“Ok,” she says, drawing the word out and looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.
Maybe I have. But I sure feel good for a crazy guy.
“Come on,” I say, holding my hand out to her.
Kimberley takes my hand and lets me lead her towards the house. We’re almost at the door when she stops suddenly.
“Look I know you said it’s a surprise, but I’ll warn you now, if we go in there and a bunch of people jump out and yell surprise, I’m going to absolutely murder you. And I will make it a slow and painful death,” she says.
Her face is deadly serious and I can’t help but laugh.
“I promise no one will jump out on you,” I laugh.
She doesn’t look entirely convinced, but she starts walking again. I unlock the front door and push it open. I gesture to Kimberley to enter.
“After you,” I say. “I don’t want to ruin the moment when everyone jumps out.”
She freezes and I laugh.
“I’m joking,” I say.
She steps inside, her body tense, waiting for the yelling that of course doesn’t come. She relaxes a little as I step in behind her and close the door. The foyer is open plan, all white, with a sweeping staircase running up the middle. A mahogany bannister matches the doors opening off the foyer and a small table stands at the bottom with a green potted plant on it.
“Don’t be shy, take a look around,” I grin.
Kimberley frowns but she goes to the first door and steps into a lounge. I hear her gasp as she looks around it. A cascading water feature takes pride of place above a huge mahogany mantelpiece. The gas fire is switched off, but when it’s on, it casts soft shadows over the room with its dancing flames that make it look like a real fire. Brown leather sofas and chairs are arranged around a glass and chrome coffee table. Soft cream drapes hang at the window. Even I have to admit that Chance has outdone himself here.
“It’s beautiful,” Kimberley breathes.
I take her to the kitchen next. It’s a strange mix of ultra modern gadgets placed in a farm house style room that really shouldn’t work, but somehow it does.
“Oh wow. Look at this place. It’s like a chef’s dream,” she smiles.
She has a similar reaction to the dining room and the library. Her face really lights up in the library, a bright, airy space lined with pine shelves, the centre of it filled with bean bags and a leather recliner.
“I could spend all day in here,” she smiles.
Her face turns serious again.
“But seriously Sebastian. Why are we here?” she probes.
I don’t reply. Instead, I leave the library and head back to the foyer. Kimberley follows behind me. I take her hand in mine, really feeling the nerves kicking in now. I lead her towards the stairs.
“I really do love you Kimberley,” I say.
She pulls her hand out of mine, but she keeps following me up the stairs.
“Oh my God Sebastian. Is that why you’ve brought me here? Because I’ll tell you now I’m not fucking in some random house,” she exclaims.
Even though my stomach is swirling with nerves, I can’t help but laugh at her indignation.
“It’s not some random house,” I say. “And we’re not going to be fucking here. At least not yet.”
We reach the top of the stairs and I lead her down the hallway.
“What do you mean not yet?” she says.
I turn back and take her hand again. She doesn’t pull hers away this time and I take that to be a good sign. I hope she can’t feel how sweaty my palm is against hers. My heart is racing as I push open a door.
“Come on, I want you to see this,” I say.
I wanted to show her the master bedroom, the bathroom and the spare bedrooms first, leaving this room for the finale, but I can sense she’s getting restless and I know she won’t stop probing now until I tell her why we’re really here. I don’t want her to be pissed at me when she sees what I really want to show her.
I lead her into the room. It’s all white with a border of yellow ducks around the centre of the walls. The floor is covered in a thick, soft white carpet. A white bassinet stands in the centre of the room, draped in voile that makes it look like it’s right out of a fairy tale. Our fairy tale.
A white wardrobe and a matching chest of drawers stands off to one side of the bassinet, the handles finished in the same yellow as the ducks on the wall. A mobile hangs above the bassinet, a moon and seven stars hanging down from it. On the far wall is a changing station and a small bath. A wicker rocking chair sits in one corner beneath a shelf with books and alphabet blocks on it. A large cuddly duck sits in the chair.
“Do you like it?” I ask.
She nods, speechless as she looks at the room.
“Would it make a good nursery?” I ask.
She nods again. This time she gives a soft laugh and she turns to me.
“So that’s what this is about. You’re getting nursery design tips from Chance,” she says.
“Actually, Chance designed the whole house except this room. This room was all me,” I say.
“What? Why would you design a room for Chance?” she asks.
This is it. The moment of truth.
“Do you really like it?” I ask, ignoring her question.
“Yes, I love it. Are you thinking of switching career paths?” she asks.
I laugh.
“God no,” I say. “But I’m glad you love it, because I’ve bought this house for us and designed this room for our baby Kimberley. If you’re just saying you like it to make me feel better, then now’s the time to be honest, because if you don’t like it, we’ll find a place you do like. I’ll buy you any house you want and we’ll
