They walked down a gravel drive lined with chest-high shrubs that resembled sagebrush.The plant had caught Decker's attention when he first arrived in Santa Fe, and he later learned that it was a California evergreen shrub.The attractive house was much like Decker's—a sprawling adobe house with a walled yard.
"What's the price of this house?" asked Beth.
"Close to your highest price, $700,000." Decker didn't get her response. "The house has been completely remodeled. Radiant heating in the subfloor and solar thermal windows in the rear."
Beth nodded absently, as if the price needed no explanation. "How big is the yard?"
"As big as mine, two acres."
She looked first at one side of the house, then at the other. "Why can't I see my neighbor?"
"If you lived in this house, my neighbor would be me."
She looked at him strangely.
"What's wrong?" Decker asked.
"I think I'd love to live next door to you."
Decker felt his face flush.
"Do you think the landlord would mind being disturbed at this hour?"
"Absolutely not. The old gentleman who lives here has had a heart attack and moved back to Boston, where he has relatives. He wants to sell the house quickly."
Decker led her into the front yard, where desert wildflowers and shrubs looked a little wilted in the July heat.He opened the carved front door, led her into the cool vestibule, and showed her the hallway that led to the spacious room. "The furniture and fittings in the house are well appointed. Tiled floors, trusses and rafters in all the ceilings."
"Truss and...?"
"Rough wooden beams with thin strips crossing them. Most of the ceilings in Santa Fe are made in this pattern. There are many window seats and Kova fireplaces in the house. The walls of the three bathrooms are paneled with colorful Mexican tiles. The kitchen It's spacious, with food prep benches and sinks, and convection ovens. Skylights and—" Decker noticed that Beth wasn't listening, and stopped talking.She seemed to be staring dreamily at the distant mountain scene from the living room window. "Why should I list these for you? Don't worry, take your time."
Beth walked on slowly, looking this way and that, inspecting each house, nodding now and then.Decker followed her, feeling uncomfortable again—he wasn't embarrassed or overwhelmed, but he really was, feeling his jeans and leather jacket wrap around him, feeling the air against him. own hands and cheeks.He felt himself occupying the space, Beth beside him, and it was just the two of them there.
Suddenly, he realized that Beth was talking to him. "What? I'm sorry, I didn't notice," Decker said. "I just lost my mind."
"Does the price include furniture?"
"yes."
"I want to buy it."
Notes:
Notes: