Kathleen placed the photos in an envelope. “I hope so.”
Natalie picked up a bag of old fabric she used as rags. If staying with Caleb didn’t work, she had no idea what they’d do next.
* * *
As she camedownstairs the next morning, Natalie ran her hand along the banister. For some reason, she’d thought Caleb’s home would be a small cabin in the middle of a forest. The only thing she was right about was the forest.
When they’d arrived, she’d stared at the exterior of his home. It was too dark to see much, but she knew from the pitch of the roof and the wide veranda, that the house was much larger than she’d imagined.
Once they were inside, she was blown away by the rustic grandeur of the design. With its sweeping staircase, moose antler chandelier, and polished wooden floors, the house wrapped you in its warmth and made you feel at home.
Caleb walked out of the living room and smiled. “How did you sleep?”
“Better than I thought. Your home is amazing.”
“The original cabin was an eighteen-foot by twelve-foot room. I barely survived my first winter.”
“When did you build this house?”
“Last summer. It was a logistical nightmare. We needed to make sure the house was watertight before winter hit. We were lucky that a forecasted storm never made it as far as Sapphire Bay. After everything was enclosed, we had to make sure we could get the building supplies on site when we needed them. We had so many delays because of the weather that I never thought we’d finish.”
“I’m glad you kept going. Everything is perfect.”
“You’re more than welcome to explore the rest of the house. And when you’re ready for breakfast, the kitchen is that way.” He pointed to a wide doorway at the end of the hallway. “There’s cereal, toast, and pancakes waiting for you.”
“Pancakes?”
“Your mom has been busy. She was telling me about Sapphire Bay when she was younger. It was completely different.”
Natalie remembered the stories about covered wagon trips, rodeos, and playing music around campfires with granddad and grandma. “It was a much simpler life. No computers, no Internet, and no social media.”
“There goes my job,” Caleb said, although he didn’t look too upset. “I’m heading outside. If you’re looking for Gabe, he’s in the garage.”
“Thanks.” Instead of heading toward the kitchen, she opened a door a few steps away. The garage was big enough to hold four vehicles. Having extra room during winter would come in handy, especially if the house was surrounded by six feet of snow.
Gabe’s head was under the raised hood of a vintage truck. Its shiny red paint and chrome grill gleamed under the fluorescent lights.
“The engine looks great,” he said. “I can’t believe you found a 1948 Chevy in Billings.”
When she didn’t reply, Gabe looked over his shoulder. Their eyes connected and a tingle of awareness shot through her body.
“Sorry. I thought you were Caleb.”
She smiled and moved closer to the truck. Some days she felt as though she was walking on an emotional tightrope. One slip and she’d fall into the beginning of a relationship that wouldn’t be good for either of them.
“I didn’t want to surprise you in case you bumped your head on the hood.” The thick sheet of metal would have been okay, but Gabe would have had a headache for a few hours.
He picked up a rag and wiped his hands. His eyes skimmed over her sundress, then returned to her face. “You look summery.”
Warmth filled Natalie’s cheeks. “It’s going to be a hot day. What are you doing?”
“Caleb bought this truck a few weeks ago, but I haven’t had a chance to see it. I didn’t want to wake you, so I decided to take a look after breakfast.”
“I don’t usually sleep for so long.”
“With all that’s happened, you would have been exhausted.”
Natalie nodded. “Where’s Sherlock?”
