This is the part in the horror movie where ominous banjo music should start playing.
When we get to the house, we get out and unload the luggage. The home is a two-story building with a white wood panel exterior. There are large windows that must let in a lot of light and a double story wraparound veranda, complete with rocking chairs and a built-in porch swing on the first floor. There are Christmas decorations, but all the lights are off because of the late hour and I can’t properly judge their festivity.
There’s nothing else around it. It’s dark, so I can’t be sure, but I don’t see any other lights around us.
Beau unlocks the door, and his family follow us in. He has nice furniture pieces; lots of dark wood and worn leather to make everything lived in and inviting; not just for show. The walls are covered in pictures, both in color and black-and-white, but from the other indicators in the latter photos, not as an artistic choice and more because that was the only technology available at the time. Christmas decorations fill the house: garlands, statues, ornaments, and lights on every available surface.
Now this is my kind of impeccably decorated place.
I can’t wait to explore more. Fine. More like snoop. I can’t wait tosnoop. Which I’ll start right after his family leaves. I’m distracted from my plans when I hear heavy panting and the sound of nails on wood before I see the giant puppy sprinting to the front door.
“Who is this adorableness?” I ask as a giant mastiff comes barreling toward me. The giant comes up to my stomach on all fours and I would put down money that he’s taller than me standing.
“This is Bubba.”
Giant Bubba pushes his head into my stomach, I assume because he wants pets. I start scratching behind the ear and he leans into it, giant tongue hanging out. I guess that is what he wanted.
“We’ll get some Zaxby’s for you guys while you get settled in. You probably haven’t had that before?” Eve asks.
“I haven’t. But you don’t need to go through all the trouble.” They’re coming back? Noooo...that’s okay, guys. I can make us toast. Or a daal if there’re enough ingredients. And then we can eat it with the toast.
“It’s no trouble and this is the perfect introduction to the South.” Eve tugs Reed out of the room and snags the keys on the way out. Then she stops in her tracks, the large man in a matching sweater almost running her over from behind. He deftly weaves out of the way at the last minute, telling me he’s used to Eve’s sudden changes in movement.
“Wait, are you a vegetarian? We can get something else if you are. If you’re vegan, we can make you something at home, because there’s probably nothing around here we can pick up that you can eat.”
“Thank you for asking. But I do eat meat. Probably too much, if I’m honest.”
“Great. Well, we don’t care either way, but I haven’t had Zaxby’s in a while.”
We watch them walk out of the room.
“I feel bad making them go out and come back here. They must want to get home. We can make something here.” And I want to be alone with Beau, for reasons. Sexy reasons.
Beau tugs me into the kitchen. It’s another nicely decorated room, with white tile backsplash and rustic gray wood making up the cabinets and island. He opens the vintage fridge and pulls out a pitcher of something brown and then gets two glasses out.
“It’s actually no problem, since...they live here.” Beau studiously ignores my gaze, taking longer than any other human has ever done to pour two glasses of whatever that is. Iced tea maybe?
“Excuse me? They live here? Like where I’m standing now here? This very house here? The house you invited me to? For a sleepover—with your parents?”
“Yes, to all of the above. But I wouldn’t call it a sleepoverwithmy parents...”
Great. He loves home and family so much he never left home. Besides not really knowing what that feels like, it’s another sign that this can’t go anywhere. I doubt he would move out for me if he hasn’t moved yet. “I thought I was the Indian. Aren’t I the one who’s supposed to live with my parents forever?”
He points to the right side of the house. “My office is right there. The peach trees and the farm offices are all out there.” He indicates outside, the details of which I can’t see because of the dark. “It’s convenient to live where I work; there’s no commute. Daniel lives on the farm too, in another house just like this one, with his family.” Beau gets it out in a rush. “And I like being close to family.”
I think I’ve hit a nerve.
“You live your life. In your childhood home, if that’s what you want.” I hold up my arms in surrender. “Do you still have your childhood bedroom?”
“Technically,” he mumbles. “But when I remodeled the room, I got rid of the Dale Earnhardt light switch cover and fan that has baseball bats as fan blades and a baseball as a light.”
“I missed a Dale Earnhardt light switch cover?”
Beau leans in and lowers his voice. “Do you even know who that is?”
“Yes. With the driving.” I pantomime turning a wheel. “Vroom vroom.”
Beau inclines his head. “Yeah, the man with the driving. Mom still has it stored somewhere if you really want to see it.”
