Synchronicity for Six Pt. 09

"That sounds rather messy. But I believe I can help smooth things out a bit if you can start making the payments again."

"And there's the rub. Steve was laid off right before Christmas. Something about the contract not being extended, blah, blah. He has not been able to find anything beyond delivering for Domino's. That, plus my job, is what is keeping a roof over our heads now and food on the table. I wish we had never left Middleburg." That last was said as an undertone, but Rose heard it clearly.

"You grew up here?"

"In that very house. But I couldn't live in it, not with all the memories." Rose's eyes widened as the dominoes appeared to be lining up perfectly.

"Thank you for sharing that with me, Helen and Steve. I'm sure there are legal channels you could have gone through, but with the money as tight as it sounds, that was not going to work. Let me share a little about the personal reasons behind my calling.

"My fiancé and I need to move up to a larger place. His wife died a little over a year and a half ago, and he has two sons. I have two daughters, each a year younger than his boys. Right now, we're in his three‑bedroom, two‑and‑a‑half‑bath house, and it works because three of the four are in college. In addition to the six of us, we've just permanently taken in a friend of my youngest.

"Because of my position, I know there's roughly $100,000 left to be paid on the loan plus some overdue escrow payments. Without a formal appraisal, the best indicator I have is Zillow, which estimates the buildings and land at $400,000. Alan and I were out to the house this weekend and, from what we could see from the outside and read online, it looks like it could work very well for us.

"In my official capacity, I can place the loan on the house in an administrative hold for 45 days. Assuming an appraisal comes back with roughly equivalent numbers, I can say that if you were to list the property for sale with a realtor, it would sell very quickly. Then you could repay the loan and have a tidy chunk of money, maybe to move back to Middleburg."

"Oh, God! You could do that? Stop the loan from defaulting?" Helen gasped, clutching at Steve's hands tightly.

"Only for six weeks, 45 days, but yes, I can do that."

"But I don't know any realtors in Middleburg, not anymore," Helen moaned.

"Let me tell you what. I've given you and Steve a lot to think and talk about. If you ask me to place the loan on administrative hold, I can do so, but you have to ask me, in writing. I can accept an email request, though, but you need to follow up with a hard copy request."

"Rose, would you please place the loan on my parents' house on administrative hold?" Helen quickly interjected.

"I'll have to send you some papers which you'll have to sign and return, but yes, I will prevent this from becoming any worse." Rose and Helen exchanged their personal contact information. "Please send me the information about the attorney who was handling your parents' estate. I may be able to find out from other attorneys we work with what happened with your attorney. This could all work out very well for you, for us, and for the credit union."

"Oh, thank you, Rose!" Helen gushed. "Yes, thank you so much!" Steve added.

"Thank you both for your time today," Rose stated. "I am looking forward to our future discussions. Goodbye."

Helen disconnected the call, then turned to Steve.

"What do you think, honey?"

"I think you should save her phone number in your contacts. I have a feeling we may be talking with her multiple times in the future."

"Seriously, Steve?"

"Yes, seriously, Helen. I caught your statement 'I wish we had never left Middleburg.' That kind of money can make a big difference for us and the kids. We would be able to get a house and not have to live in a crappy apartment. Can you imagine what they would do if they each had their own bedroom, instead of having to share one? Or having a yard to play in?"

"They wouldn't know what to do."

"But what about you, sweetheart? Could you let go of the house you grew up in?"

Helen thought for a moment, then answered him.

"Yes, I think I could. Whenever we visited Mom and Dad, all I could think about were my two deceased brothers. There's no way I could live in that house; simply too many sad memories. Besides, it's way too big for our needs. Better that it passes on to another family to make new memories."

Steve pulled her in close and gently kissed her, trying to ease her worries.

= = =

The girls entered the house, laughing, while Rose was still seated at the table and making some notes.

"Hi, Mom!" and "Hiya, Momma!" came the calls from the girls.

"Oh, hi, girls. I didn't hear you come in," Rose declared, rising from the chair. She pulled a girl to her with each arm and kissed their foreheads. "Did you have a good and safe time with the driving practice?"

"Yes, Momma, we did. We kept it confined to the church parking lot. She's doing well, I think," Katie said.

"Yeah, Katie's been a very patient instructor for me," Maggie added. "What're you doing?" she asked, pointing at the notepad and file folder on the table.

"I've been in contact with the lady who owns some property that Alan and I are considering. We'll talk about it more after supper if you don't mind."

"That's cool, Mom. Do you need any help with getting supper ready?" Maggie offered.

"No, we're having a 'Clean the Refrigerator' night, but thank you for offering. You will have the opportunity to prepare your own supper from our array of single-serving leftovers. We'll start shortly after Alan comes home. I'm going to go change out of my business clothes." Rose then headed upstairs to change.

"Katie, come on. Let's peek at what she has here." Maggie was the type who would snoop through the Christmas presents, so the file folder and notepad were irresistible. She couldn't make out what the scribblings on the notepad were about, but she saw the printout and noted the Zillow URL and property address on her phone. Putting things back how she found them, she led Katie into the media room and fired up the laptop.

"Have you ever heard of this Zillow site?" Maggie asked, but all Katie could do was shrug her shoulders. Opening the web browser, she entered the URL. Once in as a guest, she entered the address of the property.

With Katie looking over her shoulder, Maggie trolled around the Zillow record for the house. Near the bottom of the page, the satellite view caught her eye, and she zoomed in to see that the property was more than just immediately around the house and detached garage. It went back and included what looked to be trees and... a pond! Maggie's imagination flared at this information. For her part, Katie was entranced by the prospects of a house with five bedrooms and three full bathrooms.

Maggie opened another window and brought up an online mapping site. She input the street address and could easily determine where the place was relative to her current location. She wondered if there was bus service in that part of town. Then she smiled. This was one of the reasons she was learning to drive - so that she would not be dependent upon mass transit. Getting an affirmative answer from Katie that she was all right with powering down the computer, Maggie sat back and tried to consider questions to ask after supper.

Alan walked in the door from the garage at 5:20. He looked a little frazzled by the work day, so Rose had him sit in a chair at the kitchen table while she and the girls skittered about the kitchen, warming up the supper of leftovers. While they were moving about, occasionally getting in each other's way, Rose tried to engage Alan in a discussion.

"So, what's new today, Alan?" Rose inquired, sweetly.

"It was a Monday, much like any other day, just more so. I looked into trying to add Katie to my insurance coverage. Just because she's now living with us, it doesn't mean I can add her to my coverages. I will talk with you at greater length, in private, Rose, if I may?"

Katie stopped her gyrations for a moment. She went over and sat on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a very sweet kiss on the cheek for his efforts.

"Thank you, Poppa, for trying," she said, then hugged him tightly. "I'm sure we'll figure something out." After a moment, she hopped back to her feet and resumed helping get the supper ready.

All four helped to set the table once Alan had removed the extra leaf, restoring the table to its base configuration. They sat, joined hands, and asked the blessing before digging in to the delicious food. By custom, there was very little discussion while the food was being eaten. Once everyone was done with the food on their plate, Alan turned the focus back on Rose.

"So, my love, how was your day?" Alan inquired.

"The work day was full of the usual administrivia. But I had a nice introductory chat with a Helen Waters once I got home. Helen is the owner of the house and land we looked at on Saturday." At Rose's words, Maggie and Katie sat up and began to pay much closer attention to the discussion.

"Are there things we need to discuss?"

"It turns out that her parents both died within the last year, and they have been unable to contact the attorney handling the estate since November. I have a verbal request to put a temporary hold on the loan, and now I'm waiting on a written request. She and her husband, Steve, seem to be having some tough times lately. She did say that she wished they'd never left Middleburg."

"Mom, you went out to look at the place on Saturday, right?" Maggie asked.

"Yes, dear. I'm sorry, but you both were very needed at the store that day. It was David, Alan, and myself while David was home. We will be sure to include you two if we go out to look at it again."

"What did you think about the place?" Maggie pressed.

"It looks to be an older house with two floors. We couldn't get inside; it was locked and nobody was home. I guess now we understand why nobody was home. From what we could see through the windows, I have good hopes for the place."

"I pulled up the property on Zillow, Mom. The record says it has five bedrooms and three bathrooms. That would be plenty of space if everyone came home at once. But Mom, the estimated price..."

Rose smiled, knowingly. "I left my notes and file on the table, knowing you could not resist the temptation. You know, when you recite the Lord's Prayer, you should say, 'Lead me not into temptation, because I can surely find it myself.'"

"Mom!" Maggie protested while Katie just giggled.

Rose continued. "An appraisal is needed for the lending institution to issue the loan. Houses and land often sell for more than the appraised amount. It's usually a question of value, either to the seller or the buyer."

"So, how much do you value the property?" Maggie asked, insouciantly.

"That is yet to be determined, young lady," Alan intoned. "And, honestly, it's not really your concern now, is it?"

Chastened, Maggie dropped her eyes and her shoulders slumped. This was the first time Alan had ever called her out on anything, and she found she did not care for the experience. He wasn't unkind, just firm and resolute. But she had disappointed him and she knew it.

"Yes, Poppa. I'm sorry." Maggie used 'poppa' for the first time. She felt it made a nice counterbalance to David calling her mother 'momma'.

Katie pulled on Maggie's hand, saying, "Come on, Mags. Let's give them some time and space." Katie led her sister upstairs and into the front bedroom.

Rose got up and sat in Alan's lap with her right arm around his neck.

"I'm sorry, Alan. It's entirely my fault. I asked God for intelligent children, not compliant ones."

"I seem to recall us having this discussion previously. Here, let me help you get this cleaned up. We should then retire to our chamber to have further 'intercourse'." Alan waggled his eyebrows at her, suggestively.

"Oh, I like where your head is at, Alan. And I'll like it even more when it's between my thighs."

Rose and Alan made quick work of the cleanup and held hands as they walked from the kitchen to the front door. Making sure everything was locked up and turned off, Alan gestured for Rose to lead the way up the stairs. This was his preferred view. She had an alluring ass and a very tempting wiggle and sway. She knew it and used it to tease her fiancé.

"We do need to talk about some financial matters," Alan began after closing the bedroom door.

Rose wrapped him in her arms and silenced him with her mouth on his. "Afterwards," she mumbled, then proceeded to drive every other thought from his consciousness.

= = =

"Heya, Magpie!" David's voice came over her phone's speaker.

"Hi, Davey!" and "Hello, David" came from the girls' mouths. They were sitting on Maggie's bed and right at 8:00 pm he had called. Maggie placed the call on speaker, figuring she had little to hide from her chosen sister.

"Oh, hi there, Katie. I take it I'm on speaker. Are Dad and Momma in hearing range?"

"Nope, just us two. Our parents are probably involved with each other, given the sounds we heard from behind their closed door." Maggie snorted and Katie giggled.

Katie mouthed the word 'magpie' with a question on her face. Maggie nodded and mouthed, "Tell you later."

David chuckled at the notion of the adults delighting in each other. "For some reason, the idea of Dad and Momma having at it doesn't bother me like how Mom and Dad used to. Maybe I've just found the one I needed," and Maggie's face flushed slightly as her groin twitched at his words and tone.

"David," Katie interjected, "what were your thoughts and observations from your jaunt on Saturday out to look at the other house?"

"Hmmm. The house seems big enough. It has a decent front yard, but the backyard has all kinds of potential. There's a pond at the rear on the right, and on the left is a grove of trees planted in three neat rows. The detached garage has a metal staircase leading to possibly an apartment above."

"Oh! The apartment over the garage isn't mentioned," Maggie stated. "Well, that's an interesting wrinkle."

"Yeah, it expands some opportunities, I'll grant you," David agreed.

"But are you okay with your dad selling this place and moving to a new house?" Katie asked.

"Sure thing, Katie. I told Dad while I was home that they need a place that is theirs instead of trying to fit Momma into Mom's house. Yes, it's the only house I've ever thought of as 'home', but it surely won't be the last."

"I never really thought of it like that, Davey," Maggie chimed in. "How were classes today?"

The conversation devolved a bit from there, getting into the horror that was what the school's food service called 'food'. They had gotten a little snow overnight at David's school (it was winter after all), and all the while they were talking, Maggie's left hand kept spinning the ring on her right hand.

Katie watched all this but said nothing. She was still basking in the warmth of having family around her who loved and wanted her. She hoped that feeling never went away.

= = =

"Alan, I think we need a prenup."

"Say what!?"

Rose's head bounced slightly off Alan's torso with his exclamation. She settled her head back on his chest, idly toying with the little hair he grew there. Her right leg was thrown over his right leg as she snuggled into his right side. They'd had 'intercourse' and now it was time for them to have 'discourse'.

"I said, I think we need a prenup."

"I heard you the first time, Rose."

"Then why did you say, 'Say what?'"

Alan gave a small grunt of exasperation. Sure, it was funny when he took her literally, but he did not expect that sort of wordplay from her.

"Okay, you think we need a prenup. Why?"

"To preserve what is supposed to be Tom's and David's inheritance."

Alan was silent for a minute, then came back with, "And that's all?"

Rose sighed. "No. There is a huge disparity between what we are bringing into this marriage, money-wise. I never want to be thought of as a gold-digger."

"And who would think such a thing of you?"

"Your friends and family."

"I have no family other than Tom, David, now Katie, and soon to be you, Jules, and Maggie. Most of my friends are now your friends, too."

"How come you have no other family?"

"I was an only child, as were both of my parents. So, I have no known aunts, uncles, or cousins who would ever expect to receive anything from me. My folks died while I was still in college, even before I met Laura. Laura was an only child as well, although she did have some living aunts, uncles, and cousins. We've kinda lost touch."

"Well, you have me now, or you will soon. I still think a prenup would be in order."

"Are you worried about the money for the house we want to get?"

"Aren't you?"

"Not especially. I told you; I have a chunk of liquid cash in a savings account, my checking account keeps a healthy balance, and this house is paid for. My salary just got a very healthy bump by changing employers. I haven't mentioned my retirement investments."

"And that's why we need a prenup."

"Why, because you don't intend to be here with me after I retire?"

"Alan, you're trying to put words in my mouth. Stop it!" Rose slapped his chest in frustration.

"Rose, why do you worry so much about what others think? You can't change their minds. If you behave differently than you might otherwise, you're not being true to yourself. That's the woman I fell in love with." Alan just shrugged when Rose went quiet for a minute.

"I think that may be my mother's influence on me." Alan was silent for a few minutes, then he responded to her.

"Okay, tell you what. I'll consider our getting a prenup. But it won't be draconian in any fashion. Oh, and we should also update our wills, don't you think?"

She nodded, kissed him sweetly, and snuggled in closer. Rose soon was fast asleep while Alan lay there thinking.

= = =

Tuesday, February 9

"Rose! You made it!"

Maeve Johnson welcomed Rose into her house for the standing breakfast meeting of the church's informal women's leadership. A brief hug and near‑cheek kiss preluded Rose being gently pulled inside.

"Come, come. We've missed you." Maeve led the way to the dining room where Susan Larsen and Mary Henderson were already seated and waiting. Grapefruit halves, cups of yogurt, and a selection of sweet breads awaited the ladies' appreciation. Once Rose had taken a seat, Mary inquired, "Coffee, Rose?"

"Yes, please, Mary. Cream and sugar are required as well, please."

"Naturally. Tell us, what's going on? There was drama at church on Sunday and you seem to be in the thick of it all."

Rose took a drink of the coffee, savoring the flavors, before answering.

"The Reader's Digest version of the story is that Katie was being given the cold shoulder at home and she could not fathom why she was being treated how she was. She and Maggie have struck up an excellent friendship and Alan and I have opened our home to her. The long and short of her convoluted family tale is that Brendan and Michelle O'Shea are her uncle and aunt, not her birth parents. Katie had a serious discussion with them and moved into our home Sunday afternoon. She calls Alan and me 'poppa' and 'momma'. We consider her to be our daughter and Maggie's sister, the seventh member of our family," Rose declared proudly.

Shock, dismay, and sympathy for Katie showed in the faces of the other three ladies mixed with joy about Rose's new daughter. Silence (and some silent prayers) reigned for two minutes, then Maeve stood and pulled Rose to her feet. Rose was nonplussed when Maeve wrapped her up tightly in an embrace and whispered, "If you need ANYTHING for that girl, please let me know." They retook their seats as the group struggled to get their discussion back on track.