Page 5 of Returning to Everton

Quinn:Yes but I knew if that wasn’t the first thing you saw when you woke up you’d forget about it. Don’t put it off babe. You’re moving here so you need a house. I happen to believe this is the house you need. So just put me at ease and call ok.

Me:Yeah yeah I’ll call gosh.

Quinn:Now?

Me:OMG yes leave me alone so I can actually call now :P

Quinn:Yay! Call me when you’re done. Love ya :P

Me:Ok ok love you too

Well looks like I’m making this call now. I chuckle to myself as I scroll back through our text conversation to find the contact info for the house. She’s right, though. I hate talking to people I don’t know on the phone. I would have put it off, and with my luck, by the time I would have called, the house would be already rented. I take a deep breath and dial the number. It only rings twice before someone answers.

“Hello?” Comes a deep raspy voice. I’ve clearly woken this man up, but he still has the sexiest voice I’ve ever heard. I didn’t know one little word could be so utterly seductive. I can’t seem to find my voice, so I just sit there holding the phone to my ear, stupefied.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” Comes the voice again. This mystery man, who just made my day better with one word, has an Irish accent. Oh god, I love accents, especially Irish.

I finally get my head clear enough to answer. He’s going to think I’m mentally incompetent and not want to rent to me. Damn it.

“Yes, sorry I’m here... I uh… I’m calling about the house?” Oh my god, did I really just say that? I’m such an idiot.

“Oh, you must be Quinn’s friend! She was pretty adamant when she called me last night that you would be callin’ me today. I must say I didn’t expect you to call quite so early,” he says.

I look at the clock, 7 a.m. Damn it, Quinn. I knew I should have waited.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t even realize what time it was. I just woke up to a text from Quinn telling me to call you. So after a brief argument, I finally agreed I’d call you once she left me alone,” I chuckle. “Of course, she left me alone after that. So here we are.”

A sane person would stop there. Apparently, when faced with a man with an Irish accent, I am no longer a sane person. So I keep rambling in an attempt to apologize for waking him up so early. Even though I must say, with that accent, even groggy from sleep, he gets my libido’s attention. “If it’s too early for you, you can call me back whenever it’s better for you. I like to get important calls done before my daughter wakes up.”

“No, no, now’s fine. I know all about havin’ phone calls when there are kids around. You always seem to miss at least half the conversation,” he laughs, and the sound wraps around me like a blanket. “So, Quinn tells me you grew up here and are plannin’ on movin’ back?”

“Yeah. My husband died about six months ago, and there’s really nothing holding me here anymore. I miss home. Having people who love me around to help me when I need it. I think it’s time, ya know? So I was talking to Quinn last night about moving back, and as you can tell, she is completely on board with the idea.” We both laugh at that. Seems he knows Quinn well enough to understand she’s like a dog with a bone now.

“I’m sorry to hear about your husband,” he offers his condolences, and listening to his calming Irish lilt, I don’t even remember what he’s sorry about. There’s a nice awkward pause, where I realize he’s probably waiting for me to respond to that. It’s not my fault his voice turns my mind to mush.

Eventually, he tries to save the conversation and bring it back to the reason for the call. “I understand your desire to start over. Let me tell ya a little about the house,” he offers. “It’s two stories, with four bedrooms and three baths. The master bed and guest bath are downstairs, while three other bedrooms and a bath are upstairs. Downstairs is also the livin’ room, dinin’ room, and kitchen. It has a covered, wrap-around porch and a solarium in the back of the house. The kitchen has been fully renovated. It has all new appliances, lots of cabinets and counter space, and a walk-in pantry.”

“Wow, it sounds even better than Quinn said! I’m a baker, so you totally sold me on that kitchen.” It really does sound like my dream kitchen.

“Oh, you bake? Are you still lookin’ for a job here? One of my friends owns a bakery in town and has been lookin' for a new baker.”

“No way! That would be amazing! My daughter and I are going to start packing today. We already have plans to visit Quinn in two weeks, so I figure now that we’re moving, we might as well just do it then. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to come look at the house when we get there, and if we both think it’s a good fit, I’ll sign papers and move right in.” I can’t believe things are moving so fast. I was justthinkingabout moving, and now it seems like everything is just coming together.

“Well, I guess I can wait that long to meet you. And I’d hate to think what Quinn would do to me if I rented the house to someone else.” There’s that deep chuckle of his again. He’s gotta be magical because that laugh is definitely working some magic on me.

“Mommy! I’m awake! Can I have breakfast now?” We both laugh this time. Guess my little girl is loud enough she can be heard through the phone.

“And that’s my cue to go. Thank you so much. I look forward to meeting you… Oh, I didn’t get your name.”

“It’s Declan and yours?”

“Wow, this whole conversation and neither of us thought to actually introduce ourselves?” We both chuckle at that too. “I’m sorry, I’m Rowen, your hopefully soon-to-be-tenant. I have to ask, is that an Irish accent I’m hearing?”

“Aye, it is. I moved here decades ago and am mostly Americanized, but I can’t seem to get rid of the accent. I also sometimes slip into Irish when I’m passionate about something,” he laughs.

“Well, I’m glad you mostly speak English; otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to understand you,” I laugh. “But please don’teverlose that accent! It’s so sexy.” Oh, fuck did I just say that?! Damn it, Rowe, you’re talking to him too much. You’re starting to get too comfortable. It’s time to say goodbye.

He chuckles at that. “Well, thank you. I’ll definitely keep that in mind. It’s been lovely talkin’ to you, Rowen. I look forward to meetin’ you and your very loud daughter soon.”

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