Her eyes twinkle with laughter. “Something came over me when you said that. You’re always protecting me, and before, I found it kinda annoying and claustrophobic, like you didn’t trust me?—”
I raise a brow, unsure where she’s heading with this.
“—but it was different this time. I felt safe. Like I wanted to let you take care of me. And after everything that’s happened to me, that’s a rare emotion. I, um, melted a little inside. I know that sounds silly, but I don’t know how else to explain it.” She covers her face with her fingers, hiding her pink cheeks.
“I understand completely.” I open the door and slide out to gather her in a tight hug. Closing my eyes, I savor the way we meld together. I reluctantly let her go when she pulls away, knowing she has to head back soon.
As I’m locking up the barn, I turn to catch Reese tugging her suitcase across the driveway, fighting against the gravel catching in the wheels.
“Hang on. Let me help,” I call out and chase after her.
“I can do it,” she says, bending at the waist as she tugs harder. Her hair falls over her eyes. Sighing, she stands and places her fists on her hips.
“You sure? I’m right here feeling useless.”
She brushes a lock of hair behind her ear, still struggling to catch her breath. “I mean, I don’t want you to feel useless. Sure. You can take it.”
I fight my smile of victory as I claimher suitcase and heave it up in my arms to toss in the bed of my truck. “Oof. This thing is still a million pounds.”
“It’s the price you pay to be prepared.”
When she moves to the passenger door, I grab her hand.
“I thought you wanted a tour.”
“Oh? It’s late. Are you sure?”
“Since when is nine o’clock late for you?”
“Since I feel like I haven’t slept in a week. But you know, I’m curious to see where Austin works.”
I roll my eyes at her wiggling eyebrows.
The two of us walk hand in hand up the wooden steps of my porch. The empty spot where my mother’s rocking chairs used to sit is covered by a thick layer of dirt and grime. Before, I hadn’t given this area much thought, but now that I see Reese standing here, I can see us sitting out here with a cup of coffee in the mornings. I open the door for her, lost in my daydream.
“Still don’t lock it, huh?”
“Not much for anyone to steal unless they want my mother’s encyclopedia collection. It’s still in mint condition if you know of any sap, I mean buyer, who’d be interested.”
“Sounds like clutter to me. That’s one thing about being poor, we don’t really have a lot of knickknacks lying around.”
The wood floors creak as we enter the main foyer, and we stop in front of the staircase as she glances around. Pictures adorn the wall in a hodgepodge design, years of my life forever frozen in time.
“I think I’ve only visited once or twice before. It still feels exactly the same,” she says, picking up a ceramic rooster off the credenza. “Isn’t this your mom’s?”
“Yeah, she left most of her stuff when she and Bruce downsized to Florida. I haven’t really felt like redecorating with my life in the air. But maybe now that I’ve decided tostay, you could help me out? You’ll be a pro at redecorating after the camper is finished.”
“Well, lucky for you, I know where I can get some cat decor to spruce up the place.”
I burst out laughing, envisioning all the cat pun signs, figurines, and blankets scattered through my house. “I’ll let you pick one thing.”
“Really?”
“Yes, only because when I see it, it’ll remind me of you and our road trip.”
As we continue to walk around, I imagine what decor Reese would add to the place. If she would leave a personal touch in each room until eventually my house became ours. Instead of eating dinner in the cafe, I could cook us something here.
My memory of her in the bridal shop in the pink gown morphs to her in a gown of white.
