“All finished?” Miguel eyed her curiously.
“All finished,” she assured him. “Well, mostly...” She told him about the agreement she’d made with Aaron. “I told Mom all about it, and we both agree we have no intention of turning this into a building lot. Ever.”
Miguel gave a slightly knowing nod. “That doesn’t surprise me.”
“That we would never sell?”
“No, that Aaron had something like that in mind.”
“Well, it surprised me.” She heard footsteps and turned to see Cooper coming down the stairs. “Dinner will be ready in about fifteen, okay?”
Cooper looked from Miguel to her mom and then bit her lip. “Well, I was just going to tell you I wanted to go over to Anna’s. I didn’t know you were fixing dinner here, Mom. Marta made enchiladas.”
“They did smell good,” Miguel said.
“Well, if that’s what you want, Coop.” Jewel concealed her disappointment. “Miguel probably wants to go back too.”
“Oh, I can have enchiladas anytime,” he said casually. “I’d rather stay here and celebrate the grand opening of the Honey Bee and Bee kitchen.” He tipped the salad bowl toward him. “And my mom’s idea of green salad is iceberg lettuce and tomatoes. This looks great.”
“Okay then.” Cooper grinned. “See ya later.”
After Cooper left, they both sat quietly at the table, and Jewel couldn’t quite remember what they’d been talking about, so she improvised. “Well, I’d really appreciate your help with painting, Miguel. You’re such a good painter. But please know I’d understand if you get too busy. Your farm has to come first.”
“Right. But with you and me and the girls all working, I bet we can get this house done in no time. Hopefully before the fair.”
“Fair?”
“The county fair,” he told her. “4-H.”
“Oh, yeah. I hear Anna has a calf to show.”
“Yeah. So we have to take time out for that. She’s been selling one every year, building up her college fund.”
“That’s wonderful. I wish Cooper could get interested in something like that.”
“She already is. She wants to go to the fair with us. I just haven’t, uh, had the chance to ask you if she could join yet. If she likes it, maybe she’ll have a calf of her own next year.”
“That would be something.” Jewel shook her head in wonder. “Living here has been so good for Cooper. I don’t think I’ll ever regret making this move. Even if the B&B flops, my barn gallery is a bust, and I never sell another piece of art, I would be willing to flip burgers at Dairy King just to stay on here.”
He laughed. “Well, I can’t imagine it’ll come to that.” He sniffed. “If this chicken tastes as good as it smells, you might consider the restaurant business.”
“Speaking of which, dinner must be about done.” She got up to check, turned off the grill, and gathered up two place settings. “We’ll have to eat in here because I’m still waiting for the dining set I ordered a few weeks ago.”
“Why wouldn’t we eat in here? We’re celebrating the kitchen’s grand opening.” He stood up. “Can I help you with anything?”
“No, there’s really not much to do.”
“Then do you mind if I look around? I’m curious to see all your improvements in the house.”
“Sure. Make yourself at home. Mostly it’s just been paint andclearing things out, bringing a few sparse pieces in, and hanging some of my paintings.”
As he went to check out the stripped-down house, Jewel puttered around happily in her new kitchen. It was like playing house. To the sounds of smooth jazz, she artfully arranged the new placemats and napkins, the flower arrangement in the center, her pretty salad on one side, and the wine bottle on the other. Picture-perfect. Which reminded her, she’d need to start getting photos for the website she’d already started to build.
“I can’t believe how changed it all looks,” Miguel said as he rejoined her. “Anna said you’d taken everything out, but it’s like a totally different house now.”
“Pretty spartan, eh?”
“Room to breathe. I wouldn’t criticize your parents’ taste, but it seemed a bit cluttered before. My mom is the same way. If there’s a space to put something, she likes to fill it up.”
