No. “Yes.”
Pushing the door open, Nate steps aside so I can enter first.
God, I’m so nervous.
I scan the room quickly, but my eyes stop in the living room. On a sofa and chair that look familiar but not the same. Stepping closer, I see that the fabric on the back is definitely not the same. Mom’s sofa had a yellow-gold floral design. These pieces are a plain yellow-gold. I guess I need to give him credit for finding something that’s in the same color scheme.
There’s that.
I should smile and nod my thank you to him, but I can’t look at him yet. Taking several steps closer, I have to blink a million times. Stepping around the rocker, I face both pieces, and the first thing I notice is that the front, the cushions, arms, everything on the front is the same fabric as Mom’s furniture. Actually, these look just like Mom’s pieces, only they can’t be because they look new. Well, newer than the others were.
“So, I took them to a guy…”
My eyes move up to him, then back to the couch.
“He wasn’t able to save the fabric on the cushion covers.”
I’m now looking at the rocker.
“He used the fabric from the back of the couch and chair and remade the tops of the seat covers with that, which means he had to use a different fabric for the back of each.”
My burning nose has morphed into burning eyes. “You mean…” I point down at the couch. “This is still my mom’s couch?”
“He replaced the springs.” Nate smiles, but I can tell he’s nervous. “He replaced a lot of things.”
“This is still my mom’s furniture?” I still can’t believe it. A steady stream of tears is now flowing. “Nate?” I squeak.
“Honey.” He moves closer. Putting his arm around me, he says softly, “Yes. It’s your mom’s furniture.”
“Really?” I’m blubbering now. I’m sincerely gobsmacked.
Reaching up, he wipes away a few tears. “I did it for you. And Brynn.”
“Why?”
“Because I want you two girls to sit on that sofa and share your secrets. Like you did with your mom.”
Oh, here comes the ugly cry. Because who does that? Who would listen to me so intently that he does something like that? And I know how much it must have cost. I should pay him back, and I will. Later. Right now, there’s something I need to say.
I throw my arms around Nate’s neck and say, “I love you, Nate. So, so much.” It’s a risk, yes. But this man, the one who gave me back something so vital for me, he’s worth the risk.
I half expect him to pull away and run, but he surprises me. “I love you too, my sweet Maggy. More than you’ll ever know.”
His words make me cry even harder.
He’s not done. “When we move in together, for real, into our own place, one we choose together, I want these pieces to be there.”
“You do?”
“And the loveseat.”
“The loveseat?” But that thing is toast. Literally. Not that I saw it after the fire. I can only assume.
“It didn’t fare well in the fire, but I was able to buy it back from Cassie. It’s going to be another month or so before you get that back. It’ll be done entirely in the new fabric, though.”
Wrapping Nate up in my arms, I squeeze. “Thank you. I’ll never be able to repay you.”
“Just love me, sweetheart.”
