Susan #94 - Closing the Deal (Patreon)

Feels a bit jarring to go from casual and light-hearted scenes from both Sofi and Moon Goddess (and by proxy the older Susan scenes) to something more... serious? I mean given Susan's circumstance, it feels fair to me that extra attention is brought to this moment. And not just a footnote in an entry where something else happens. If my plans continue to develop as they are, it'll be a location a lot of scenes take place.

But anyway, I still try to balance it all with scenes that still show off how Susan grows through it all. :>

Drive link / Auc Vault

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November 26, 2017 - (1 week after #93, 23 weeks into Susan's pregnancy)

“Now all we need are the signatures.” The housing agent stated, turning the paperwork around to face the four people sitting with him. Susan and Nathan were there, as the purchasers. With her father and his mother respectively there for support, but also to supervise as they had collectively agreed to support the payment and renovation of the house.

Nathan leaned forwards, took up the pen and wrote his signature. There was no hesitation in his motion, he counted his blessings for both of their parents being so willing to give monetary help.

With his signature now in ink, Nathan moved the paper to Susan’s side of the desk. She couldn’t quite reach for either the pen or the paper, and she wasn’t putting in any effort in it either. Without second guessing he took it upon himself to help Susan move the chair closer. He positioned himself to lift it from the arm rests, but his second arm got whisked away by her hand. He stood back.

“J-just... hold on...” She got out. Her hand was curled, pressed up against her lips with either end twitching. “I- I don’t know if I want to s-sign just yet...”

Susan’s father, knowing how her daughter ticked, stood up and addressed the agent.. “Excuse me, could you give us a second?”

The man smiled and nodded. “Of course, take all the time you need.” He promptly got up and left the room, leaving the four to their own. Few moments of silence passed, both Nathan and her father knew she just needed a breather. A moment to calm down and build her thoughts.

“I... I’m... I-I-I just don’t think such a big down-payment is a good idea...“ Susan stared at the zeros on the down payment amount near the top of the document. “I’m putting all this burden on you guys when you’ve already done so much for me- for us. It will take forever for us to even get close to paying it off...”

Both parents shuffled in their chair to speak up. They exchanged glanced before Susan’s father signaled her to go.

“We don’t mind it at all- it is our way to make sure the two of you can raise the kids without worry.”

“But then we’re counting on you again, not just for the renovation but also paying for it all? And to think... we’re probably going to need your help raising the kids as well... and- and I...” Susan’s voice trailed off, with another moment of silence passing.

Her father got up from the chair, moved to one that’s closer to her daughter and sat down to better connect with her.

“I understand, Susan. What she and I are trying to say is... being a parent is difficult. Especially when you’ve got seven of them on the way. From experience, the absolutely vital thing both you and the kids need, is to have a stable place to call home. To have... the grandkids grow up where they can play, have their own space and to just have as much worry alleviated as possible.”

He paused briefly.

“You know how amazing of a house it’ll be. It’s all in the woods to just yourselves, the perfect place for them to run and play outside during the summer, or to cause absolute chaos indoors during the winter.” Susan let out a small chuckle. “When... when you get to my age and your kids have grown up, you’ll understand that you never stop being parent. That’s not something you just stop doing. And I, personally, wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m not only happy to help out, but proud to be able do so.”

“Ah...” She bit her lip. “I guess I just really wanted to do this on my own, on our own.”

“Nobody is expecting you to do it on your own. There’s no shame in it, at all! Could you imagine raising 7 little critters with just the two of you?” He paused to notice his joke didn’t really land all that well.

“I uhm... When we had you, it wasn’t just me and your mother raising you. Grandpa and grandma were often around too. Not just to babysit you, but also basically teach us how it’s done. And Becca too, you two grew really close because she found such joy in helping to raise you as you are right now. Every kid might only have one or two parents, but they also have a family.”

Susan seemed to be deep in thoughts. Processing what her father had just said, unrolling the knitted yarn that had worry and doubts woven into it. Her father leaned forward to hold her hand. “We can have them rework the deal, we help out less, and you build up more debt. That won’t be the end of the world either, but we as parents would feel more comfortable if you took on less risk, especially if we can afford to help you mitigate it. We’d love to help, we really do.”

She let out a deep sigh, a slight smile forming on her face. “Okay. Let’s... let’s do it then.”

After signing the documents they asked Susan if she wanted to pose to take a picture with a comically oversized key they kept in the office. She felt far too nervous, but Nathan and her dad laughed when they saw it and ended up taking a picture with the two of them holding it together. Seeing them with their wide grins helped Susan feel a bit better.

After a short drive back, Susan and Nathan walked down the winding path through the trees as their new house slowly appeared into view. They approached the door and she looked to Nathan who lifted her palm up and set a singular brass key on top. The cold metal feeling disturbingly heavy.

“This is ours now.” He looked up towards the house. “I’d carry you through the doorway but I don’t think I’d be able to lift you and the kids together.”

Susan chuckled at his observation, closing her hand around the key as it seemed to warm against her skin. “It is.” She smiled as she pushed the door open. The deadbolt missing.

“We should probably buy a new lock though.”