The Christmas House (5 page)

    
“We are still very interested but as I mentioned, we don’t have the kind of money you are probably asking for the house,” Michael said.

    
He spotted a listing sheet setting on the table. As he

reached
for it he asked, “Just how much “
are
” you asking for this property?”

     Martha snatched the sheet from his hand before he could read the asking price.

    
“Well, how much can you afford to pay Michael?” she asked.

     Michael looked at Arianna and then down at her large stomach that reminded him he would soon have another mouth to feed.

     He stuttered and stalled, then managed to profess, “Well Martha, we can only afford a $200,000.00 mortgage, but I’m sure this house is worth 10 times that amount. We don’t have very much money to put down either. I am very sorry for wasting your time.”

     “Michael, Arianna?” asked Martha. “If you promise to never tear down this house, to love it with all your hearts and to never resell it to anyone else unless they promise to do the same, I think we can work something out. Does that sound reasonable?”

   
 
In a state of disbelief, Michael said, “Martha I promise you we would never tear down this beautiful old house. I am really very good at my job. I have been a carpenter for many years.
I can fix this house to where it
will look brand new again.”

     
“And do you have any money to do that Michael. I mean once the mortgage payments start?” Martha asked.

     Michael shrugged his shoulders and said, “It will take time, but we can make this house a home for the four of us.”

     Martha smiled and extended her hand to Michael and said, “You are very fortunate Michael. The house was just recently reduced to $199,999.00. Congratulations!”

     Arianna started to cry as she hugged Michael and said, “I can’t believe it Michael. Oh my God. We’ve got a house! Martha, how can we ever thank you enough?”

     
“You can thank me by doing two things.
One, by keeping your promises as we have discussed and two, by always being open minded and welcoming visitors to
this home with open arms.
That’s all you need to do,” Martha responded.

     They both looked at Martha and readily agreed to her conditions. Michael and Arianna could not believe their good fortune. They talked with Martha about details of the closing and the down payment. Martha called her attorney and asked him to prepare for a closing date that would take place on April 10th. Everything seemed to be in order for the sale of the house at 148 Festive Lane.

     Less than an hour later, Michael, Arianna and David left the house and walked back to their car. Martha waved goodbye to them from the front door. As she closed the door, she stopped short and peeked out to watch the family. She saw Michael hug his wife so hard that she pushed him away so as not to hurt the baby. He was
so
excited as he walked up and down the front sidewalk and smiled at the house that would soon be theirs forever.

     Martha smiled to herself and shut the door completely. She walked back toward the kitchen but stopped in the middle of the dining room. She looked up at the ceiling and said aloud, “I did it Father.”

Chapter Four- The Closing

April 9th

Lake Forest, IL

     Martha remained extremely busy during the months preceding the closing. There was much to do before she could move into the small studio style apartment that she found in nearby Morton Grove. The apartment was in a retirement center and was fully furnished. She realized that she wouldn’t need any of the old and worn furniture that was left in the house, so she conducted several estate sales. She was truly amazed at how many people wanted to purchase useless junk, but she was just happy to get rid of the
hundreds of pieces that were l
ying around collecting dust throughout the house, garage and basement. Martha was packed and ready to vacate the premises. The closing was tomorrow and she would give Michael and Arianna possession at that time.

     During this same time period, Michael and Arianna were busy as well. They managed to sub lease their apartment and would be out of their lease by April 30th. Michael was disappointed at first since the closing was on the 10th and he was stuck paying for the apartment the entire month of April. Then Arianna pointed out to him that the time lapse between the closing and having to vacate the apartment could be used to clean and fix the smaller problems at the house. Michael, being the go-getter that he was, decided to work on the interior of the house during this time period. Maybe even strip some wallpaper and paint a few rooms if time allowed.

     Their son David was very excited about the move as well. The house they moved from in Las Vegas was a small two-bedroom townhouse. The Festive Lane house living room was bigger than their entire home in Vegas. He already made plans of how his “rooms” would be decorated. Yes, David decided that the house was so big that he could master two rooms instead of just one.

     David at 10 years
old,
was already quite the musician. His father was teaching him how to play guitar and David was catching on fast. Michael recently bought
David a used electric guitar and amplifier. David was planning on making one of his rooms into a music room. He hoped to make friends quickly at his new school and possibly start a rock band.

             
Arianna was now full-term with her pregnancy and approaching her due date of April 20th. Michael was concerned because she was trying to help with the packing and he didn’t want her lifting anything over ten pounds. Michael adored Arianna. They met in high school and had been together ever since. Married only one year before the birth of David, they'd been in wedlock for 11 years. Michael described his wife to fellow workers as a super mom with super model looks. Well, at least that was how she usually looked when she wasn’t pregnant. Like her son, Arianna was a bit stubborn and ignored Michael’s warnings of lifting boxes filled with books and tableware.

     “Are you trying to have the baby right here?” Michael said.

     “No, I am just trying to help Michael,” she responded.

     “Please do me a favor and just sit there and relax. Go watch television or something. You are driving me crazy!” he replied.

     David came into the room. “I’ll help ya Dad.”

     “See, David is going to help me so you don’t have to,” Michael said.

     Arianna in a fit of frustration replied, “Fine! I will get out of your sight then. I feel so useless and so fat and so ugly!”

    
She stormed out of the room and into the bedroom of the tiny apartment.

     Michael turned to David.

    
“Can you handle this by yourself for a few minutes? Mom and I need to talk.”

    
“No problem Dad. I will do what I can.”

     Michael rubbed the top of David’s head and then headed toward the bedroom.

     In the bedroom, which was a disaster area from the packing effort, Michael found Arianna sobbing on the bed. She was extremely emotional of late
and m
uch more so than when David was born. Michael assumed it was due to the added stress of the move, the purchase of a new home, the repairs the home required and the fact that she was 10 years older since the last time she gave birth.

     He walked over several boxes that surrounded the bed and sat down next to his
whimpering wife.

     “Honey, I know you want to help, but I don’t want you or the baby to get hurt. Can’t you understand that?”

    
“Oh sure.
You just don’t want to look at me anymore. I’m so fat and ugly!” she responded.

     “You are not. You are as beautiful as the day I married you. Really you are,” Michael replied.

     “Oh so you married a blimp 11 years ago? Hmm, where was I?” she whimpered.

     “Hmm, well I seem to remember this beautiful young girl that could light up the sky with her smile and the sparkle in her eyes,” Michael said.

     Arianna fought back a smile and reluctantly said, “Are you saying that I used to… smarkle?”

   
“
Smarkle
?
Well, yes I guess you could call it that. And you still smarkle better than anyone else does in the whole world. I love you Arianna.”

     “Oh Michael, I love you so much. I’m sorry for being such a baby. Now neither of us
are
packing.”

     Michael laughed.

    
“Well David is doing pretty well. I am very proud of the way he is pitching in to help. Usually he’s the one that’s acting like a baby!” Michael said, as he gave her a love pat on her bottom.

     Arianna laughed.

    
“Hey, what do you
mean!
Come here you sexy man you.”

     As they held each other and kissed, Michael rubbed her stomach and whispered; “You are still the most beautiful girl I know.”

     At that moment they heard a crash from the kitchen.

     “Dad... I think I broke something,” David said.

     Michael looked at Arianna.

    
“I think he needs some help. You stay here and rest. And that young lady is an order.”

     “Yes Sir!” she responded with a smile.

     Michael returned to the kitchen and found David holding a box that once contained the glassware, which was now laying on the floor in a thousand pieces. Michael failed to tell David about taping the bottom of the boxes shut before loading them.

    
“Are you all right?” Michael asked.

    
“I’m sorry Dad,” responded David in a sad voice.

     “It’s okay David. Glasses can be replaced but you can’t. Are you okay?”

    
“Yeah I’m fine,” replied David.

    
“Okay then. Let’s clean up this mess and get packing. Watch your step,” Michael said.

     Arianna overheard the entire conversation and wondered how Michael could remain so calm and collected during all of the chaos. She always admired him for his strength and quick wit. These traits were the most attractive qualities he had to offer when they first met. Overtime, he matured and become even more confident and in control. She loved him for that, but was concerned that the undertaking of the house and another child would really be the test of his patience and strength. She could only hope that everything would go as planned.

April 10th

10:00 a.m.

First National Title Company

     “Miss Martha Kennedy and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Carter?” said the receptionist.

     “Right over here,” replied Michael from a section of office style chairs near the window.

     “Please follow me. They are ready for your closing.” the receptionist responded.

     Michael, Arianna and Martha followed the receptionist down a large hallway and into a conference room that was about halfway down the corridor. They were met by their respective attorneys and took their assigned seats.

     Michael’s attorney greeted Martha and introduced himself, as Martha’s attorney made his introductions to the Carters. The closing agent from the Title Company entered the room.

    
“Good Morning everyone.
We will be addressing the buyers throughout most of these proceedings, so if the seller would simply be patient, this process should take less than an hour.”

     The people in attendance simply nodded to show acceptance and she continued.

     “First of all I would like to review the closing statement and confirmation of the mortgage payment and how that payment is broken down. The buyers are putting down $10,000.00 dollars as a down payment and are mortgaging the balance, which is $190,000.00. As you know the mortgage was approved almost instantly due to the appraised value of the property being at an estimated worth that is ten times the purchase price. In other words, even if the mortgage goes to foreclosure, the bank has zero risk on this loan.”

     Michael and Arianna smiled at Martha as if to once again say thank you for her precious and generous gift. The closing agent continued.

     “The mortgage payment per month will be $1545.00 plus taxes and PMI, which brings the total payment per month to $3578.00.”

     Michael was in total shock asked, “Excuse me? I was expecting a payment of around $2000.00 a month, not $3500.00! Why is it so much more?”

     The agent replied, “Well Mr. Carter, the taxes on this property are very expensive. These are four-acres of prime property in Lake Forest and the taxes alone are approximately $20,000.00 a year.”

    
“Oh my God!
$20,000.00 a year! I can’t afford that!” Michael stated frantically.