“That sound wonderful. We love you, Eden. Always remember that.”
“I love you too, Mom. I’ll talk to you soon.”
After hanging up, Eden sat for a moment, the phone still in her hand. She was making the right decision for herself, and even though it meant being away from her family, she knew they supported her. With Steve by her side and her determination to build a life in Sapphire Bay, she felt ready to take on whatever came next—including sanding, plastering and painting the walls around her.
Two days later,Steve stood in Owen's glass studio, watching his friend shape a glass bowl for his latest collection. Rex lay sprawled on the floor, lazily chewing on a toy.
Owen separated the bowl from a rodand placed it in the annealing oven to slowly cool. “Are you sure Eden doesn’t mind you working on her house when she isn’t there?”
Steve crossed his arms in front of his chest. “She won’t know until she gets back from Boston.”
“I know you want it to be a surprise,” Owen said. “But, if she’s anything like Harper, she’ll want the remodeled house to look exactly how she sees it in her imagination. Unless you can read her mind, she could be disappointed.”
Steve grinned. “I’ve already thought of that.” He pulled out his phone and showed Owen the photos he’d taken last night. “Eden has a design board she’s taking to Boston. Her mom and sisters are going shopping with her to look at some lights and rugs she’s seen online. All her ideas for each room are here, along with paint colors and pictures she’s found on the Internet. We can’t go wrong.”
“When you’re talking about remodeling a house, something always goes wrong,” Owen insisted.
Steve frowned. “It’s not the whole house. The only area I want to do is the attic.”
“As in creating an extra storage area or something more?”
Steve flicked through the photos until he found the ones he wanted. “I’d like to build something like this.” This part of Eden’s house was probably the most special to her. The reason he’d chosen it was because it was also the area that would cost the most.
In one picture Eden had found, exposed wooden beams gave a sloped attic ceiling a rustic charm. Soft, natural light flooded the space through two newly installed skylights.
In another, the walls were painted a calming shade of sage green, creating a serene backdrop for the space. Along one wall, a series of built-in bookcases stretched from floor to ceiling, filled with rows of books that varied in color and size. Some shelves held carefully placed decorative items and potted plants, adding a touch of personality and life to the room.
Steve showed Owen the last photo. “I know Eden wants two comfy chairs and a rug on the floor. Between the two of us, we should be able to find something she’d like.”
Owen didn’t look quite so excited about what Steve wanted to do. “That’s a big project. Creating a library of that size won’t be easy or cheap. I don’t even know if it’s possible to build something like that over one weekend.”
“I spoke to some of the guys who work on the tiny homes with me. As long as they’ve had a look at the attic before we start the work, and I have all the materials on site, they’ll do their best to frame out the interior.” He didn’t add that they’d thought it couldn’t be done.
“What about the building permit?”
“I spoke to the county. If it’s not a livable space, we don’t need a permit.”
“And a library isn’t a livable space?”
“It’s a storage area for books,” Steve said with a frown. “Work with me on this. I’m trying to be romantic.”
Owen laughed. “Most people wouldn’t count a library as being romantic. However, you aren’t most people and neither is Eden.”He picked up two bottles of water and handed one to Steve. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but the only thing Eden’s let you pay for is a can of paint stripper. What makes you think she’ll be happy with you remodeling her attic?”
“She’ll be happy when she sees it.”
Owen leaned against his workbench. “Because you’ve brought her dream to life?”
Steve took a deep breath. “That’s only half the reason. I’m going to ask her to marry me after she sees the library.”
Owen choked on a mouthful of water. “Oh, man,” he spluttered as he coughed again. “Next time, make sure I’m not drinking anything when you tell me something like that.”
Rex looked up from his chew toy, his little black eyes watching Owen wipe the water off his sweater.
“It’s okay, boy. Owen just forgot how to swallow.” Steve pulled a handful of paper towels out of a dispenser and handed them to his friend. “I want to be part of Eden’s life. I love her.”
“You haven’t known each other for long.”
Steve’s eyebrows rose. “And how long did you know Harper before you asked her to marry you?”
