The Lake House

Lesley Livingston gently pulled back the faded black curtains just enough to peer out of the dusty windowpane. Her gaze fixated on the tranquil lake that extended out before her. Mesmerized by its elegant, flowing waters, a sense of serenity drifted over her.

The waters flowed gracefully in such a precise manner as if the lake knew its duty was to captivate prospective buyers, alluring them with its beauty.

“Awe!” Lesley extended her finger, pointing at a flock of bluebirds gathering in the nearby trees. Shifting her gaze, her heart swelled with joy as her eyes landed on a family of ducks waddling in and out of the lake.

“It’s truly beautiful and rejuvenating, Nick. Don’t you agree?” Lesley bit her lower lip, desperate to move into the lake house already. Enthusiasm rushed through her veins like sparks of electricity.

Before Nick could muster up a reply, the Livingston’s realtor, Jackie, interjected in her calming yet professional voice.

"This charming lake house was built in 1952, and they renovated it in 2016. It still has such an incredibly nostalgic and peaceful feel, yet it’s also modernly captivating. ” She clasped her hands together in front of her knee-length black skirt and smiled.

Jackie continued to venture through the house, gracefully following Nick’s lead.

Lesley distanced herself from both of them, strolling out to the back and onto the patio. She reveled in the breathtaking views of the lake and its surroundings, with the forest masquerading as a panoramic backdrop; it felt surreal.

Lesley was a girl who grew up with an unstable mother and a father who disappeared long before her birth. Her mother dragged poor Lesley from one apartment to another.

Ultimately, Lesley despised her hectic and chaotic childhood, promising herself that when she got older, she would ensure her stability with a decent place to call home. However, she never imagined she would one day be looking at a property that was far beyond what she had ever imagined possible in her childhood.

Gazing out at the lake, the waters gleamed with the sun’s reflection, and the Blue Jays chirped in the nearby trees. Lesley fell in love, drawn in by the captivating allure of the property. There was no way she wasn’t going to get the house - she knew it was hers, and she could feel it in her bones.

Her eyes glared out at the rippling waters as a small wave protruded from the lake’s surface. Lesley stepped toward the edge of the patio, where she witnessed the wave getting higher. Surprised, she quickly stepped back, but it was too late. The water splashed right in her face.

Shaking her head, she wiped the droplets off her face with her forearm.

Curiosity struck her—How did the waters manage to spray her in the face? It was reminiscent of an act that a seal or sea lion would perform.

Shrugging it off, she made her way back into the house, where Nick and Jackie were both standing in front of the large brick fireplace situated in the contemporary-styled living room.

“Does this thing work?” Nick asked while inspecting the fireplace as if it could speak back to him.

“Yes, everything in this house works perfectly fine.” Jackie stood in front of Nick, wishing he had made up his mind already.

Lesley turned away from the window and glanced at her husband with her light brown puppy dog eyes.

“I want it! It’s perfect, Nick.” She pleaded, clasping her hands together in sheer anticipation.

Lesley knew how to persuade him, and if she begged hard enough, Nick would budge sooner or later. But in this particular case, she’d rather it be sooner than later.

A smile adorned Jackie’s face. She was pleasantly surprised by Lesley’s sudden zest for the house. “The serenity of this environment is unparalleled!” Jackie raised her hands in the air, emphasizing her statement, “And with no neighbors for miles, I can guarantee you’ll absolutely soak in the tranquility of this beautiful house.”

Jackie’s words plunged into Lesley’s head. She wanted nothing more at that moment than for her and Nick to become the new owners of 5560 Gillian Place.

“Yeah, Nick, remember we discussed how we couldn’t wait to move out of the city and into a peaceful rural location?” Lesley reminded him, her voice tinged with a hint of desperation, “This is it, Nick! This is our perfect location.”

Nick nodded his head, “Yeah, I remember. But we shouldn’t rush into this, Les.” Nick grew frustrated,” This is a huge financial commitment. We need to seriously think this through.”

Why couldn’t Nick be as fervent as me? Lesley thought.

Nick wandered through the house, meticulously scrutinizing its features. The kitchen, the living room, and the master bedroom all underwent a thorough analysis. He hesitated to commit until he was certain it was the best decision for both of them. Doubts lingered in his mind, and although they weren’t stretching their budget to the limit, he wished there was more flexibility.

Lesley, unlike Nick, wasn’t as frugal. Her upbringing in a distinctly different environment shaped her spending habits. Nick’s parents, both prudent savers, never indulged in luxury, despite his father’s high-earning profession as a surgeon. Their disciplined approach to money granted them the luxury of an early retirement, and Nick adopted these habits.

Nick attempted to steer Lesley towards a more frugal mindset, influenced by his upbringing. However, Lesley’s background was in stark contrast—her mother, a stripper, had a penchant for squandering money as quickly as she earned it, leading them to face eviction from multiple apartment complexes. The clash in their financial perspectives added another layer of complexity to their decision-making process.

“We have numerous interested buyers, ” Jackie started. “Including interested buyers pouring in from overseas.” Jackie was desperate for the Livingstons to make an offer on the house. The real estate business was slowing down in Arcaden now that fall was officially approaching; all Jackie could think about was the overdue bill she received in the mail last week for her thirteen-year-old daughter’s private school tuition. And, being that her husband had retired, money was tight. She needed to close this deal like yesterday. “I can tell you now this house won’t be on the market for another week.”

Frightened that she would miss out, Lesley blurted, “We want to make an offer!”

Nick’s brown eyes opened wide as he turned toward Lesley. His gaze filled with a mixture of shock and frustration. “Lesley, what the hell?”

Nick threw his hands up in exasperation, emphasizing his discontent. “Lesley, neither you nor I can make this decision solely. We are buying this house together. As a couple.” Nick rubbed his temples. “We’re married, Les. Don’t forget that.”

Jackie turned to Lesley. “I would love to seal the deal today, but your husband doesn’t seem as sure about this beautiful house as you are.”

Lesley shrugged, “He’s ruining the excitement,” she whispered to Jackie.

Jackie turned her attention to Nick.

“So, Nick. I’m sure you’re leaning one way or the other, which is it? You don’t want your wife here to be left in the dark.”

Jackie knew she couldn’t rush her prospective buyers, but her patience was wearing thin. This was the Livingston’s second time viewing the property, and Nick was still unsure if he wanted it or not.

Why, oh why, were they wasting my time? was all Jackie could think. She was at least grateful for Lesley’s vocalization of her love for the house. If only Nick would follow her lead, they could close the deal now.

Nick gazed over at Jackie, “Look, Jackie. Lesley and I will discuss the house tonight, and we’ll get back to you first thing tomorrow morning- around 9:00 AM. How does that sound?”

Jackie’s smile quickly faded. She raised her eyebrows as the expression on her face transitioned into one of seriousness. She was now even less optimistic about securing a deal with the Livingstons, “Please keep in mind, I have more showings tomorrow afternoon,” Jackie’s eyebrows remained raised, underscoring the importance of her message, “If you don’t call me by 9:00 AM and put in an offer, you leave me no other choice but to accept another offer.” Jackie explained.

Lesley faced Jackie and smiled, “Yes, you’ll hear from us at 9:00 AM sharp or before.”

Lesley rolled her eyes in annoyance at Nick. She pursed her lips tightly in frustration, not understanding why Nick was being so skittish in his decision-making. They were financially capable of affording the house, but Lesley also knew how frugal Nick was. When they purchased their condo in a high-rise building, Nick opted for the unit that prospective residents didn’t want due to the loud traffic noises and lingering food scents that ventured in through the windows of the unit. When Nick discovered the seller would knock $46k off the purchase price, there was no more negotiating- Nick agreed to buy it.

“I hope this house isn’t gone by the morning.” Lesley whined as she peered at Nick with playful yet hostile eyes, “If we lose out on this house, Nick.” Lesley warned.

“Calm down, Lesley.” Nick raised his hand, motioning for Lesley to stop, “We won’t miss out. Jackie said as long as we call her in the morning, we’re good. Isn’t that right, Jackie?” Nick’s warm brown eyes met Jackie’s.

Jackie nodded, “That is correct, Nick.” She confirmed as she walked through the kitchen, her high heels clicking against the tiles.

“One more thing,” Nick raised his finger, stopping Jackie in her tracks, “Why did the previous family move out of this house?”

Jackie’s eyes widened, and she cleared her throat, ” A horrible accident occurred.” Jackie’s eyes quickly darted down to her phone, scrolling with her thumb as if she was preoccupied with important news; seemingly, she didn’t want to disclose any more information other than that a horrible accident had occurred.

It appeared to Lesley and Nick that Jackie wasn’t as forthcoming as they thought she would be.

“What kind of accident?” Nick’s eyebrows furrowed as he folded his arms across his chest.

Jackie lifted her head from her phone, and she glanced at Nick.

“Did it happen in this house?... On this property?” Lesley anxiously asked. Placing her fingers near her mouth, she nearly reverted to her bad habit of nail biting. But she stopped as soon as the tip of her finger touched the softness of her lips.

Jackie’s eyes traveled up toward the ceiling as she pondered how to answer the question without being insensitive to the traumatic event that once unfolded there. “You know, I’m trying to remember,” She began tapping her short, red, manicured fingernails on the white quartz stone countertop.

Lesley and Nick were hoping Jackie could offer more insight into the history of the home. Especially being that she was the realtor, not only for the Livingstons but also for the previous family who lived there, the Meyers. At that point, all they wanted to know was what kind of accident had happened and did it had occurred in the confines of the property. But Jackie appeared to be tiptoeing around the answer.

“All I know is that the Meyers..” Jackie began to explain but Lesley interrupted.

“Is that the previous owner’s last name?” Lesley asked, stepping closer to Jackie. “Meyers?”

Jackie nodded. “Yes, the Meyers. Their nineteen-year-old daughter drowned in the lake back there.”

“Oh, my God!” Lesley’s jaw dropped as she placed her hand on her clavicle in shock. “That is terrible.” Her lips curved into a frown.

“Yeah, that sounds horrific,” Nick added while shaking his head in disbelief.

“The family couldn’t live here any longer knowing their daughter drowned in that lake,” Jackie gazed out at the lake from the kitchen window. “It was just too devastating for them.”

A profound sense of sadness tugged at Lesley’s heart. She was immediately filled with compassion for the Meyers. However, she grew an infectious love for the home, refusing to let the calamitous news deter her from purchasing the house. Deep within her, she knew they could turn it into a loving home, one filled with beauty and adventure. It would be their nurturing sanctuary where they would spend the best years of their lives.

******Thanks for reading the first chapter of THE LAKE HOUSE!!😊I truly hope you enjoyed it.***