Gulf Coast Wedding by Maggie Miller
Chapter Six
Levi showed up at Sam’s at exactly six thirty, dressed in his referee uniform and ready to take Clayton trick or treating with Sam. The idea that he was getting to do something like this after not even knowing he had a son was staggering.
But hanging out with Clayton wasn’t all he was happy about. He was going to tell Sam about the house he’d found. He hoped she’d be happy about that, too.
He knocked and a moment later, Clayton answered, also dressed for the evening in his costume football uniform “Hey, dad.”
“Hey, Clay. Ready to score some candy?”
Clayton grinned. “Yeah.”
If the uniform colors weren’t different, Levi might not have been sure the kid had changed out of the one he’d had on for the game. He’d been pretty reluctant to change after the game today.
Levi stepped inside as Sam came out of the bedroom in her costume, which was a cheerleading uniform.
She gave him a smile. “Hey.”
His heart and mind hitched up at the sight of her, a flashback of time and memory to high school when he’d first fallen in love with her. “Hey. You look…hot.”
She laughed and Travis came around from the living room. “Try to keep the boys away from her, will you?”
Levi grinned. “I’ll do my best.”
Sam rolled her eyes while still smiling. “You two need to calm down.” She put her hand on Clayton’s shoulder. “Do you have your bag for candy?”
He took off for the bedroom, returning shortly with a Ludlow’s reusable grocery bag that had a jack o lantern face on the front. “I have it.”
“All right then, let’s go,” Sam said.
“Wait a minute.” Travis got his phone out. “Let’s get a picture of this. All three of you.”
They formed up with Clayton in the middle, Travis got his picture, then they headed toward the door.
“Have a good time,” Travis called out. “Bring me some peanut butter cups.”
“Okay,” Clayton said.
As they got into Levi’s car, Sam pulled a piece of paper from her small purse. “Trudy gave me a list of the best neighborhoods to go to.”
Levi took a look and nodded. “Looks good. Let’s do this.” He glanced back to make sure Clayton was buckled in, then reversed out of the driveway.
The first neighborhood was only a few minutes away, so they were out of the car and walking not long after they’d gotten in.
Clayton went ahead to the door of the first house while Levi and Sam waited on the sidewalk. Kids and parents were everywhere. A lot of them on golf carts.
“This must be a good spot,” Levi said.
Sam nodded. “I’d say.”
“So, I have some news.”
She took her eyes off of Clayton for a moment to look at him. “So do I.”
He smiled. “You first.”
The corners of her mouth turned up. “I found a dress today. And a suit for Clayton.”
“As in a wedding dress?” He hadn’t expected that.
She nodded. “It’s all becoming very real. About to be too late for you to back out.”
“I have no intention of doing that. A point I can prove with my news. I found a potential house for us.”
Her head turned and she stared at him. “To rent?”
“To buy. I made an appointment with the realtor to see it tomorrow at two. Your dad said he’d come with us and give us his professional opinion. Needs some work, but it’s totally doable. Big yard for Clayton. A pool too. Please say you’ll come look at it.”
“I—”
“Mom, mom, look.” As Clayton ran up to them, he opened his bag to show her the loot he’d gotten.
“Wow, you cleaned up.”
“Next house,” he said as he took off again.
Levi and Sam started after him. She exhaled. “Of course I’ll come look at it. That’s a big step, though. A house. Not to mention the cost.”
“I can afford it. And we need a place to live.”
She nodded. “We do. I hadn’t really thought about it all that much.”
“It’s in Salt Pines. Do you know that neighborhood? It’s an older one, but your dad said that means it has bigger lots which is a good thing. Fenced yard. Pool. Garage. Three bedrooms. Lots of unfortunate shag carpeting. Some wood paneling that’s seen better days. And a pretty hideous kitchen, but we can redo all that.”
She laughed, then shook her head. “Everything costs, though.”
“That’s okay. Like I said, I can afford it.”
She slanted her eyes at him. “You keep saying that. But eventually you’re going to run out of money.”
“Not so long as DC Solutions keeps me on, which I have every faith they will considering they just promoted me six months ago.” He took her hand. “And I have a good bit saved. I’ve done some smart investing, thanks to a friend of mine.”
Then he shrugged. “Besides all of that, you’re going to school to be a radiation therapist, right?”
She nodded. “Right.”
“So you’ll be making money soon too.”
“I don’t know about soon. It’ll be two years just to get my degree. But I know what you mean. It’s still a little scary.”
“What scares you about it? Living with me?”
“No, actually.” She smiled. “That part doesn’t scare me at all. It’s having that mortgage. And all the bills that come with owning a home. Insurance and electric and maintenance and all of that.”
“If it makes you feel better, I’ve run the numbers. I’d be interested in this house even if we weren’t getting married. I mean, I can’t live at my mom’s forever.”
“Really?” She came to a stop beside him as they reached the next house. “That does make me feel better. I guess we’re looking at a house tomorrow.”
He grinned. “Awesome. Two o’clock. Pretty sure my mom, Georgia and Lilly are coming along too.”
“And Clayton?”
“Absolutely he should come. It’s going to be his house as well. Better to see what he thinks of it now.”
As Clayton approached them, Sam turned toward her son. “Hey, buddy. How was that house?”
Clayton frowned. “They gave out toothbrushes. No one wants a toothbrush.”
Sam laughed. “Not on Halloween, huh?”
“Not ever. The next house better be good.” Clayton started walking and they fell into step behind him.
“Speaking of houses,” Sam began. “We’re going to look at one tomorrow to possibly buy. You, me, your dad, and grandpa. Plus Grandma D, and Miss Georgia and Miss Lilly. How does that sound?”
His face screwed up in a question. “A house for us to live in?”
She nodded. “That’s right.”
“Us and Grandpa?”
“No, Grandpa has a house already. It would be for you, me, and your dad.”
Levi leaned in a little. “It has a big backyard and a pool. And you’d have a room of your own.”
That seemed to set Clayton’s wheels turning. “Could I have bunk beds so Grunt could sleep over?”
Levi nodded. “Absolutely.”
“Okay. I’ll look at it.” Then he raced down the sidewalk to the next house where a bunch of kids were milling about the door and a woman was putting a big handful of candy into each outstretched bag.
Levi laughed. “I hope he likes the house with the same kind of enthusiasm.”
“Hard to tell with that kid sometimes, but I think you’ve sold it pretty well with the pool and his own room. I’m sure he’s tired of sharing with me, although he hasn’t said anything. Being able to have his friends over is a big plus too.” Sam leaned into Levi, slipping her arm around his waist. Her phone buzzed. She pulled it out, glanced at the screen, then tucked it away again. “Thank you.”
He kissed the top of head. “You’re so welcome.” Then he smiled because he couldn’t not smile.
Things were definitely looking up.