Tina's Story Chapter 32 The House Hunt
#11 of Tinas Story
Ray awakens Sunday morning to something strange. As he gathers his senses, he realises that Tina is awake, and watching TV....and eating.....
"Uh...morning...watcha eating?" Ray asks, groggily
"Cap'n Crunch with chocolate milk" Tina answers, fascinated by the TV show
Tina is watching "The Hour of Decision" a TV televangilist who happens to be a hybrid, the one who originated the phrase 'we are all flawed dogs'
"Er, Capt'n Crunch with chocolate milk? I think I'm gonna hurl...."
"Shhhh...he's just getting to the good stuff" Tina said
Ray looked at the clock
"We better get up! We're due at the Realtors in an hour!"
Ray got up, in his usual bear-like manner, trundling up to select one of his six shirts. He picks a striped short sleeve, and some cargo pants. He combs his hair in the hall mirror, and brushes his teeth in the sink. Ten, twenty minutes pass, and Tina is stll in the bathroom.
"Hey, you die in there?" Ray asks, sensatively
At first there is silence, then...
"I'm....constipated....and I've got hemeroids...." Tina replied plaintivly
Ray couldn't help snickering just a bit. Tina emerged some time later.
"Come on, we're late already" Ray said, checking his watch.
Tina sat down in a chair, and started to cry.....
"I feel crummy, and I'm fat and ugly, and nobody understands....." Tina wailed.
"I understand" Ray consoled her "I know you feel bad. But you're still cute, and I love you very much, and we still need a home to bring our babies to..."
Truth is, you could hardly tell Tina was pregnant at all. But none of that mattered. She FELT fat and ugly. And ray understood.
Tina gathered herself up. She had been fortunate. She was always healthy and athletic. She had never been sick, or really had anything wrong. She was totally unprepared for the demands of her pregnancy.Still, she was a trooper....
"OK, I'll go." Tina stuck out her lip, but followed Ray to the door.
It took less than fifteen minutes for them to reach ColdWell 21 real estate. They met their agent, an over eager thirty something woman, in a gold blazer that didn't fit all that well...
"Hi! I'm Allison!" she said, enthusiastically
"I'm Ray Goldstein; this is my wife Tina"
They shook hands, and the agent took them to her office
"First, I need to pre qualify you..."
"I don't think that will be neccesary" Ray replied
"But I NEED to...Now, how much do you earn?"
I make 65, my wife makes 35, but we're paying cash....." Ray said with assurance.
"Cash?" the Realtor repeated, incredulously
"Yes. Cash. We want to look at homes up to 300,000$.
"And you're paying cash?"
"Yes"
"You know, you could get much more with financing...." the Realtor said, suggestively, visions of big commisions dancing in her head.
"No. That's what we want to spend." Tina replied firmly.
"OK, let's see what's out there..."
The realtor clicked and navigated her way through the MLS listings. She went over the Goldstein's requirements: short drive to work, good schools, three bedrooms, two baths. They came up with a list of properties, then they set off to start looking. they looked at ranches, splits, colonials, saltboxes....After the second hour, all the houses seemed to run together. They were heading back to the ofice when....
"STOP!" Tina ordered.
"What's the matter, dear?" inquired the realtor
"That's the house I want." Tina pointed to a small tudor, on a corner lot. It had lovely old trees, and a garage for Binky.
"But Dear, it's not for sale." Ray consoled.
"That's the house I want!" was Tina's reply
Sensing a problem, the Realtor offered....
"Look, let me knock on the door. You never know...
And so she did. She talked to the person who answered the door for a few minutes, then returned...
"They're tennants. Absentee landlord. But she gave me the owner's contact information."
"Do you think they might want to sell?" Ray asked cautiously.
"You never know until you ask..." the Realtor replied
They went back to the office, said their goodbyes, and headed home. Ray tried to shield Tina from disappointment...
"Don't be upset if it doesn't work out, Hon. There'll be others....
"No. That's the one. The reverend said positive thinking will make it so. So, I won't be negative. We WILL buy the house..."
Ray had encountered that mindset before. When Tina was in that mindset, nothing in Heaven, or on Earth would shake her. All he could do was hope that somehow things would work out....
Meanwhile, Colleen was coming to terms with her houseguest. Colleen was awakened at about ten, on Sunday morning. She slipped off her sleep mask, and adjusted her sheer nightgown, to see Lydia standing there, with a bed tray. On the tray were bacon, eggs, a fresh croissant, melon, and fresh squeeezed juice. Colleen was a bit, er, surprised....
Lydia set the tray in her lap....
"I...don't know what to say" she said, semi speechless
"I was up, so I made breakfast" Lydia replied " Don't mind me...eat!"
Lydia sat on the edge of the bed, watching Colleen eat. As she sippped coffee, and tried the eggs (which were excellent) Lydia sat and watched, silently.
"I really don't mean to keep you." Colleen said, hopefully
"No, really, no problem at all"
Colleen clicked on the TV, but Lydia remained
The point came when Colleen could not go on....
"This was lovely, Dear. Thanks so much. I think I'll get dressed now...."
"I'll get that..." Lydia grabbed the tray before Colleen could raise a finger.....
"Here. Put that down......" Colleen said soothingly. "I'm worried for you. I don't think you've thought everything through....."
Colleen looked at Lydia, who was staring longingly into her eyes...
"There's more to life than sex. " Colleen reached onto the nightstand, and grabbed a lighter and removed a cigarette from her case.
"I've not worried about money for a long time. And I've had more sex than most...."
Colleen laughed, but it was an ironic laugh.
Honey, I've lead a sad and empty life. You have a husband who loves you, and three beautiful children. Why would you want to give that up?".
Lygia looked down...
"For years, I was....a robot. Al I did was serve as a maid to my husband and boys.....you...you made me feel....like a woman!"
"Dear, you don't need me for that. Look at you....you're beautiful!" Colleen put a finger under Lydia's graceful chin "But why....are you wearing...that.?"
Lydia was wearing a denim jumper, with a white turtleneck underneath.
"Well, if you get something on the shirt, you put a jumper over it, and you can still wear it..."
Colleen was touched.
"Come here...." Colleen held Lydia to her chest, stroking her hair tenderly "Listen. Let's go shopping today. I' think you need some pretty things. Even some cute undies. the world looks different when you feel pretty. And we'll get your hair done. you are so beautiful...."
Lydia looked at Colleen with stars in her eyes.
"You'd do that...for me?" Lydia batted her eyes at Colleen.
"Yes. I'm happy to. But promise me, you'll rething what you're doing....."
Lydia nodded her agreement, then put her arms around the Setter. She nuzzled her chest, not wanting to move.
"Time to get up?" Colleen asked
"Hold me....I just....need to be held."
Lydia buried her head furthur into Colleen's furry chest
"Baby....."
Colleen stroked her, and caressed her as the frightened Afghan held her tightly.
"Come now, you're going to be FINE" Colleen said with emphasis " Now come, let's get you pretty so we can go shopping"
Colleen led Lydia from the bedroom, to Lydia's bedroom, where a picture of her husband, and her boys, sat on the nightstand by her bed.......
.