Page 42 of Sunsets at the Beach House

“Construction takes time, as I’m sure you know,” Rob said. “Right now, could be nine months. Depends on a few things, like weather, permits, inspections. How quickly you’re able to make your color selections.”

“Just like this,” Willie said. “I love everything in here. White and bright with all the touches of blue. I even like that teal color the office is painted.” She looked at Miguel. “What do you think?”

“It’s beautiful. I’d have no complaints with this.”

Rob nodded. “If you’re going to be that easy, we might shave a few weeks off the construction time.” He laughed. “I wish all my clients were like you guys.”

Willie had no doubt that was true. “There is one thing we’re going to need help with.”

“What’s that?” Rob asked.

“We need a beautiful back deck and pool. I want a perfect area to enjoy that water and to entertain our family.”

“We can do that,” Rob said. “We’ve got some incredible folks on staff as well as some subcontractors we work with who specialize in design. I’ve seen them do all kinds of things you wouldn’t believe. Like firepits and sitting areas that are part of the pool.”

Willie nodded enthusiastically. “We have to have a firepit.”

“Yes,” Miguel said. He pointed at Rob’s clipboard. “Make a note of that.”

Rob laughed. “Writing it down right now.” He pulled out his pen and scribbled something on his paperwork. “Shall we head back to my office then?”

“Yes,” Willie said. Her stomach was grumbling. “Do you have any snacks over there? I think my blood sugar’s getting low.”

“I can do better than snacks,” Rob said. “I’ll send you two to the Gulf Café for lunch. On me. Just let the server know the bill goes on the Rob Downing account. The café is one of the five restaurants we have on property here. That will give me a chance to get your paperwork in order and you two can take a break to refuel.”

“That’s very nice of you,” Miguel said. “But we don’t have a car.”

“Not a problem,” Rob said. “You can use one of the club cars.”

“Club cars?” Miguel’s brow furrowed.

“He means the golf carts,” Willie said. “Right?”

“Right,” Rob answered. “One of our primary goals in building Dunes West was to make it completely golf cart accessible. From your lot in The Preserve, you’re probably not more than ten or twelve minutes to the Center Commons. You’ll find everything you need there, from shopping and groceries to dining, the community center, the recreation hall, and the movie theater. We’ve got a library, a bowling alley, a medical facility, two dentists, a chiropractor, and the health spa.”

Miguel nodded, clearly impressed. “Is any of that included?”

Rob held up his finger. “The health spa is when you buy in The Preserve.”

“Good to know,” Willie said. “I guess we’ll need to get a golf cart then.”

Miguel nodded. “Maybe two. One for each of us.”

“Not a bad idea,” Rob said. “Let me go grab a set of keys and a map, and you two can go explore. I was going to take you there myself so you could see all we had to offer, but we ended up going to look at the lot instead.”

“That’s all right,” Willie said. “We’ll go have a look around.” She liked the idea of being able to get to things by golf cart. She’d driven one once, several husbands ago. She remembered it being pretty easy.

As Rob went to get the keys, Miguel laughed softly.

“What?” Willie asked.

“I wasn’t so sure you’d like this place. Or that I’d like it after I saw it, but the more I hear, the more I think I should have done this sooner.”

“Except you wouldn’t have met me, then.”

“True,” he said. “And I wouldn’t trade that for anything.” He kissed her cheek. “We’re going to have a good life here, don’t you think, my love?”

“I do.” A sense of anticipation went through her, knowing she’d be saying those words again to him very soon. Funny, she thought, how life had a way of giving you the best things when you least expected them.

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