“Ready to go look at our potential home?”Liam’s hand rested possessively on her lower back.
Our home.The words sent a different heat through her, warm and lasting.“Let’s do it.”
Henry and Maia were waiting on the verandah when they arrived, warm smiles and coffee cups in hand.
The little house stood bathed in sunlight, cheerful orange marigolds edging the path that led to the front steps.Painted white with pale green accents, it wasn’t grand, but it had soul.A broad verandah curved around two sides, inviting lazy mornings, evening drinks, and everything in between.
“I loved sitting out here with my morning coffee when I lived here,” Maia said, catching Sienna’s lingering gaze.
Sienna felt Liam’s fingers brush hers before sliding into a steady grip, their hands interlocking like it was second nature.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the interior,” he said.
The home was light and welcoming.The kitchen gleamed with whitewashed cupboards and a deep farmhouse sink, the scent of lemon polish lingering in the air.A sturdy wooden table sat beneath the window, perfectly positioned for family breakfasts or lingering over coffee.From the main hallway, a sun-drenched room caught Sienna’s attention.Large windows framed the rolling hills dotted with ancient schist rock outcrops, the rugged landscape typical of Middlemarch.Clusters of native trees stood scattered against the distant mountains, their silhouettes sharp against the sky.
She ran her hand along the windowsill.“Look at all this light.”
Liam came up behind her.“This would be perfect for Kitto,” he said.“If he wants to live with us.”
She turned toward him, surprised—and deeply touched.
“You think he’d want to?”she asked.
“He’s your family.And I’d like him around.It already feels like he’s part of the package.”
Emotion swelled in her chest.She pursed her lips, nodded once, then looked back out at the view, blinking fast.
The bedrooms were simple but spacious.Sienna could already picture one with Kitto’s paint-streaked jeans draped over a chair and canvases stacked against the wall.
Beyond the house, an expansive lawn unfurled toward paddocks, where a handful of alpacas grazed in the distance.
“Felix Mitchell rents the land,” Henry explained.“Quiet neighbors, unless it’s shearing day.”
Sienna smiled.“This lawn could become a veggie garden.Fresh herbs, tomatoes, beans.”
“The soil’s excellent,” Maia said.“I always meant to plant one, but playing rugby doesn’t leave me much time.”
Henry gave Liam a knowing look.“Sounds like a job for you.Speaking of which, have you thought any more about that part-time role?Gerard and I need someone reliable, and the hours leave room for you to explore other options.”
Liam didn’t answer right away.He glanced at Sienna, and she saw the shift in his expression—something steady and sure.
“I have,” he said.“And I’m interested.”
They stepped back inside for one last look while Henry and Maia settled on the verandah with their refreshed coffees.
“What do you think?”Liam asked, though she could hear it in his voice.He’d already decided this opportunity would work for him.For them both.
“I think six months ago, you would’ve said no to any job that didn’t involve farming,” she said.“And I would’ve panicked if you did.”
“And now?”
“Now I believe in us and in taking risks.”
He laced his fingers through hers.“I used to think that work was everything.But it’s not.”His gaze swept the little house before returning to her.“This is what matters.A new job, new skills.None of it means anything if we’re apart.I want to stay here with you.”
Sienna smiled, feeling peace settle inside her.This wasn’t just a house.It was the beginning of home.
They looked at each other for a long beat.Then, in perfect unison, they said, “We’ll take it.”
