Page 38 of Safer Alone
We then make our way to the attached master bathroom. An addition during a renovation and I was even more in love with this home. An oversized large claw foot bath holds prime position in the room; there is a large walk-in shower with two shower heads and a glass enclosure and a large timber vanity topped with a marble countertop and two porcelain basins.
I feel bad that I haven’t spoken much to Elliot during my tour of the home. I hope that he understands that it is due to my admiration of the architectural elements and soaking in every detail that I possibly can. I turn to face him and take both of his hands in my own. “Elliot, your home is truly breathtaking, totally exquisite, a rare gem.” I give him my most genuine smile which spreads across my entire face and lifts my cheeks.
He returns my smile with one of his own, a shy smile, one that I haven’t seen before. “My great-grandfather built Sands Manor in 1902. It has been passed down for generations. My grandfather left it to me when he passed away. I have some amazing memories from my childhood.” I nod in encouragement, hoping he would continue with his story. “I have done some renovations to the property, mainly in the kitchen and the guesthouse, which I will show you later on.” He looks down at his hands for a moment and then looked back at me. “This is my home, where I spend the majority of my spare time. I want to bring some of these features with me to Nashville. This is the style I want the cottage to be. What are your thoughts, Angela?”
He looks as though he is a little boy needing confirmation that his dream is indeed a reality. I know in my heart, that he truly wants to know what I think. This warms my heart greatly. With courage brewing inside of me, I take a step closer to him, releasing one of his hands and raising my free hand to gently grasp his chin, tilting it up from facing the ground to look at me.
“Elliot, I think that the Nashville cottage needs you to bring it back to life, the way you have already done to your own home.” I pause for a moment. “You have an amazing talent, you know that?” I stare into the depths of his eyes for a long moment until he finally replies.
Two small words. “Thank you,” his eyes drop ever so slightly and then raise back to my eyes again, he whispers “I want to kiss you.”
My heart beats hard against my chest. Not wanting to ruin the moment, I simply nod. He wastes no time, leaning in and pressing his soft lips against mine gently. He lifts one of his hands to gently cup my lower back and the other intertwining with my hair. Not knowing what to do with my own I decide on wrapping my arms around his neck and just following wherever it was that Elliot was taking me. His tongue gently licks my lips and I open my mouth for him and push my tongue outward to meet his.
I am surprised at how natural this feels, at how good it is. Our tongues dance with each other for a few more moments before his retreats and I quickly follow suit. I could tell that the kiss was wrapping up, a few more caresses with our lips, and we break apart. He leans his forehead against mine and lifts his hand from the small of my back to the side of my face. I hear his breathing is slightly more labored than usual and I feel amazing knowing that it was I who has done this to him. That my kiss has elicited this reaction. I release my grip on his neck and wrap my hands around his wrists.
I’m not sure how long we stand there like that, foreheads against each other, not speaking. It could have been seconds, minutes or even hours. We are comfortable enough in that silence too, no pressure to fill it with conversation. I don’t want to be the one to speak first, so I keep quiet.
“I better show you to the guest house. You must want to make that call you mentioned at the airport before it gets too late.” His voice is stronger than earlier. Is he trying to get rid of me? I noted that he hasn’t moved his position yet. I decide to move my face slightly and give him a soft brush on the lips with mine before pulling away. His eyes snap up to meet mine and the intensity in them shocks me at first, it was as though they were glistening.
“Oh Angela, come before I never let you go.” He seizes my hand in his, and we make our way down to the conservatory and out the French doors. We cross the manicured lawn, passing the large undercover entertaining area, around a large oval shaped swimming pool to another building. This one in the same style as the main house, just on a smaller scale, even the front door is the same shade of duck egg blue.
Elliot reaches out and unlocks the door and we enter a large open area, the focal point of which is a large open fireplace, with a beautiful stone mantle. Hardwood timber flooring made homey by the comfortable furnishings throughout. “Price brought your luggage in for you when we first arrived. It should be waiting for you in the bedroom.” He waves his hand to the right toward an open door, similar in size to the master bedroom of the main home. Furnished with a king-size bed with a black wrought iron frame. Sitting on top of the gold duvet cover were my two bags.
“I guess I’ll just leave you to it. Don’t rush, take your time. Pop back up to the main house whenever you’re ready.” He gives me a quick kiss on the cheek, before turning on his heels and leaving, closing the front door with a soft thud as he goes.
~ Chapter Nineteen ~
Once I am alone in the guest house, I take a moment to snoop around. I don’t find any photographs or personal items to provide any new information on Elliot. I locate a second bedroom with an attached bathroom, a kitchen and a laundry along with the large combined open living and dining area that greets you when you first enter the home. A beautiful sized guest house triple the size of my apartment back home.
After I have seen the remainder of the house, I return to the bedroom, deciding I should make a phone call to Mrs. Jones, the seller of Partridge Street, before it gets too late in the evening. I crossed the bedroom floor to my handbag and found my phone and searched my contact list to call the saved phone number “Good afternoon, Mrs. Jones, it’s Angela White calling. I hope I haven’t gotten you at a bad time.”
“No, not at all Angela. What can I do for you?”
“I am happy to inform you that the previous offer of $320,000 has been raised to $335,000 by the Thompson family. I wanted to make sure you were still okay with this amount before I accepted it on your behalf.”
I hear Mrs. Jones inhale a breath before speaking again, “Do you think we can push them for $340,000, dear?”
“Unfortunately, I don’t, Mrs. Jones. They have informed me that this is their best and final offer.”
The sound of Mrs. Jones clicking her tongue comes through loud and clear. I can tell she is thinking about the offer. “Okay, then. I accept $335,00. I’ll leave settlement details up to you, no longer than six weeks please.”
I smile into the phone when I reply. “Not a problem, Mrs. Jones, Congratulations!”
“Thank you, Angela. Have a lovely weekend, dear.”
“You too, Mrs. Jones. Take care.” I remove the phone from my ear and end our conversation.
I contemplate phoning the Thompsons to give them the good news, then I remember that I had told them earlier this afternoon that I would get back to them Monday at the latest, so I could wait until later in the weekend. Not wanting to hold out for too long, just in case they have second thoughts, I decide to send them an email instead. I open my email program and compose a quick email with the subject line reading ‘Congratulations Thompson Family!’
Dear Thompson Family,
Congratulations, your offer of $335,000 has been accepted by the owners of 19 Partridge Street.
I will be in contact with you on Monday to organize a time for you to sign the required paperwork.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Warm Regards,
