He steps farther into the foyer, eyes scanning the space the same way mine just did, and I consider explaining, but he nods like he gets it. “You get quiet when your brain starts working.”
“That is a polite way to say I zone out and start mentally moving walls.”
He smiles, a small one but honest. “Nothing wrong with that. Just did not want you getting lost in a thought and forgetting this little one.”
“She’s good,” I say, looking down at Savannah now wide awake and smiling at him. “Just… seeing what this house used to be, and what it still is.”
He nods like he gets it completely. “Happens to all of us who live in these old places. They talk to you if you let them.”
I laugh softly. “Yeah. They have a lot to say.”
He tips his head toward the living area. “Come on in.”
I’ve been noticing that since he met us at the game, he seems stronger and stronger. He’s allowing himself to live outside of his memories and in the here and now. I am so happy he is.
Savannah starts gabbing as he heads to the island, which stops him. He turns and looks at her, then to me as I unbuckle her. “She misses you.”
“Feelings mutual, Savvy girl.” Paul chuckles. “Let me get sat down so I can hold her.”
Savvy girl.That nickname was ruined when Kyle called her that. I’ve asked Koa not to call her that, but when Paul does, Idon’t feel irritated by it. Not that Koa said it in any sort of way it should have, but it was a fresh wound.
Savvy girl,I think I set the carrier down and unbuckle her.
Nalani enters from wherever the bathroom is and says, “Paul, wait until you see what she did this morning.”
Paul’s brows lift. “What did she do?”
Nalani plucks the… notebook from the diaper bag. The notebook that I left on the counter, and before I can protest, she holds it up. “Claudia made a drawing. An actual architectural sketch of how your first floor could look if you ever wanted to bring it closer to how it was before the apartment conversion.”
“It is not an architectural sketch; it is a doodle.” I shake my head, and Savannah laughs.
Paul gives me a look that is half-amused, half-touched as he sits and holds out his hands forSavvy girl. “You drew something for the hen house?”
Nalani answers as I set Savannah in his arms. “Not something. Several somethings. Walls. Trim. Where the original arch likely stood.”
I groan. “I was just drawing.”
Paul nods toward the notebook as he makes faces at Savannah, “Can I see it? Hold it up?”
Nalani beams at me, with a smug smile, I mutter under my breath, “Traitor.”
She opens it up and shows him the first page, keeping it far enough so Savannah’s grabby little hands can’t get to it.
He glances up after a minute. “Kid, this is good.” Nalani elbows me and gives me a look like, see? “Could set up a little office to the right for your clients.”
“My clients?” I ask.
“Bitty Costello and her friends, who need therapy to help them sort their feelings about,” he pauses and then chuckles. “Ihave no idea what women who have more money than they’ll ever spend have to complain about.”
“But if that’s your floor and?—”
“I’d be happy with a bedroom overlooking the courtyard to watch Patsy’s girls.”
I laugh, “If the bottom floor were opened up, you couldn’t rent apartments and?—”
“I don’t have to rent apartments, hell, you I don’t even need a kitchen, you girls keep bringing me more food than I’ll ever eat.”
When we returned homefrom a bit of shopping, I completely fell in love with Nalani and Koa’s relationship. Why, aside from the obvious? Because through the French doors, facing the riverside, was a hen house, and yes, Paul’s girls. Her first call was to Koa, of course. Then she called Paul, he already knew, “Otherwise the big guy would be all over the internet. Kid was worried about the headlines, “Brooklyn Bears hot shit left guard, KOK caught stealing chicks.”
