Donovan's Barn - Part Five

Below you will find part five of the continuing story around Donovan's Barn. If you have yet to read the previous pieces you may find them here: Part one; Part two; Part three; and Part four.

*****

Since the day Mrs. Donovan accepted Rachel and Trenton’s proposal life had been a flurry for them. They were back and forth into Taftsville several times throughout the next few weeks. They had forgotten how much paperwork was involved in buying and selling property. Fortunately, it was only a one-hour drive from the city and it also helped that many of the appointments could be handled on the weekends. It was considerably easier now that it was summer break and girls were already in Taftsville spending time between their grandparents’ homes.

When Rachel and Trenton had met with Sebastian Holmes, they agreed to a possession date in early October. They wanted to accommodate Mrs. Donovan and allow her ample time to move. She was very thankful and offered to allow them to undertake any projects they wanted while she was still there. She also very thoughtfully asked if they wanted the first chance at purchasing some of the house furnishings before she put them up for sale. Rachel and Trenton were more than happy to do so and bought everything except the furniture from the three bedrooms that the family would occupy. It made things easier for Mrs. Donovan, and Rachel loved the simple décor too much to decline such a generous offer. Now they could concentrate on landscaping the area around the pond instead of furniture shopping. Landscaping now while there was time to establish new sod was a great boost. Because they still lived in the city, Rachel’s dad Lyle agreed to oversee the project through the week and they would be out in Taftsville on the weekends to keep an eye on things.

Today Rachel and Trenton were finalizing the listing of their current home. They had an appointment with a local realtor, Belinda Arnold. Sebastian had highly recommended her services. She had come by their home with a colleague to do an appraisal of the property a few days previously and today she would give them her final appraisal assessment and the property would be listed as “For Sale” in print and digitally. Selling their current home was not an immediate necessity given the Donovan property was priced so low, but eventually those funds would be needed to complete Rachel and Trenton’s vision.

Trenton picked Rachel up from her job. They were both taking a later lunch to accommodate the appointment. As he drove into the heart of the city he asked, “Where did Belinda say her office was?”

“She said it was the on the 15th floor of the Catec-Spencer Building,” replied Rachel as she scrolled through her text messages to find the exact address. “I think it is on Cattleman Drive. It’s the building with that big, brass bull in front of it.” She continued to search. “Here we go. 3759 Cattleman Drive.”

“OK. I know the building.” Trenton drove a few more minutes and there stood the life-sized bull. The brass body was nicely weathered and wore the green patina proudly as it guarded the entrance to the foyer of the high-rise and the several businesses that were housed in the lower level. Trenton parked the car and they walked the short distance to the building.

They rode the elevator to the 15th floor. When it opened, Rachel and Trenton were immediately greeted by the graphics on the glass door of the realty office. Trenton pressed the button and the door unlocked so they could enter. Rachel told the receptionist who they were. “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell. Belinda is waiting for you. Right this way.” They were led down a brightly decorated corridor to Belinda Arnold’s office. She stood as the receptionist showed them in.

“Rachel. Trenton. So very nice to see you again.” Belinda presented an outstretched hand in greeting. Please, have a seat,” she said, showing them to chairs at a small table near a window. Pages lay on the table awaiting signatures. Belinda sat opposite them.

“So, what’s your appraisal of our home,” Trenton asked almost immediately.

“Well,” started Belinda. “I think that this should please you. Property values are quite good at the moment and the market is exceptional. Taking all things into consideration, your house is worth $750,000. In order to leave some room for negotiations, I want to list your home at $775,000, with your agreement, of course.”

Rachel and Trenton sat it disbelief. They had purchased the home during a down turn and got what they felt was a very good deal at the time. Now 15 years later, there was the potential for a nice profit that would provide most of the needed funds to complete the Donovan place. “Let’s get this place listed then,” Trenton said as he gave Rachel’s hand a little squeeze.

These were bittersweet times for Mrs. Donovan. On the one hand she was satisfied she had found the perfect family to take over the property; but on the other, she had to give up the beautiful house and property she had called home for over sixty years. She knew it was the right thing to do though and she watched daily as the various contractors came in and began the work around the pond. She had never imagined how beautiful that space was until she saw it through Rachel and Trenton’s eyes.

Landscapers worked diligently to transform the area around the pond into a park-like setting. Mrs. Donovan was soon able to see Rachel and Trenton’s vision and she became more and more excited as the space was transformed. Trees and shrubs were cut; their roots removed. Topsoil was brought in and sod laid; a boardwalk was installed around the outside of the new landscape. Wood and wrought-iron benches were alternated around the pond with soil-filled planter boxes. Mrs. Donovan looked forward to the spring when those boxes would be filled with flowers. How picturesque the area was becoming!

One afternoon, maybe six weeks after they had completed the offer of sale, Rachel and Trenton stopped by the property to check on the progress of the landscaping. “Trenton, this is breathtaking! I am so excited for next spring. This is going to be an amazing addition to the yard!” Rachel was gushing with every word.

Mrs. Donovan had stepped out of the house and joined them. “I never imagined in all my years that this could look so beautiful. I don’t know why Alfred and I never thought to do this! The pond is so serene. I’ve already spent a number of hours just sitting here watching the ducks and geese paddle and play. Once this grass takes better root and you plant some flowers in the planters next spring, it’s going to be perfect!” She crossed her arms and continued her gaze.

“I agree, Mrs. Donovan,” said Rachel. “Spring can’t come soon enough! And, if you are interested, I’d love for your input into what kind of flowers I should plant. You’re much more experienced than me.”

“Well, dear, let’s get to the spring first,” Mrs. Donovan answered with a smile. “I’ll consider your request then.”

“Oh, by the way, Mrs. Donovan,” interrupted Trenton. “I wanted to let you know that next week contractors will be here to start working on the barn,” said Trenton. “We want to get her painted and those outside stairs rebuilt as soon as we can.”

“That’s just fine, dear,” said Mrs. Donovan. “Our arrangement was that you could start whatever you wanted to.”

“Yes, I know. Thank you for that,” Trenton commented. “Just wanted to keep you apprised.”

***

Summer flew by quickly. Rachel and Trenton spent their time between working, doing preliminary packing, and travelling to and from Taftsville on the weekends. Occasionally there were larger decisions to be made that Lyle did not feel were his place, so Trenton would take time off work to meet with contractors. The summer was coming to an end and the twins would soon be enrolled in Taftsville Middle School instead of the city school; and, shortly after that the entire family would be moving into the big farmhouse on the Donovan property.

Thankfully the Mitchell’s city house sold quickly and for their exact asking price, leaving them a sizeable profit. Until that money would be released, the funds from the purchaser’s down payment were very helpful in their pre-possession renovations at the Donovan property. So far, the pond area was as completed as it could get for this year and the outside stairs on the barn were completed. The new paint was already done on three sides of the barn, with the fourth in preparation for not only new paint but also the addition of the words “Donovan’s Barn Established 1925” emblazoned on the gable end that faced the road and greeted visitors to the property.

The start of the school year was uneventful for the twins. They had no difficulty fitting in and the first month had been a great experience for them. If anything, they were pleased that the school was smaller and that they could get to know more of the students than they could in the larger city school.

This weekend they were at the city house. Rachel, had picked them up from school the day before and brought them back to the city. She wanted them both to be involved with packing up their bedrooms for next week’s move to the Donovan farmhouse. Trenton was already sitting at the dining room table. Rachel looked up from the stove when she heard them coming down the stairs. “Well good morning to you! Ready to pack those rooms?” she asked them.

“Yep!” responded Kylee with an enthusiastic lilt to her voice. “I still can’t believe that we really get to own a strawberry patch! Can you believe it, Ash?” She shoulder-nudged her sister.

Ashlee offered a loud, “Not yet! But I can believe that mom is the best breakfast maker ever!” The girls laughed as they took a seat at the table. Rachel set down plates for each of them, as well as for Trenton and herself. Each was filled generously with scrambled eggs, sausages and toast.

“Let’s get finished with breakfast and get to it then,” said Rachel. “Our bedrooms have to get packed up so that we can move them over to the new house next week. The farmhouse is going to be home as of next Friday after school!” There was no hiding the excitement in her voice. Her dreams were on the verge of becoming a reality and she was glad that her little family, was as happy and excited as she was.

At that moment, Trenton’s phone rang. He answered it, “Oh hello, Charlie. What can I do for you?” Charlie O’Brien was the painting/renovation contractor. “Let me put you on speaker phone. I’m here with Rachel and the girls.” Trenton clicked the speaker button. “Okay tell us all what you got.”

“Sure,” came Charlie’s response. “I was just callin’ to let you know that the painting is done. That barn looks like a million bucks on the outside.” The family let up a quiet whisper-like cheer, then Charlie continued. “I know you want to get that loft fixed up too, so I had a thought.”

“What’s your thought, Charlie?” Rachel asked.

“Well,” Charlie began. “My team and me can get started on getting her cleaned up, up there. Maybe get that floor and those beams sanded down and prepped for re-finishing. That should take us maybe two, two and a half weeks. The loft could be useable by Halloween if you wanted to have a dance and then we could get her all completely spruced up after that. In the mean time Donovan’s Barn would be back in business sooner than later.”

There was more silent cheering from Rachel and the girls. Trenton maintained his composure. He knew from Rachel’s reaction that she was all for the idea. “You’re on, Charlie. Go ahead and get that started.

*****

Part six is now available here!

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