Page 36 of Finding Ash
Friends, family, new friends we considered family, all were present and accounted for and here celebrating the holidays with us. Nate and Kit shut down the bar for Christmas Eve and day, though any locals that wandered in were more than welcome to join our celebration. I loved that about them, arms wide open as was their kitchen. No one would go hungry on their watch.
Merle pulled me aside while the others mingled. “Son, I actually have a couple of properties in town that would suit your family’s needs.” My family, the words warmedme to the core. “But one in particular stands out to me. She needs a little love, which I know you boys will give her, but she holds a special place in my heart. Nothing would make me happier than for you three to own it.”
“That sounds wonderful, Merle. When can we see it?”
“First thing tomorrow morning. I’ll meet you guys at the creamery at eight a.m. tomorrow morning. Then we can walk over. It’s just up the hill behind Main Street.”
“Sounds great, we’ll see you then.” Merle wandered off toward Nate, likely to trade snarky barbs with him. Those two weren’t fooling anyone, they loved each other like family, and it was all for show. Plus, it was funny as hell once they got going. Hell, sometimes Kit joined in throwing barbs at his daddy. Empty threats of swats later came from Nate. Wait, maybe they weren’t empty. I’ll be damned, those kinky fuckers. I saw them in a whole new light now.
“What was that all about?” Remy asked as he and Ash walked up to me.
“Appears Merle has a couple of houses to show us but one he thinks is perfect. He’s meeting us at the creamery in the morning to go see it.”
“Everything is falling perfectly into place, isn’t it?” Ash snuggled in. Remy and I wrapped our arms around him.He really enjoyed it when we cocooned him, his words not ours, between us.
“It really is.”
“Morning, Merle.” At eight on the nose, he rapped on the back door.
“Morning, gents, shall we?”
“It’s so beautiful here,” Remy said. “I’ve never really taken the time to wander past Main Street. Something I’ll quickly remedy.”
“Same. A morning walk before work sounds perfect to me,” Ash took his hand and then mine.
“Agreed.”
“Foggy Basin is a hidden gem though as of late it’s growing,” Merle said. “We have many species of trees that aren’t visible in the big city. Redwoods, Douglas Firs, there’s a bigleaf Maple over there,” he pointed across the street. “You’ll see the occasional California Buckeye too.”
As we neared the hill, a beautiful Victorian with a huge front porch came into view. Right off the bat Ispotted a bit of wood rot and peeling paint, but all things that could be repaired.
“Don’t tell me this is it?” I stood in awe as Merle walked up the steps and unlocked it.
“It is.”
The three of us stepped inside, a grand staircase immediately came into sight, and what appeared to be a library on one side of it and across the hall was a formal living room.
“The missus and I bought this when we first married right out of high school with dreams of a large family to fill it with,” he smiled. “Eight kids. Could you imagine?”
We strolled through the vast space and into a very large kitchen and sunroom at the back.
“Five bedrooms, three bathrooms. When we found out we couldn’t have kids my wife couldn’t stand to be here anymore. Heartbroken didn’t even cover the hurt she harbored. So, we bought the small home I live in now at the edge of town, packed this one up and she never came near it again. Occasionally, I’ll pop by and make sure there aren’t any freeloaders. Plumbing and electricity were shut off decades ago, so I’d recommend you have licensed tradesmen walk through it. Got a really great contractor for you too if you’re interested.”
“Merle.” I was at a loss for words. His story absolutely broke me. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you. For what it’s worth, I think you’d have been a wonderful father.”
“Thank you, son. Kinda feel like all of Foggy are my kids now. Hell, I’ve seen most of them from the time they could walk to the time they got caught stealing candy from the shop you now have. And trust me, most of them attempted it but Sally was a sly dog. Had their parents on speed dial, I swear. She got a lot of free chores from them as their punishment too.”
“What are you asking for it?” Remy asked what I was thinking, and based upon the smile on Ash’s face, he was of the same mindset.
“For you boys, a dollar.”
“Wait? What? Absolutely not. We’ll pay you fair market value for it.” There was no way in hell I’d let him do that.
“I have no family and own a good portion of Foggy with no one to leave it to. Nate’s parents have been friends of mine since they were youngins. They and Nate and Kit get a few things when I pass, and now I’d like you boys to have this house. Fill it with the love and laughter it was meant to have. What do you say? Make this old codger a happy man?”
The boys nodded at me, tears filling their eyes as did mine, ready to spill over.
“On one condition.”
