Our last cruzade
Five new properties, five new villages
One last trip
October 2016. Five properties made the list and the viewings have been arranged. I was researching the different villages —there were other aspects to consider now with the children, like hospitals and schools— when an email from Monsieur Bertrand popped in my inbox.
As it happened, this marvelous new buyer, the one that stole my dreamed home, did not have the promised cash available after all… MUAHAHA!
“Belebat is all yours to buy now” the email reads. Raging with anger we wrote a reply expressing our disappointment and offering 10% less than before. His reply didn’t wait long. No deal.
Five other properties made our new list. Five very different chateaux in five different villages scattered along the Loire Valley. Each of them had its uniqueness, but none could altogether offer us what Belebat did. We knew that well. Belebat was a lot more than a renaissance château with land, lakes and lots of beautiful outbuildings. Belebat was a force that burst my heart and made me sad every time I visit it because I couldn’t shake-off the anguish of knowing I would have to leave, as if a part of me was going to be ripped off every time the visit was over. Belebat was always, from the very first time we crossed its heavy wrought-iron gates, home.
Jeff and Blake trying to convince me that we need to replace the stolen statues… They failed.
Today we were supposed to drive to France to the first of our five appointments, but Jeff and I decided to pack our dream, shut the vision and move on. Cancelled the viewings and wrote to M. Bertrand with our decision:
“…the money is ready in our french bank account for when Belebat comes available, for 10% less than our first offer, that is. We will be back on the hunt if and when our family life allows it. Cordialement, Jeff & Oscar….”