exhibits to start preparing for.”
“I know,” I say confidently, even though I have no clue how I’m going to balance the baby with my growing career.
Sebastian notices my uncertainty. “Hey, do you know how many working moms are out there kicking ass right now? You’ve got this. And, lucky for you, you can bring your baby to work.”
“To where? I still have to find us a new studio, remember?”
“Yes, I’m aware. But let’s just worry about getting you and Sam moved into your new house first, okay? Still the end of the month, right?”
“Yeah, right after we get back from New York. And after we get settled in the new house, I’m not doing anything until the after the baby’s born,” I declare, though it’s not likely. I’ve still got to get everything in my studio moved out and into storage.
“Don’t forget that you need to actually give the deed you signed back to Drew to Drew,” he reminds me.
“I know. It’s been in my bag for weeks. I’m just, not ready to see him…like this,” I say, looking down at my tummy.
“Lucy, it’s been months. I’m sure he’s moved on. And it’s not like you have a cold that’s going to go away anytime soon. You need to get it over with.”