Progeny by E. H. Reinhard Read Free Book Online Page A

mouth.
    “You’ll get one when they’re cooked,” I said.
    He hopped off the stool and came over to weave around under my feet.
    “Twenty minutes,” I said.
    He meowed a response and dug his head into my leg.
    I set the timer on the stove, moved Butch away from my feet, and slid the meatballs into the oven. After getting a pot of water heating up on the stove, I washed up, grabbed my laptop from the living room, and sat at the breakfast bar.
    Callie had left me a note saying we were set to look at the house Saturday morning at ten. I figured I would take another look at the place while the meatballs cooked and the water for the noodles heated up to a boil. I pulled up the property on my computer and let out a long breath. The place was perfect. The house was the oldest registered in the county and was listed with the historical foundation for the area. All the old charm was preserved, with modern touches. It sat on the lake with five acres of land, both qualities I wanted—land and water. The open space would provide plenty of room for Callie and my son or daughter to be outside and play. I clicked through the photos for the umpteenth time. I went back to the listing and read over all the inclusions. Then I stared at all the zeroes in the asking price.
    While we could technically afford it, I had reservations—a good number of them. I thought I’d be with Samantha forever when we moved and bought her dream house out in the suburbs. While my present situation was entirely different, that memory remained. I needed a voice of reason, so I dialed my father.
    He answered within a single ring. “Carl.”
    “Dad, how are you doing?”
    “Fine. Fine. I’m starting on the upstairs out in the shop this weekend. Sommer is coming by to lend a hand.”
    “Really?”
    “Yeah, I told him if he kept coming by, I was going to put him to work. When I brought it up this week, he said he’d be over on Saturday with a couple of cold ones to lend me a hand.”
    “That’s good. You should probably still be taking it easy, though.”
    “Ah, I’m fine. A couple bullets in the keister won’t slow me down. So what’s up?”
    “I need some fatherly advice.”
    My father chuckled into the phone. “I’m listening. Wait, did you ask Callie to marry you yet?”
    I heard the water boiling, so I walked over and dumped the noodles in. “No. Not yet.”
    His voice rose an octave. “What the hell are you waiting for?”
    I rubbed my head. “The right time, I guess.”
    “You’re not having second thoughts, are you?” he asked.
    “Not in the least, Dad. I just… I don’t know.”
    “You don’t think she’ll say no, do you?”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “Well, then do it. I’m pretty sure whatever time you pick will be the right time for her.”
    I took a seat back at the breakfast bar. “Yeah. Anyway, not the reason for the call. I need some home-purchasing advice.”
    “Okay. Lay it on me.”
    “We’re looking at a house on Saturday. It’s perfect—five acres, on a lake, beautiful.”
    “So what’s the problem?” he asked.
    “The price.”
    “Do I want to know?”
    “Double what my condo was.”
    “Ouch. Can you guys afford that much?” he asked.
    “Technically. The condo here is paid for, and it should sell quick for a good amount. With the money I got back from the house Samantha and I had, plus what I have left over from Mom, I’m okay.”
    “What about Callie?”
    “Her grandparents left her a sizable amount. Dollarwise, like I said, we can afford it.”
    “Well, then what the hell is the problem?”
    I was quiet for a moment. “Scared that I’ll have to end up swinging it on my own. I’ll be sitting there with my giant dream house, alone.”
    “No, no. You can’t think like that, Carl. Callie isn’t Samantha, and nothing says that history is going to repeat itself. If you guys fall in love with the place—and can afford it—buy it.”
    “I know. It’s just a hard memory to get over.