Page 39 of River
“Let me show you the back yard.” The real estate agent led the way down the stairs and out to a closed-off tropical paradise with a small pool and palm trees. I moved closer to Noah. “I really like it, but I’m afraid to ask for the price.”
Looking over my shoulder, Noah called out to Muhammed. “What’s the price?”
“Muhammed responded with some obscene amount and followed by saying, “That’s the same as two hundred and forty-nine thousand dollars.”
The amount was doable, but my childhood trauma of not having enough money must have shown on my face because Noah spoke up.
“It’s clearly not ideal with all the stairs for the children, and the pool is a safety risk to be sure. The part about the two gardens being separated isn’t great either because it makes it hard to supervise. Do you have something similar, but in one level?”
“No,” Both men shook their heads. “We would have to look outside the city then.”
“We would prefer for the children not to move school. They’ve been through enough changes in their lives already,” I said. “We were talking about tearing down the current orphanage and building a new one, so really, we’d just have to rent this place for a while.”
Muhammed and his colleague spoke in their local tongue and turned to us with a united front. “Building something this big takes time, and it’s stressful. There’s no way the owner of this place would rent it out to you. Eighteen children can easily wreak havoc on a place like this. It’s much better if you buy this place and move the children once and for all.”
“It would certainly be an upgrade,” I muttered low to Noah.
“What’s your budget?” he whispered and turned his back to the real estate agents.
“Maximum said that rebuilding the orphanage would cost around two hundred thousand. I think he too would prefer to buy a new place, but with nine rooms it’s bigger than needed and a bit over the top if I’m honest.”
“The price includes all the furniture,” Muhammed’s colleague said. “All the beds, closets, TVs and desks in the rooms. The common area has seating space for twenty-four people at once, so you wouldn’t have to buy anything. Really, you could close this deal and move the kids in next week when the papers are all signed.
The thought of witnessing the children’s reaction before I left excited me.
“I need to talk to my brother, but if your client is willing to sell for two hundred thousand dollars cash, then I think we can make a deal.”
Noah and I walked to the front of the building after I’d called Maximum and asked him to come over right away. The real estate agents were highly motivated to close the deal and promised to contact the sellers straight away.
The excited energy that pulsated between Noah and me made me smile up at him. “The thought of gifting Maya and the children this as their new home makes me emotional.”
“Promise I can be here when it happens.”
I nodded and didn’t resist when Noah pulled me in for a tight hug.
“If the Australians can’t meet your offer, allow me to help. I have some savings.”
“No, Noah, it’s fine.” I brushed his chest. I didn’t know how much money a Norwegian policeman made, but I had millions in investments, and it would feel wrong to take what little he had to avoid digging into my coffers.
“I have the money,” I said. “It’s just that I’m terrible at spending it. It’s part of a childhood trauma that I’m battling.” Standing in Noah’s arms, I told him about the way my mother had given away every penny she owned and been excluded the moment she had no more money left to give.
“Is that why you’ve always dated wealthy men?”
He was perceptive and, biting my lip, I went with the truth. “That’s what my therapists keep saying.” Leaning my head back I looked into his eyes. “You’re helping me break that pattern.”
There was a micro expression of stress on his face before he nodded, so I hurried to assure him, “I wouldn’t spend the day with you if I didn’t genuinely enjoy your company. This isn’t some bet or challenge where I’m using you.”
Noah’s face softened. “I know that, and just for the record, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t enjoy your company as well. You’re different from the women I’ve been with.”
“In what way?”
“You’re more complicated.”
I frowned. “That’s not exactly a compliment.”
“I just mean that your past is heavy with all that you’ve been through.”
“Heavy.” It wasn’t the word I would have used, but English was Noah’s second language, and I understood his meaning.
