#theduplexpart19

[[MORE]] Hi, @moredibell. I'm your Kristanna Christmas in July Santa this year. Please enjoy this latest installment of my ongoing series, The Duplex. This part is rated T just to be safe.

Months passed. It was three weeks before Christmas. Anna had eagerly decorated both her half and Kristoff's half of the duplex. She even had him take the ladder to the palm trees in both halves of the yard and string Christmas lights onto their fronds and trunks. The vintage Indian motorcycle had been lovingly restored, Kristoff being unfailingly patient with Anna, who'd had no experience with tools, as they restored the motorcycle, taking trips from Daytona Beach to The Keys on it together or on their own Harleys, their bond growing deeper. Kristoff wanted to take the next step in their relationship but, knowing that Anna had had a bad experience with Hans, plus his own failed marriage, he decided to wait.

That Monday, Kristoff had arrived home from work. He'd taken his truck today so he could buy Christmas gifts. After parking in his garage, he went to his mailbox, opened it and retrieved his mail. Tucked amongst the various bills, coupons for pizza at Papa Dewey's Pizzeria and Christmas cards was a letter from Roy Oaken, their landlord. He was curious but decided to wait until Anna got home from work to see if she got a letter from Roy, too. He went inside, took the mail and gifts in and wrapped them as he waited. Sven's ears pricked up and he whined happily, recognizing the sound of Anna's car. Kristoff took his letter and went out to greet her.

Anna got out of the car and jumped into Kristoff's arms, he picking her up and they planted dozens of sweet kisses all over each other's lips and faces. "I'm happy to see you, babe," Anna said. "Me, too, my little dynamite," Kristoff said, gently setting Anna back down. She saw the envelope. "What's that?" "A letter from Roy." Curious, she looked from Kristoff to the envelope. "What does it say?" "I don't know. I haven't opened it yet." "Why not?" "Cause I wanted to see if Roy had sent you one, too." "Let's see." Anna went over to her mailbox and opened it, retrieving her mail. Aside from Christmas cards, bills and a Victoria's Secret catalog, sure enough, a letter from Roy Oaken was tucked in there. "He sent me one, too," she said. "Let's see what he wants," he said. They went inside her half of the duplex and sat down at the kitchen table. They opened their letters and took out a single sheet of paper. Roy's letter read:

December 1, 2017

Dear tenant(s):

I have enjoyed being your landlord for many years. You have been great tenants however, I must regretfully inform you that, as of January 1, 2018, all of the duplexes that I own must be vacated for they have been sold so I can relocate to Arizona to be closer to my daughter. I will return all security deposits paid. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Roy Oaken

Anna and Kristoff looked from the letters to each other. "He's sold all of his units and is leaving," Anna asked. "Why didn't he say something sooner? We've already paid our rents for the month." "I guess it's a last minute thing," Kristoff said, adjusting his low ponytail as Anna fidgeted with her braids. "At least he told us." "Now what?" "Well I could go stay with my folks but Marshmallow and Sven don't get along or I could stay with Olaf and Caridad but with the boys, they have no room." "I could stay with Aunt Gerda and Uncle Kai again but I'd lose everything I'd built or I could stay with Elsa and Lars but I don't like Miami all that much." Anna looked at Kristoff. "Plus," she added. "I don't ever want to be apart from you." He gathered her into his embrace, she holding onto him as if she were on the back of his Harley with him. "I don't ever want to be apart from you either," he added, lovingly stroking her back. An idea formed in her head just then. "Hey," she exclaimed, looking up at him, her blue eyes shining. "What," he asked, looking down at her, his brown eyes filled with curiosity. "Why don't we buy a house together? We're practically living together anyway and if you had to rent, many places wouldn't take Sven, so if we live together, we can ALL be together." "Sounds good but I don't have the money to buy a house like you do." "Well, how about a house on the sheriff's auction? I know a lot about auctions, so we can get a house for a song."

"Okay. I do have some money set aside to buy a house. Why not?" Smiling, they took the newspaper and the laptop, pouring over the houses in Arendelle Park that were currently up for auction. They soon found the perfect one, located at 2013 Coral Terrace. It was a one story ranch with pale coral stucco and a deeper coral clay tiled roof complete with an inground pool and hot tub in a screened in enclosure. They'd passed it often when they went to visit Bulda and Cliff, knowing that it had been foreclosed on. In Highlands County, if they won the bid, they'd pay 5% up front and pay the balance by that day's end. Kristoff agreed that an auctioned house that he and Anna could fix up together would be ideal. The auction would be held on that Thursday morning. "Are we agreed then," Anna asked. "Yeah. We'll try for the Coral Terrace house," Kristoff said. Smiling, they fixed dinner and planned for Thursday.

Thursday found them at the Highlands County courthouse; the Coral Terrace house and a house on Orange Grove Avenue were the only ones for auction, the house on Orange Grove being a huge mansion. Kristoff was in awe of how well Anna could bid, she bidding on cars for Arendelle Luxury Motors on a regular basis. A bidding war started between the bank and Anna, bidding starting at $50,000 and it ended with Anna bidding $125,000, which won them the house. Kristoff used his savings to pay the 5% down and Anna had presented a cashier's check for the balance by day's end. They were excited as they drove to the new house, the deed in both their names and keys in hand. They parked in the driveway.

The house itself was a three bedroom, two and a half bath home. They opened the door, going inside. All in all, it needed some work and the pool and hot tub a little TLC but it was livable. "Well," Anna asked. "Is this awesome?" "Yeah," Kristoff said. "We'll have it fixed in no time." They embraced. "I'll make some calls, get some quotes. I'd like to celebrate Christmas in our new home." "Whatever you want, babe." He placed a kiss to her hand. Once they left, it took a couple of days but all of the repairs needed would be fixed in time for Christmas. Kristoff and Anna were impressed by how efficiently the repairmen fixed their new home and Bulda, Cliff, Olaf, Caridad and the boys, Aunt Gerda and Uncle Kai pitched in, decorating the house for Christmas to surprise Anna. They planned to officially move in on Christmas Eve, Kristoff carefully packing up both his half and Anna's half of the duplex, moving things in and whatever didn't fit found themselves stored in Uncle Kai's garage (mostly extra furniture). Kristoff had another surprise for Anna but he wouldn't give her the surprise until Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve came. Kristoff and Anna drove to their new home. They parked and walked up to the front porch, Sven laying down on the porch. Anna was about to unlock the door when Kristoff stopped her. "Anna," he said. "Before you open the door, there's something I'd like to do." "Okay, Kristoff," Anna said. "What do you have in mind?" He pulled a small black velvet box out of his right jeans pocket and got down on bended knee in front of her. He took her left hand in his. "Anna Nordegren, you've made my life much more enjoyable and happier since you'd become my neighbor. You're my life and I want to begin our life together in this home on a great note. Will you marry me?" He opened the box, revealing a platinum banded engagement ring with a pear cut diamond, which he'd spent the rest of his savings on. Anna smiled, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Yes, Kristoff Bjorgman, I want to begin our life together in this house with you as my husband." Smiling and with trembling hands, he slipped the ring on her left ring finger and stood. He picked her up, opened the door and carried her across the threshold as their lips met in a series of happy kisses, Sven brushing past them. "Aren't you supposed to do this when we're married?" "Yeah but I'll do this always." They smiled, eager to build their new life together in one house...a house of love.