Page 65 of The New Place

“Of course, of course. I’m glad the timing worked out.”

“So are we, and so excited to start looking at properties.” It’s true enough, at least. He’s looking for any place he could possibly afford, which is nowhere, and Abbot is looking for real.

“We’ll get you set up somewhere great, I’m sure.” She taps at her computer. “Let’s start with the basics. I’m not sure how close to campus you’d like to be, but we have some very lovely neighborhoods right around Newbury.”

Ned mentally adds another zero to any listing she might show them. “Great.”

“And how many bedrooms?”

Easy. Ned squeezes Abbot’s hand. “Two. My daughter is with us half the time.”

Abbot squeezes back. “Though a guest room?”

Do they need a guest room? For Liesl, he’s sure Abbot means, but can’t she sleep in Peggy’s room?

Though—no, it doesn’t matter, because there is no Peggy’s room, because none of this is real.

“So three?” Sandy asks. “Bev has an office at home. Have you considered whether you’d like the same?”

“I have my office in the spare bedroom of my house now,” Abbot says.

“Three bedrooms,” Ned agrees. “Why not?”

Sandy taps at her computer. “Some of the older houses near Newbury have really interesting floor plans, so what might not work well as a bedroom can still make a wonderful nook for an office. Have you thought about whether you’re interested in something modern or more historical?”

Abbot glances over and Ned shrugs. Are they doing imaginary construction on their imaginary house? Renovating this place they’re not going to buy? It sounds like a pain, even in his mind, and as fun as this is to play pretend, their answers should probably carry at least some reality. “Anything newly updated,” Ned says.

“Yes, I’m sure you don’t need a big project, along with the move and new jobs,” Sandy says. “So if we say three bedrooms, that’s a primary, one for your daughter, and a guest room that can also work as an office. Will you two need room to grow from there?”

“Grow?” Ned asks.

She smiles, looking between them. “More children on the horizon?”

Oh. Abbot wants kids. He said that last year, but it’s on that someday list of things that’ll come later.

Like looking at houses.

Ned darts a glance at Abbot, then realizes Sandy is watching him. He ought to have an answer ready to go, apparently, but nobody told him he was going to take a pop quiz about his relationship this week.

“How about I show you some three and four bedrooms,” she says into the quiet. “And you can decide from there what feels like a good amount of space?”

“Perfect,” Ned says quickly, and this pretend budget is getting out of control damn quick, that’s for sure.

“Outdoor space? How old is your daughter, Ned? Will she want room to run around?”

“She’s six,” Ned says. “And I have a dog, so yes, a yard would be ideal.”

“Wonderful, and then if you have more littles, that’s great for them too,” she says.

Abbot shifts in his seat. “If it’s not too much to maintain.”

“I can do it,” Ned says. He does the yard at his parents’. Hell, he did it at Abbot’s last summer, too. And at his and Jen’s place, meticulously weeding the brick path to the front door.

That, and this yard doesn’t exist, and won’t, so it’s not like it’s an actual problem.

“We can add a garage to the wish list too, I’m sure,” Sandy says. “Somewhere for the lawnmower, right? And cars, what with this weather.”

“Great,” Ned says. Four bedrooms with a yard, a garage, and what else? Gold faucets and diamond windows? This will be a laugh, looking at this property they’re dreaming up.