“I’m considering buying it.” He paused, watching her face carefully. “But before I make any decisions or put in an offer, I wanted to talk to you about it. Actually, I’m asking permission.”
Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “Permission? Bert, you don’t need my permission to buy a house.”
“No,” he agreed, his hands gripping the arms of the chair. “But I don’t want to do anything that would make you uncomfortable or hinder our friendship. Living directly across from you could feel intrusive if you don’t want me that close. So I’m asking how you’d feel about having me as a neighbor before I commit to anything.”
Mary was quiet for a moment, her blue eyes studying his face in the fading light. Bert forced himself to hold her gaze even though every instinct told him to look away, to protect himself from potential rejection.
“Why do you want to live across from me? I mean, there must be lots of houses you could purchase,” she asked finally, her tone genuinely curious rather than accusatory.
This was the moment. Bert could give her a generic answer about liking the property or the location. But Logan’s words echoed in his mind: Be honest. Give her the chance to make her own choice.
“Because… we’re friends,” he said, his voice steady despite the way his heart was racing. “I want to be close by… not to hover or because I think you need looking after, but because being near you makes me happy. I want to be part of your daily life in whatever way you’ll let me.”
He watched her face carefully, trying to gauge her reaction. She’d gone very still, her hands resting on the arms of her wheelchair, her expression unreadable.
“If that’s too much, or if I’m overstepping, just tell me,” he continued, needing to fill the silence. “I value your friendship more than anything, and I won’t jeopardize it. But I needed to be honest with you before I made any decisions about the house. You deserve to have input on whether you’re comfortable with me living across the street.”
Mary’s expression softened, and a smile started to spread across her face, slow and warm and genuine. “You care about me,” she said softly, like she was testing the words.
“Yeah. I do. A lot.” Bert’s hands tightened on the chair arms. “So what do you think? Would you be okay with having me as a neighbor?”
The smile widened, reaching her eyes and making them shine in the porch light. “I’d be more than okay with it, Bert. I’d love to have you as a neighbor as well as a friend.” She paused, and something flickered in her expression that he couldn’t quite read. “Having you close by would make me happy.”
Relief crashed through him so powerfully that he had to take a breath to steady himself. “Really?”
“Really,” Mary confirmed, her voice warm with affection. “You’re a good friend, and having you across the street sounds wonderful, not intrusive.”
It wasn’t a declaration of love. It wasn’t an admission that she felt the same way he did. But it was permission, acceptance, and the clear message that she wanted him in her life. Bert felt excitement bubble up in his chest, mixing with the relief until he couldn’t help but smile.
“Then I guess I’ll make an offer on that house,” he said, gesturing across the street.
“I guess you will,” Mary agreed, her smile matching his. “This is exciting. We’ll be neighbors!”
“Neighbors,” Bert repeated, loving the sound of it. “I promise I won’t be the kind of neighbor who shows up uninvited or makes you feel crowded.”
Mary rolled her eyes. “You’re welcome at my house anytime. You know that. Having you across the street just means it’ll be even easier for us to spend time together.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the evening settling around them like a warm blanket. Across the street sat the house that would soon be Bert’s.
“When do you think you’ll move in?” she asked. “I mean, assuming your offer is accepted.”
“The listing says it needs some TLC, but it’s habitable. I’ll move in and work on it while living there.” He now looked at the property with new eyes, already mentally cataloging what would need to be done.
“If you need help with anything, let me know,” Mary offered. “I may not be able to swing a hammer, but I’m excellent at planning and organizing renovation projects.”
“I might take you up on that,” Bert said, warmth spreading through his chest at the easy way she’d included herself in his plans.
They talked for another hour, discussing the house and potential renovations, laughing about the neighborhood quirks, and simply enjoying each other’s company. When Bert finally stood to leave, the sky was fully dark and scattered with stars.
“Thanks for talking this through with me,” he said, looking down at Mary. “Your opinion really matters to me.”
“Thanks for asking,” she replied, tilting her head back to meet his eyes. “It means a lot that you cared enough to get my input before making the decision.”
Bert walked down her steps to his vehicle, feeling lighter than he had in months. He’d been honest with Mary about why he wanted to move closer, and she’d been happy about it. She wanted him as a neighbor… wanted him in her life. Close enough that if the opportunity ever arose to tell her the full depth of his feelings, he’d be right there, ready to take that chance.
13
Three months later