Something else that hadn’t been there was the playhouse nestled underneath the big oak tree.
“A swing,” Luca called out, doing his best to help Lena.
“Swing, swing, swing,” Lena chanted, hanging off the seat with one leg, Luca pushing her up.
I blinked a few times, making sure I wasn’t having a mental breakdown and hallucinating. After the ninth blink, everything was still there, and I followed the happy shrieks to help my kids.
We spent the next hour outside, exploring the additions to our yard. I had no explanation for where they’d come from. I couldn’t afford anything this big and shiny. And everything was brand-new, putting it further out of my reach.
I had some investigating to do and started with Stella since she liked grand gestures. This would be right up her alley.
She picked up right away, her phone an extension of her arm.
“You guys back home yet?” she asked.
I’d only told her that we were spending a few days with Sebastian. She thought we were together anyway and didn’t need an explanation.
“Got back an hour ago,” I replied, watching Luca open and close the shutters on the playhouse three million times. Lena was busy rearranging the fully stocked interior that included a kitchen, chairs, a table, and a shelf with papers and pens.
“You working tonight?” Stella asked.
“No, but I have to go in tomorrow. I know it’s short notice, but can you watch the kids by any chance?”
“Of course I can. Mason has now decided that he needs to finish the house within the next few months, so I have plenty of time. I barely see him anymore.”
Oh no, that didn’t sound like the bubbly Stella I knew. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing. I’m just being a big baby. Since Mason has a full-time job, renovating a house this big on top of it takes a while and a lot of his time. And I know I shouldn’t complain because he’s doing it for us, but I just don’t understand what the rush is. Ever since we came back from our trip, he’s been on a mission.”
“He won’t be tied up with the house forever. Have you tried helping him?”
Stella had a big heart but no real life skills. She grew up with a butler and maid, and sometimes it showed.
“Of course I did. I might be spoiled, but I’m not lazy. The stubborn mule won’t even let me touch a paintbrush. Apparently he doesn’t trust me because last time I tried to help, I set the house on fire.”
“While you used a paintbrush?” I asked, wondering how she managed to start a fire with paint.
“No, while I was making dinner. I burned the eggs.”
Luca had now moved on to taking everything Lena threw out the window back inside the playhouse. He was getting more and more agitated when she wouldn’t stop, and I knew I had only about thirty seconds left before they would start fighting.
“How do you start a fire when you burn eggs?”
“Forgot they were on the stove and they burned to a crisp. Then the pan got really hot and started catching fire.”
Wow. I had nothing. Absolutely nothing. “I’m impressed. That’s quite the feat.”
“Mason didn’t think so. And now I’m not allowed to do anything anymore.”
“Maybe that’s for the best,” I said, snickering.
“Shut up. Some friend you are.”
I remembered why I called and asked, “You didn’t happen to leave a few things in my yard, did you?”
“I haven’t been there since I watched the kids last time. Why?”
“Nothing, all good.”
