“Down, Rascal.Get down, Bogart!”Sandyyelled at his dogs.
“Rascal and Bogart?I’m sure there’s a storythere,” she kidded.Lily stopped to pet the dogs just before Jessehugged her.She gave him a huge hug back and straightened to meetSandy.It had crossed her mind to wonder if coming here was reallysuch a good idea.
“Before you change your mind about staying,let us give you a tour of the place,” said Sandy.
Had she looked like she was ready to get backin her car and go?They started walking toward the front door.
“The house has gone through severalrenovations.The latest was after my wife died.”He glanced atJesse who was skipping in front of them with the dogs at his heelsand lowered his voice to speak confidentially.
“I’m so sorry.”Lily reached out to touch hisarm.
“Thanks.There were so many reminders of herthat I had to do something or move.Since this has been my onlyhome and originally my parents’ home, I decided to make majorchanges.It looks nothing like it did before.”Sadness clouded hisface momentarily but he was able to shake it off.
“What kind of wood is that?It looksfantastic when the light hits it.”
“That’s white pine.It used to be redwood,but that was too dark.Inside there’s a lot of cedar, a nice goldenwood.”Sandy opened the front double doors for her.“Shall we goin?”
She hesitated.Somewhere deep down inside,those words rang through her.The house was a bulwark in some way.Going into it was like crossing a finish line or finally makingthat hard decision.No going back once you’re in, said the littlevoice pinging in her head.She shook her head to quiet thevoice.
“No?”
“No, I mean yes, thank you,” Lily felt herface warm because of the way he was looking at her.He seemed tokeep her off balance but it wasn’t bad--just like eating a newflavor of ice cream.
Stepping into the house was a kind ofrevelation.How a house looks says much about what kind of personliving there
Hold it…Was he an interior decoratoras well?He walked her down a long hallway towards the family roomand kitchen.Stopping to show her the first room, he said, “Thedining room, of course.”But it was much too simple a statement.The room was something out of Architectural Digest or a Westernliving magazine.
She was amazed at the high ceiling with largewooden beams.A long metal chandelier hung over an elegant, woodendining table with many chairs.French doors opened onto a sunnystone patio with a grass yard that seemed to stretch onforever.
“You must like to mow.”Stunned at what shehad seen so far, Lily cracked a small joke hoping he wouldn’t seeher embarrassment.
“Maybe once in a while, but my foreman, JasonBates, has a man do it.Don’t worry – he has a John Deere ridingmower and enjoys the heck out it, or so he says.”
He led Lily on down to the family room andkitchen.
“This is where we spend all our time anyway.That dining room gets lonely from disuse.Well?What do you thinkso far?”
“… Sandy, this is wonderful.Homey, stylish,warm,” she gushed.“I have to ask: did you do this yourself or havehelp?”
A small smile spread across his face.“Okay,now I see where you’re going.And no, I have no interior decoratingskills.I hired a decorator from Tahoe to help me.Would you liketo see more of the house?”
It was hard for Lily to leave the comfort ofthe family room.Again she saw high ceilings with a Western-stylechandelier hanging in the center.An immense stone fireplace blazedwith heat and light.Comfortable chairs in soft greens and brownssat on a luxurious braided rug covering much of the hardwoodfloors.Was that oak?A few paintings of horses and stagecoacheshung here and there with table lamps giving the room a warmglow.
“If you tell me you painted those pictures,too, I will have to leave,” said Lily smiling.“I don’t think Icould take it if you were a poetanda painter.”
“Ha.Don’t I wish I were that talented…Again, the decorator from Tahoe found them.I think they look realnice in here, though.Don’t you?”He seemed anxious for heropinion.
“Oh, Sandy.This is the most welcoming homeI’ve ever been in.It’s lovely!Your decorator filled it withbeautiful things, but it’s the people who make it a home.”Lilyblushed again.Why was she lecturing him?
He smiled as he looked around.“Thanks.Ifeel that way too.Come on and let me show you the rest of it.”Heturned to speak to his son.“Jesse, it’s your turn to feed thedogs.”
Jesse went off to do his chore.The rest ofthe house was as terrific as she thought it would be.Bedrooms,exercise room and media room were all beautifully decorated.Wait aminute.Media room?In the middle of an enormous room withdark shades on the windows was a large television that coverednearly one whole wall.On other walls were rows and rows of movies.Was he a movie lover?Now things were getting interesting.
“I have to ask about the media room with thehuge TV.Are you a movie buff?”Beads of sweat dotted his forehead.Was he uncomfortable or had she said something wrong?
Sandy shrugged.“It’s really for my mother.She’s the movie buff, but I’m learning.Do you like movies?”
“Absolutely.Movies and books are mypastimes.”She wondered if his pastimes were roping or calving,besides the cowboy poetry.
