at the house.
The kitchen was big, bright, and open.
Big enough that there was a spot for another table and chairs. In a corner with another bay window. That’s where I pictured Mila and I having breakfast.
The sunroom smelled like dust and mold.
There were some cracks in the flooring in the mudroom.
For everything good I found, Tyler found ten things wrong.
Which was his job.
I didn’t take it personally.
As we came back around to go up the main set of steps, someone was waiting for us.
Zeke crossed his arms and laughed. “Tell me you bought this hunk of junk, Silas.”
“I bought it for your granddaughter,” I said.
“He got you there, Zeke,” Tyler said. “What are you doing here?”
“Heard some rumblings and saw the trucks. Good to see this place becoming something. Do you know the story?”
“No,” I said.
Zeke entered the house. “My grandfather Benjamin was one the first to really start to settle this town. A businessman named Clarence came to town too. He had a big vision of turning this place into a little city. He built this house. Poor Clarence fell ill and passed the house down to his nephew. His nephew tried to live here but he didn’t like it. He was a beach type guy. Name was Ricky. Or Rich. Something like that. Then it was passed to a cousin in the family. Long story short, the house just kind of sat around. Someone would move in, do a little work, and then leave. Finally, one of the granddaughters got it. That’s who you bought it from. Maryanne. I think. My mind is fuzzy.”
“Well, hopefully I’m not moving out that quick,” I said.
“Don’t piss off my sister and you’ll be fine,” Tyler said.
Zeke laughed.
I didn’t.
I kind of hung my head and turned to go up the stairs.
When it came to Mila, I felt like I was fucking up already.
She had been so pissed at me…
Maybe I’d end up living in this big, old house by myself.
The upstairs looked like hell.
It seemed to be more cosmetic than anything else.
But it looked bad.
It looked like a haunted house up there for sure.
I found the studio.
A bedroom at the far end of the house.
Big enough for all the equipment.
I looked around the room, nodding.
The floors moaned when I walked on them.
The window wouldn’t open.
And when I grabbed the closet door, the entire door fell toward me.
It hit the floor with a thundering boom.
Both Tyler and Zeke came running to check on me.
Tyler pointed to the door. “You’re going to want to get that replaced.”
“That’s fucking funny,” I snapped.
“Buyer’s remorse already?” Tyler asked. “We haven’t even gotten into the basement, Silas. The plumbing. The electric. You’re lucky though, the roof looks okay from what I’ve seen. I’ll need to get up there and poke around. Same with the attic. I told you this was going to be a big project.”
“I have the money,” I said. “Just get it fucking done.”
“You okay, Silas?” Zeke asked. “It’s a lot to take in.
“Hey, he did it to himself,” Tyler said.
I took a couple steps and Zeke jumped in. “Okay. This is not going to happen again.”
“Watch your mouth, Tyler,” I said.
“What’s your deal, Silas? You looked thrilled to be here. Now you look ready to jump out of a window.”
I stepped back and sighed.
I looked around the room.
“It’s not the house,” I said. “Not even close. I know this place is good. I trust you, Tyler. Hell, this room is going to be the studio. I’m going to start figuring that process out later. I’ll get it soundproofed and everything.”
“Then what’s wrong?” Zeke asked.
I looked at Mila’s brother and her grandfather.
“Why does everyone call you Zeke?” I asked. “I mean, I know it’s your name. But nobody calls you grandpa or anything?”
Zeke smiled. “It started as a joke. When Anna and Claire were little. Anna heard someone call me Zeke and she started doing it. Thomas tried to tell her not to, but then Claire jumped in. It was my late wife, Ada, who egged them to keep going. Now, let me tell you something, Silas. If you think Edith is a little wild right now, you can’t imagine what it was like when my Ada was still alive. So that’s how the Zeke thing just stuck. I don’t mind. But why the hell are we talking about this?”
“Because I’m an idiot,” I said.
“Hey, there’s something we can talk about for hours,” Tyler said.
“What happened, son?” Zeke asked.
“Mila woke up in a terrible mood. She