"Hey, Sam. Sorry I was running late. I hope it didn't inconvenience you," Bill asked, waiting by his car.

"Hi, Bill. Actually it worked out for the better." Telling him I would have been late dealing with my own inner monolog seemed pointless.

"I know you were going back to look at the two houses you like, but a colleague of mine just signed on a fabulous place last night. It's probably bigger than what you want, but I wanted to give you first dibs on it before the sign goes up. Then I will bring you back to your car so you can head back to the others," Bill explained.

"Sure why not." It wasn't till I got out of my car when I realized we never did have an appointment but decided not to piss of another person this morning so I jumped out of my car and into his awaiting one.

The excitement in his voice was a little more than a realtor should have for just showing a house. "This place is beautiful home just on the outskirts of town. It's secluded," he explained after getting into the car. "I don't even remember it ever being on the market before. This place will not take long to get to all." Bill was chatting a mile a minute. "The only thing is I do not have any idea on what it has. I mean in bedrooms and bathrooms. It is and always has been a mystery to all us realtors. It is exciting to just to see the inside!"

Bill had my interest peaked before we got there but it didn't come close to preparing me what I was about to see. The road we were on was secluded. The houses became farther and farther apart. I liked that. Finally pulling into a driveway had my mouth drop open. This was my dream house. Even better than my dream house since I wasn't sure even my imagination was that good. I spent hours drawing my house, when I was younger, where I imagined my grandchildren would come and play bringing the house full of joy and warmth. Those dreams were over, but maybe I could still have the house. The only way I passed up this house was if it was falling apart on the inside. Maybe not even then.

Interlocking bricks paved its way up the long wide driveway curving to the back of the house. This reddish brick 2.5 storey house was breathtaking; black shutters framed all the windows. Wide steps leading to a deep red door centring the house and wrap-around porch, which was mirrored on the second storey as well. The landscape was simple in front, just a few bushes but very well maintained. Which was perfect since I had more of a black thumb instead of a green one.

Sitting there stunned at the sight I didn't register right away that Bill had stopped the car and was already had my door opened. "It's beautiful," I whispered more to myself.

"I know it's big Sam, but I really wanted to show you. I have a feeling you and this house were meant to be together," Bill said, quietly, taking my quietness for lack of enthusiasm.

Patting Bill's arm as I finally got out of the car; never taking my eyes off the house. "No, Bill this is perfect. It's what I have dreamed about." Looking at him with wide eyes, I asked, "Please tell me the inside is not falling apart. If it is I don't want to see it." That sight would break my heart.

Relieved, Bill replies, "I was told it is even better than the outside." Placing his hand on my lower back helping me take that first step forward. "Are you ready to go see it?"

Walking up the seven steps to the front door, we were greeted by a tall lanky man in his late 40's. He was just your average looking gentlemen, the kind you would not notice walking down the street but friendly enough you would say "hi" to in passing. The couple beside him looked older but they moved with such elegance of someone half their age it made it hard to determine how old they really were.

"Good afternoon Tom, Mr. and Mrs. Weatherspoon. I would like you to meet Sam," Bill introduced us while shaking their hands.

"Nice to meet you, dear. Come in, come in, I think you are the perfect fit for this house, just as we once were," Mrs. Weatherspoon said, reaching for my arm and escorted me in to the home.

I didn't know if it was the touch of the woman or entering the house, but a warm fuzzy feeling almost overwhelmed me; a sensation of drowning in an ocean of bath water, by the time my lungs could pull in a deep breath the feeling washed away. It should have scared the crap out of me, but it was the opposite. It was more like you were hit with an extreme amount of love and acceptance all at the same time. Giving my arm a squeeze, Mrs. Weatherspoon said, "See, the house welcomes you." All I could do was smile. Maybe I wasn't the only one with a few screws loose.

The huge entryway felt like home and security. The cream coloured walls were a backdrop for family pictures and highlighted the rich deep colour of the hardwood floors. The elegant wide staircase curved around the wall in front leading to the open concept second floor. A closed door to the left was ignored, to enter the stunning French doors to the right.

A very spacious living room; large bay window in the front letting the sun heat the room, and two other windows placed on either side of the marble fireplace. The furniture was Victorian probably from the mid 1800's, a couch on either side of the fireplace facing each other. By the front window was another seating area with two high back chairs with an elegant table between. On the far end of the room was four larger chairs strategically place around a table. With all the furniture, there was still plenty of room to move. This room as well carried the light cream walls with the dark hardwood floors.

Leaving out another set of French doors at the far end of the room led them to a narrow hall. Off that held a decent size bathroom to the left, down a couple more steps was a huge kitchen that would have any cook drooling. Even I could appreciate a nice kitchen when I saw one and this was definitely one; red oak cabinets with black marble counter tops, stainless steel appliances big enough for a restaurant. An oversized island set in the middle of the room with stools set around it and a steel rack above to hold pots and pans. Another set of French doors lead out to an impressive deck overlooking the in-ground pool and access to the woods just beyond that. Privacy was not an issue; the nearest neighbour was a couple miles away, so there was no need for a fence. Then there was the fridge. A huge industrial size fridge. You would think it would look out of place but the red oak cabinetry used for the doors made it part of the kitchen. Going through my mind at that moment, I would never be able to fill that fridge.

The formal dining room off the kitchen easily held a grand size table that sat at least 20 chairs. The dark hardwood floors had gone throughout the entire house, except the kitchen and bathroom, with different shades of creams and browns on the walls. The neutral colours added warmth, and the feeling of being home; accents of brighter colours in each room gave it a punch and not the feeling of boredom.

Making our way back down the hall, ending up back in the foyer, I had already made up. Turning to face the Weatherspoon's, I said. "I'll take it." Should I feel bad for buying something so huge I didn't need? Who cares this was the house. My house.

Delight gleaming from their eyes, Mrs. Weatherspoon spoke first, "Don't you want to see the rest of the place first, dear?"

"I would love to see the rest of the place, but my mind is already made up. I want this house. As soon as we pulled up my mind was made up." Showing my excitement to the owner was not the best bargaining tool, not that I was going to try to haggle a lower price. This house was worth every cent. "Will you gentlemen excuse us for a minute?" Gentle grabbing my arm, Mrs. Weatherspoon escorted me to the closed door off the foyer, which turned out to be an office.

It was the smallest room out of the rest I had seen so far, more of a normal size room, but far from being average. Built-in wood shelves that matched the floor perfectly, lay against the entire outer wall. The fireplace stood opposite of the bay window, reflected light from the sun accented the marble. After Mrs. Weatherspoon closed the door behind us she moved towards the far side of the built in bookshelves.

"I am showing you this because I knew this home was yours as soon as you walked in. To my knowledge only you, my husband, myself, and a few others that have been here but are long gone know about it." Reaching inside one of the selves, I heard a soft click then watched the built-in heavy piece of shelving move. Mrs. Weatherspoon opened it with eased, and rushed me inside. A staircase going down was revealed when she flicked on the light.

"What is this?" I asked, looking around stunned.

"I have a feeling you will need this one day. Follow me. We haven't had need for this space in some time but we kept it fully functional. One can never be too safe." She never really did answer my question. Safe from what?

Speechless triggered by caution, I carefully followed her down the staircase that could hold two average size people walking side by side. Twenty or so stairs later, a steel door sat open leading to what looked like an everyday living room. "What is this place?" I asked again. Seriously who has a hidden apartment in their basement?

"A safe place. This is the living room. Over there," pointing to three doors, "are the bedrooms, that one is a full size bathroom," Mrs. Weatherspoon said, as we entered the final room. "This is the kitchen. We have a few things in stock but not much, it will only last a few days. This here...," she opened up a large cabinet, "are monitors for all the rooms in the house as well as the outside perimeter. You can see everything that is going on and nobody will know. One last thing, this door here leads up to the garage."

Following the woman up to the garage I was so stunned and curious on why they would have had the need for all of this. Curiosity got the better of me. "Ok. Why do you have all this?"

"We use to help some people, but don't worry about that it was many, many years ago, you have nothing to worry about," she stated nonchalantly as if it were the most normal thing to have a secret hideout in your home. "We were waiting for someone special to move here before we moved somewhere...warmer, and you, my dear, are that person," she said, matter-of-factly, looking over her shoulder at me. "Close your mouth dear, everything will be just fine, you will see," with that said, Mrs. Weatherspoon went into the garage and out the side door.

Excitement of my soon to be new home out weighted the strangeness of the secret rooms and the Weatherspoon's; a very nice couple, but I couldn't shake the feeling there was something off with the two.

On the way to Furball's I called Mady to tell her about the great news as well as text Dmitri and Mason. Getting, "congrats on the home," and, "we will celebrate tonight," I said my goodbyes.

Walking in the bar thirty minutes later than I expected a shiver ran up my back. When Matt saw me his face broke into a huge smile. Reaching the table I sat in yesterday he pulled out the seat before I had a chance to do so myself.

"Well hello gorgeous. I'm glad you came back," Matt said.

"Hello to you too. How could I not come back, great food, a fabulous wait staff and the view isn't that bad either." A little flirting just came naturally today. A great mood does wonders!

Matt laughed, "I will tell Nick you're here," he said, heading back to the bar.