“Not far from here, actually.” I smile at Candy. “Ten minutes––just outside of town. An acreage overlooking the lake.” I smile. “He tricked me.”
“Oh?” Mom’s all over this one.
“He took me out there to help him choose the finishes, you know, the counters, floors, tiles…”
“He wanted you to design the inside of the house?” Carla asks, sounding surprised.
“Yep.”
“So you’d like it. And want to live there.” Mom’s beaming. “I can’t wait to see it.”
I can’t help it, I smile. Big. “It looks good. And fun. Like I was on HGTV or something.”
We all laugh at that because I’m not the only one in my family who loves that shit.
“I can’t wait to see it.”
“How ’bout we take a drive out there?” I hold my breath thinking Candy will be the first to decline, but, once again, she surprises me.
“Hell. Let’s just take the giant board filled with food. We can eat it at your new house. Let’s go now.”
“Really?”
“Hell, yes!” Mom shouts. “Let’s go see what kind of interior designer you are.”
Oh, crap. What if they hate it?
No. I’m going to think positive thoughts.
“Great.” I clap my hands. “Let’s do it.”
Making my way back into the house, I reach for Sam’s hand. “Let’s go.”
He doesn’t say a word, he merely follows me. Until we get onto the porch. “Why are we leaving?”
“My sisters and mom want to see your place.”
Sam smiles brightly. “Sure.” He kisses my forehead. “And it’sourplace.”
“Sam…”
“Grab the board of food, big boy.” Candy pats Sam on the shoulder. “We’re eating at your place.”
When the door opens behind us, I turn and see Dad exit first, then Mom, then the rest of the gang. “Follow us,” Sam says gesturing to his truck. Placing the platter in the back of the truck, he makes sure the plastic wrap is secure over the top.
I glance back repeatedly to be sure the cars filled with Munsels are on our tail. Once we get out of town, there are several turns until we reach Sam’s driveway. I don’t want my parents to get lost. Making our way up the gravel drive, I reach out and squeeze Sam’s arm. “I can’t wait for them to see it.”
At the front door, we wait for them to catch up. “What a beautiful home,” my mom coos.
“Wonderful property.” My dad is looking at all the trees around the place. “How many acres, Sam?”
“Two.”
“It’s on the lake.” How does my dad know that? I didn’t even figure that out.
Instead of answering, Sam places his hand on the knob as I whisper, “The big reveal.” Turning to them, I ask, “Ready?”
“Ready.”
