Ingrid sat with her hand on her tummy, feeling the small kicks inside her. 25 weeks yesterday and she was excited about meeting her baby boy. Married to Pete and now trying to move from their one bed flat in Clapham, they desperately needed a house with a nursery. She thought of the dream house she had wanted as a girl. Those with a veranda and a white picket fence. She realised she would not find one of those in Clapham. She then imagined an indoor heated swimming pool and a servant. Pete would have to change his job for that. Smiling she imagined the house that would go with it.

Pete worked in a small office as an environmental health officer. He worked hard and was looking forward to purchasing their dream home. Looking forward to having more then one bedroom and their own private stairs. Two toilets, one up and one down. In just a few months his family would be to big for their one bed flat. The flat was now on the market and the viewings meant they had to keep it permanently tidy, just in case the estate agent bought anybody to look around it.

They had met on a quiet evening in a small pub. Both on a work night out, coaxed by friends to talk to each other. They spoke at the bar and talked over a few drinks. After a lot of laughing they arranged to meet the following night and their relationship went from there. Now married for two years and their first baby on the way they had so much to look forward to. He thought about what life was going to be like. Of Ingrid as a mummy, he knew she would be wonderful. Ever calm and patient. Thinking of the life they could provide and their dream house.

Looking through house’s for sale, Ingrid should have been working. Her mind had not been on work for a while now. Focused more on her future then the typing in her tray. What girl honestly would be more interested in typing letters then looking through dream houses? She knew that some they could not hope to afford. Thinking maybe the owner might accept a wild offer, they might be desperate to sell.
“Ingrid, Ingrid, I’ve told you before I don’t pay you to look at houses, come on” Mr Miles tapped the table. “These letters will not type themselves”
“Ok Mr Miles, sorry”

Pulling a face as he walked off, she picked up the first letter on the pile. She thought to herself this office is in the dark ages but, his hand-written scribbles do at least keep me in a job. Proceeding to type she put aside her houses for now

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Once home she sat down and spread out the houses again. Not one had a veranda, but it is always the American shows that seem to have the veranda on the front with the decking, steps and hammock. Smiling she thought that maybe Pete could make her a white picket fence. They just needed to find the right home. After all a home is what you make it, it is not just the bricks and mortar. It was now she had a phone call from the Estate Agent. A couple had put an offer in for the flat. She said she would have to discuss it with Pete. Whew she thought, now we just need to find our home.

Pete arrived home excited, he had seen the house in an estate agents window. Set in a quiet cul de sac, he knew he could add a fence. There was no veranda on the front of the house, to put a hammock on like in the movies. However, there was a large British one on the back. Adding up the sums he knew that they could not really afford it, but this really was the dream house. Three bedrooms, a dining room which could be a play room and a lovely garden. This had to be it. No swimming pool but he did not want the stress of a pool anyway.

Now crying, Ingrid was surprised by Pete’s find,
“Can we go and look, now, please please, oh and a couple have made an offer on the flat”
“Excellent, I will phone the Estate Agent tomorrow, Ok, let’s do a drive by, we have a viewing in the morning” Even more excited now Ingrid was getting her hopes up. They had seen so many houses that were just not right. This one sounded perfect.

It was a sunny Saturday morning as the young couple stood looking at their dream house. Pete had negotiated and had agreed the sale on the flat, so now it was the dream house. Would this work out? Would the bank give them the mortgage? Pete was hoping for promotion soon so that would help, plus he did have many years of saving and there was equity in the flat. He was very frugal which had made Ingrid a little mad. Glad now though that they had gone without unnecessary things as they needed the money now. They both knew that this was the home they wanted. She was already decorating the nursery in her mind. Rubbing her tummy and telling baby what a nice room he was going to have.

Sitting now in the office with the estate agent, they anxiously made their offer, first a crazy offer that they didn’t think would be accepted. The owners thought about it and phoned the estate agent back. They had refused but had a counter offer. Pete then offered a few thousand less back to that, they then counter offered again. Pete then accepted this as he knew that they a good deal. They were finally going to have their dream house.

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A little while later they moved in, Ingrid started to decorate the nursery immediately. A few days later on a cold morning she was sat alone drinking coffee in the veranda when her contractions started. She phoned Pete who left work immediately. He got home to find his wife lying on the floor crying in a pool of water. He phoned 999 and was put through to a lovely lady who talked him through delivering their baby. Soon after Baby Luke made his entrance, screaming in to the world. The paramedics then arrived and helped to cut the umbilical cord and deliver the placenta.

After a trip to the hospital mum and baby were discharged as doing well. Luke was happily breast feeding and Ingrid was wincing with the pain but getting used to it. She had been prepared for this and had bought some cream that she read would help her. However, she had not been prepared for the dramatic entrance in the veranda.  Now their family was complete, lovely new home and Luke was quietly sleeping in his pram. She looked up at Pete who looked back at her, both happy and content with the world for now.

For Word prompt – Dream house – on Lornas Gin Lemonade blog

For more see, The secret time warp