Page 41 of 7 Miles High
“Let’s go make a phone call. I need to get my bid in before the rest of these people jump ahead of me.”
* * *
The restaurant is crowded. Patrons overflow the bar, waiting for their names to be called. Getting here early was a happy coincidence for us, because neither she nor I knew its reputation. We chose it based solely on its proximity to the bar we’re headed to after dinner.
Natalie filled out all the forms required. Included with the offer was her well written note outlining why I would be a solid buyer. Pre-qualified, short or long escrow, according to the seller, and twenty-percent down. I wouldn’t have thought to include that information, but it can’t hurt. With a signature I was officially making an offer. Now is the hard part.
* * *
Waiting for the phone call accepting or rejecting my bid is torture. But arguably a good kind. The lyricsithurts so goodflashes in my mind. I won’t deny the excitement I’m feeling. The two whiskeys I’ve had have helped put the drama in perspective. A slightly blurred one, but nevertheless it’s softened the wait.
“How’s your steak? And by the way, I love that you can appreciate a beautiful piece of meat.”
As soon as the words leave me I see her sexy reaction. Eyes wide, eyebrows lifted, crooked grin. I didn’t mean it that way, but it’s good to see the pleasure it evoked.
“I’m a big meat eater. As you know.” She says it all innocent-like, but there’s no naïveté in the delivery. It makes my dick twitch.
“I’ve got some prime beef, if you’re interested,” I tease.
“Oh, I’m interested. I might even have a taste when we get…”
We’re interrupted by Natalie’s cell. By her crossed fingers I know it’s the seller’s realtor.
“Hi, Judi. Do you have some good news for my client?”
She listens without giving me a clue as to which way things are moving. Or if they’ve moved at all. Her chin is down as she listens intently. There’s only a nod and an occasional ‘Yes’. My stomach is in a big twisted knot, as if I’m waiting to hear if I’ve been found innocent or guilty in a trial.
I don’t even think I’ve ever felt this apprehensive before a stunt. Everything hangs on this call. Suddenly I want this house on another level. Really badly. This is my home. I know it’s meant for me.Shit!Come on, people, get the hell out of my house and let me in. You’ve been there long enough!
“Okay. Thank you, Judi. We’ll get back to you.”
She disconnects and looks up at me. “This is good. They’ve countered and it’s reasonable.”
“What’s their price?”
“You offered seven hundred even and they’ve come back at seven twenty. They came down twenty thousand from their asking. And, Parker, believe me that’s a great price for this property. I’m just happy there’s no bidding war. But if you pass or take too long to respond, there will be, believe me.”
It takes me zero point two seconds to come to a decision. “Accept their counter. Seven hundred twenty thousand.” I’m so fucking happy but it’s tempered by the fact it could still all fall apart. We haven’t signed the contracts yet.
“Do it. Call her.”
Natalie taps on Judi’s number and waits. “Hi, it’s Natalie. My client has agreed to the seller’s terms, as long as the inspections don’t reveal something major. We’ll get the paperwork to you right away. Congratulations, Judi, on the sale.”
After disconnecting, she reaches across the table for my hands. Her beautiful face lit by the soft candlelight. I’m certain my face shows just how fucking happy I am at this moment.
“Congratulations, Parker. You’re a homeowner!”
“Thank you, babe. Man, I’m really happy! How long before I get to move in?”
“They wanted a sixty day escrow. That works according to the terms you told me.”
Would it be inappropriate to jump up yelling and chest bumping with the other diners? That’s how I feel. It’s so much bigger a moment than I realized it would be. It feels as if I’ve never accomplished something as big in my life. But it’s tied to my psychological makeup. I know it’s just a house, but for me it means more.
The idea of the American dream was big in my family’s life. It was like the proverbial golden egg. My parents struggled to make it a reality for my siblings and I. And to that end they worked their asses off to make it happen.
It wasn’t until I was eight that we moved into a house of our own in Santa Monica. And that one thing defined all our lives in the most positive of ways. Suddenly we were middle class homeowners. For my parents it was the result of a lifetime of planning and sacrificing. For us kids it was stability and normalcy. No more moving from rental to rental, school to school. We had a neighborhood filled with kids to play with and grow with. 711 Easy Street. Even the address proclaimed our good luck.
When James and I got to know the other boys who lived on the block, it sealed our fate. We lived in a great neighborhood, on a good street, with the best friends any kid could hope for. Matt, Elliott, James, and I became forever kind of friends. We went from bicycles and skateboards to cars and motorcycles. And girls. They were the most meaningful and surprising change of all.
