“Your sisters are as busy as ever,” Robert replied. “Jessie’s juggling her job and the kids, and Katelyn’s working on a new project at her company. They’re both excited to see you.”
As they walked to the car, her mom linked arms with her. “We’ve missed you so much. How’s everything in Sapphire Bay?”
“It’s been great,” Eden said. “I’ve been busy with the house and work, but it’s all coming together.”
“Your sisters and I can’t wait to go shopping with you,” her mom said excitedly. “I’m sure we’ll find some bargains you can take home.”
Eden smiled. “The word ‘bargain’ makes my bank account happy. It’s amazing how quickly my budget is getting spent.”
“It was like that for your mom and me when we remodeled our house,” Robert told her. “We’d finish one room, then something would leak or break in another part of the house. But we got there in the end, didn’t we Margaret?”
“We certainly did. And, what’s more important, it was fun. Having said that, I’m glad there are no more renovations in our future.”
Once they were settled in the car, Eden’s dad started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. “Tell us more about this house of yours. What are you doing at the moment?”
Eden smiled. “Steve and I took all the wallpaper off the walls in the living room and hallway. The ceilings are so high that it took forever, but we got there in the end. I’ve started painting the kitchen cabinets. They look awesome, but they’ll take a little longer than I thought. Steve’s been a big help.”
Her mom turned to look at her, curiosity in her eyes. “We’ll have to meet this mysterious boyfriend of yours. He sounds lovely.”
Eden nodded, a smile tugging at her lips. “He’s amazing. Even though he’s busy in his workshop, he’s helped me with so many big and small projects around the house.”
“Sounds like he’s quite special,” her mom said with a knowing smile.
“He is,” Eden admitted, feeling a warmth spread through her. “He really is.”
They chatted about the remodeling and the job at the elementary school as they drove through the familiar streets of Boston. Eden couldn’t help but feel a mix of nostalgia and excitement. Being back home was comforting, but she also looked forward to returning to Sapphire Bay and continuing her new life there.
As they pulled into the driveway of her parents’ house, Eden smiled. She was home, surrounded by the love and support of her family, and she had a promising future waiting for her in Sapphire Bay.
It was the perfect balance, and she couldn’t wait to see what the next chapter of her life would bring.
Steve wipedthe sweat from his forehead as he looked around Eden’s attic. Owen and the other workers from the tiny home construction crew were installing a dormer window and insulating the walls.
“Pass me that drill, would you?” Owen called out.
Steve grabbed the electric drill and handed it to Owen. He was balanced on a ladder, securing the frame for the new dormer window. “This will bring in so much light,” Owen said. “Eden will love it.”
Steve smiled, picturing Eden’s face when she saw the transformation.
Owen climbed down from the ladder and wiped his hands on his jeans. “It’s just as well we started when we did. Without the hole in the roof where the window’s going, it’d be like an oven up here.”
Steve handed Owen a bottle of water. “Drink this. If you get dehydrated, Harper won’t let you come back tomorrow.”
Owen took the water, then moved out of the way of two of the guys from the construction crew lifting one of the window frames up the half-finished staircase. “You were lucky to get the staircase delivered in time for us to start work. When do the handrail and balustrade arrive?”
Steve picked up a bag of insulation and hauled it across the room. “If I’m lucky, tomorrow. But if the courier truck gets delayed, it might not be here until next week.” Taking a Swiss Army knife from his back pocket, he sliced through the plastic packaging. “I’ll use something else to make it safe if the rail and balustrade don’t arrive in time. Just be careful when you use the stairs.”
One of the crew members, a burly man named Josh, called out from across the room. “Steve, we’ve finished insulating these walls. Do you want us to start putting up the drywall?”
Steve walked over and surveyed the space. As soon as this wall was finished, they could start bringing the bookcases up. “Sounds good. Let me know if you need more help.”
Josh nodded and began hauling the drywall up the narrow stairs with another guy. Steve was grateful for everyone’s help. They’d all volunteered their time to help make Eden’s dream come true.
A series of grunts made Steve turn around. Owen and some of the construction crew were lifting the large dormer window into place. “Careful, guys,” he called out, moving to help steady the window as they lifted it into the frame they’d built. “Watch the left-hand corner, it needs to fit snugly.”
Owen, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, gave Steve a nod. “Got it. Just a little more... there we go.”
With a final push, the dormer window slid perfectly into place. The crew let out a collective sigh of relief and stood back to admire their work. The addition of the window flooded the attic with natural light, transforming the once-dingy space into a bright, inviting area.
