Page 160 of The New Place
“It’s not small either. The ADU is two bedrooms, one bath, washer dryer, has its own entrance, and is great except that it’s an entire other thing to deal with,” Jess says.
“It’s a cute space and super easy to rent out,” Steve says. “We remodeled it a couple years ago, so it’s got all new appliances. Nice little bit of extra income.”
“Extra work,” Jess says.
“Money maker,” Steve says.
“Headache,” she says. “Which is why we’re selling this house now, while at least we’re between tenants and also about to move up to Maine.”
“We’re talking about selling it,” Steve says.
“Yes, I talked with a Realtor today about selling it,” Jess says.
“Who we might work with,” Steve says. “But I know you two are looking, and this place is great for you. And I know I’m biased, but I’m allowed to be a little sentimental.”
“It’s for sale,” Jess says firmly.
“Great.” Ned smiles. “Cute dog.”
“Isn’t she?” Jess asks. “Doesn’t come with the place, sorry.”
“Got one already,” Ned says weakly. A dog and a place to live, both. Abbot can’t be serious. Ned told him—he told him—that he’s not moving. He can’t buy a house, or even half a house, shitty wallpaper or no, and especially not after that lovely chat with Claire. He can afford the doorknobs, maybe, on top of Baxter’s pills. A couple light switches, too, if he’s lucky.
He’s not, he remembers all over again, doing the math of what Baxter is going to cost. He really has to tell Peggy that summer camp is not going to happen.
He shoves his hands in his pockets and tries to politely look around the kitchen. Steve’s kids go to camp. Ned’s seen pictures of it, and heard Steve counting down the days until he and Jess have the house to themselves for a two-week stretch. “Let me just check on Peggy,” Ned says and backs out of the room.
She’s fine. Of course she is, because he hasn’t broken her heart yet with this latest disappointment. He watches for a moment as she and Liesl kneel together, Luna sprawled on her back, wiggling in glee as they pet her stomach.
“Ned?” Abbot asks.
“Yeah. Hey. Hi.”
“Steve wanted to have us over for dinner.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Ned—”
“Do you guys want to take Luna outside again?” Ned asks cheerfully, seeing that Steve followed him.
Steve touches his toe to Luna’s side. “Oh, our heathen children with poor manners equal to mine are upstairs,” he says, and the dog rolls up to her feet. “The price of getting them to come here peacefully tonight is an evening on the game console up there, so if you two don’t mind sitting on your butts, because we have a TV but no furniture, I told them they’d have guest players.”
Luna follows Steve, and Liesl and Peggy follow her. Ned hesitates, wanting to argue against the time sink that is any video game. Can’t they eat and get out of here quickly? But it’s too late, and when Abbot goes up the stairs next, Ned can either stand by himself in the small foyer or start up after him.
“In here.” Steve motions to one of the doors in the short hallway, light spilling out of it along with the blue glow of a TV. “Boys? This is Liesl and Peggy. Remember I told you they’d be coming?”
For a moment, Ned wants Peggy to hesitate. She would’ve when she was younger, video games or no, and looked to him to stay for a few minutes until she felt comfortable. Now she plops down cross-legged and picks up a controller.
Liesl doesn’t join the three of them, just kneels next to Luna and pulls out her phone.
“You can come back down with us,” Abbot offers.
She responds with a shrug, her eyes on her screen.
“So this is one of the bedrooms,” Steve says. “Shared bathroom through there, the other bedroom, and then primary is right down the hall here, with an en suite.”
“Liesl, would you like to see the other room?” Abbot asks, but she ignores him.
