Every House Settles

“Let’s worry about unpacking the car tomorrow only grab what you need tonight.  I made sure the new beds were delivered a couple days ago.  The house came with the previous owner’s bedroom furniture.  I figured you would want to see it before I tossed them.  So we at least have a place to sleep until the movers arrive tomorrow with our stuff.  I will grab Jude, you and Ray get inside.”

Ray shuffled in the back seat grabbing her overnight bag and flinging Kats into the front seat.

“Thank you Ray of sun..” Kat was cut off by Ray jumping out of the back and running up to the front door.  She stood at the front door, her hands in her pockets, making slight jumping movements to keep warm.

“Ray of sunshine, indeed.” Kat whispered sarcastically.

Turning the car off she was met with the bitter cold and ran just as Ray had to the front door.  Her hands were instantly cold so she fumbled with the keys and dropped them.

“Shit.”

Finally, she was able to get it in the knob and unlock the door. She pushed it open and Ray rushed passed her as if she could out run the cold.  Kat reached in a fumbled for the entry way light switch and flipped it.

The house lit up like and old Christmas tree.

Robert brushed past her and went directly for the stairs with a sleeping Jude.

Hmm. Maybe he will sleep through the night.

“Ray, you’re up here too” Robert said quietly and Ray trailed behind him.

Wow.

Kat brushed her finger tips across the stair banister and marveled at the wood work.  The craftsmanship was amazing. 

Good bones. Not much I will do beside paint and re-stain these amazing floors.

“What do you think?” Robert leaned against the railing at the first landing.

“It’s perfect. Original floors, the woodworking, even the trim is just…perfect.” She gleamed.

He had come down and grabbed her hand.

“Come on. I want to show you the best part.” It had been a hot minute since she had seen that childlike look in his eye.

            He walked her down the hall past the kitchen to a room with glass panel double doors.

“Close your eyes Kat no peeking.”

She squeezed them closed tight.

He guided her forward and stood her in the middle of the room it seemed like.

The warmth from the light turning on was visible through her eye lids.

“Ok. OPEN.”

She opened her eyes to the most magnificent parlor room she had ever seen.  It had bay windows and build in bookshelves.

“Robert! This will be the most magnificent office space! I cannot wait to see the view from these windows in the morning.” Tears of joy started to well in her eyes again.

“Our room is just there.”  He nodded to the door to the right of the room.

Of course she started walking towards it and found that one of her steps sunk in just a little more than the rest of the flooring.

“Hmm.” She took her weight off and placed it down again kind of bouncing her weight.

“What?” Robert crossed the room to her observing the ground.

“The floor seems off here. No big deal it’s probably just the house settling. I will worry about it in the morning.” She assured him.

“It is an old house. You are bound to find something to fix.  Let’s just let the dust settle a bit before we get into something as big as a sinking floor board. Promise me you will find something smaller before ripping out the floor to our new home?” He laughed.

“I promise I won’t rip it out IF it doesn’t need it. I’m not worried about one soft spot. It gives the room character.” She smirked at him.

“Now sir, please escort me to my new room” she said with a British accent.  

“With pleasha, my lady.” He bowed and placed his hand on the knob.

“After you.” She laughed.  “Its dark you find the light switch.”

            After a couple of minutes of fumbling around in the room he reappeared at the door, his cell phone flashlight on. 

“Well, in a strange turn of events.  There looks to be no light or light switch in the master bedroom.  I will go find a candle or flashlight or something in the kitchen. Be back in a jiff.”  He kissed her forehead and went to the kitchen.

Well that is not abnormal for a home this old. Knowing Robert,  he will want an electrician in here tomorrow rewiring the entire house to get a light in the master. I’m ok with candles.

Kat pulled her phone out and turned her flash light on.  She entered quit possibly the biggest master suite she had ever been in and she had been in a lot.  The ceiling was vaulted and bare wood beams graced it flawlessly.  She did see a few outlets which meant there was electricity coming to the room at least. 

“Well there’s hope to sway Robert towards lamps verses an electrician.”

He will pay for that and an electric gate before fixing a hole in the floor. 

She rolled her eyes and walked to the window, which was just as great as the room. 

She heard a thump and the boards creak in the parlor as Robert walked his way back to her possibly dropping whatever illuminated object he found.

She made her way quickly towards him, “You know Robert, we could always just use lamps in the ro..” She had made it to the parlor.  Robert was nowhere to be seen.

“WHAT?!” He yelled from the hallway.

She could now make out his footsteps approaching from the kitchen.

Coming into the room he was holding an old camping lantern. 

“This was the best I could find. Somehow there’s still fluid in it. I haven’t seen one of these in twenty years, ha!” He was proud of his discovery it was all over his face.

“Were you just in here?” Kat asked while peering around the room.

“No, I was searching the kitchen for some false sunlight.  Why, what’s wrong?”

            The look on her face must have alarmed him to some kind of off set.

“Nothing I just could have sworn that” she stopped and noticed that the piece of floorboard that had sunk under her foot was raised about an inch higher than the rest.

“That?” Robert was watching her somewhat worried now.

“I just swear I heard you in here messing around is all, the floor boards were creaking like you know. You were walking in here.”  She walked over to the floor board and stepped on it.  It went down and set in place.  It sunk with the weight of her body.” She looked at Robert.

“Oh come on Katherine, stop trying to freak me out and find something wrong with the place.  I knew you would find stuff to bitch about but not this fast.  New record. Ten minutes.  I’m going to bed.  I have to be up early for onboarding.  You coming or are you going to be out here trying to find casper?” He didn’t wait for her response he just went into the room.

            “I wasn’t bitching!” She yelled after him.

It’s an old house Kat.  It has probably been sitting empty for a while. It’s settling that’s all.  Every house makes noise when its settling.

          She gave the floor board one more good press and followed her husband into the room.  Normally she would shower but she was pooped.  She plopped down on the bed the warm glow of the bathroom peeked out from under the door.

Well we are idiots, we could have just turned that on in the first place. She laughed to herself.

The last thing she heard was the trickle of the shower before she drifted off to sleep.