There was a solarium at the back, and though there was a separate dining area, it wasn’t a formal room like at the main house. It wasn’t a home set up for a household staff the way the main house was.
“This is my suite,” Kiara said, gesturing to a door that stood open.
Leading him through it, she explained in more detail than the foreman had, what each of the rooms were for.
He found the small library interesting. She’d mentioned in letters that she liked to read, but perhapslikedwas too mild of a term, given she’d devoted an entire room to books. She also pointed out the room that had originally been set aside for a guest room, which would now be a nursery.
Once they were done on her side, she led him to the side Angela had designed. It had a sitting room in addition to two bedrooms, as well as a luxurious bathroom.
He noticed that in the bathrooms of both suites, there was a double sink and a large walk-in closet that would be plenty of space for two people.
Had they planned to live there together with their spouses?
“Angela had worked on the decor for this side with the interior designer, so it might not be to your preferences.”
“I’ll give the designer a call and see if it’s too late to make some changes,” Julian said, then turned to look at her. “As long as you don’t mind.”
Kiara shrugged. “I don’t. You might as well make it to your liking.”
Julian was still unsure how Kiara really felt about him moving in, but she didn’t seem strongly opposed to it.
“Would having a trial period make this easier for you?”
She squinted at him. “Trial period?”
“Yes. Let’s give it a month of us both living here, and if it doesn’t work for you, then you can tell me and I’ll move out.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that,” Julian agreed. “I want you to be comfortable. Having someone you don’t know well in your space might be more than you like. I won’t get mad if you tell me that you don’t think it’s working out.”
“And if it’s not working out for you?”
Julian took a moment to mull over the question. For some reason, he hadn’t really considered that he might not be happy living in the same space as the woman carrying his child.
“I guess then I’ll let you know too.”
They left the suite, and Kiara went to the glass garden doors that led off the dining room. There was a large deck at the back of the house beyond the solarium.
“We’re going to have a greenhouse and a garden back here. Angie wants to be able to plant herbs and vegetables.”
“Are you still going to do that?”
“We might not get a garden in this year, but we’ll probably plant some herbs.”
It was an interesting combination of their previous life on Jim’s homestead and their new one at the estate. Julian tried to imagine his mom or Elizabeth working in a garden, but the picture just wouldn’t gel.
When they left the house, Kiara locked the door, and then they walked down the steps side by side. He glanced back at the house as they walked away, and for a moment, he had an image of the windows glowing warmly. Welcomingly. Like a home.
He’d never had a place that had made him feel like it was truly home. His apartment in New York was expensive and well-furnished, but walking through its door didn’t make him feel a sense of homecoming. And the main house on the estate was definitely not a place he would call home.
“I’m probably going to be flying out to New York with Duncan and Elizabeth on Wednesday,” he told her. “And then possibly on to Singapore to check in with the company there.”
“How long are you going to be gone?” she asked.
“A week and a half to two weeks.” He grimaced. “I also need to check in with my mom and let her know what’s been going on.”
“Are you going to tell her about the baby?”
