“It looks like the construction crew must be ahead of schedule.” There are pickup trucks stationed all around my house, and men and women milling across the yard. I’m thrilled to get started preparing my house for the baby, but I’m starting to realize it might not be quite as easy to live in it during the renovation as I thought.
“Wow.” Mariah watches out the windshield as we pull into the driveway. "Jason really doesn't mess around, does he?"
I may have led her to believe Jason is the reason things were able to progress as quickly as they have, but that's not the whole truth. Yes, Jason has contacts who owe him favors, but at the end of the day, money talks.
And I've got a lot to say.
Pulling into the garage, I close the door and help Mariah inside, leading her up to our room. The plan is to leave that area of the house untouched for as long as possible. Since it can be closed off and remain quiet, it will allow at least a small area where Mariah can rest, unbothered by the noise. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when it has to be partially gutted to make sure the whole space makes sense. I don't see me being okay with her not having a place to hide away. Especially as her pregnancy progresses.
But that is a problem I’ll deal with tomorrow. Right now, I need to focus on maintaining the hydration Mariah just received.
Once she's changed into one of her favorite lounge sets and curled up in bed watching the large television now mounted to the wall, I go downstairs and start filling cups. Over the weeks, I've ordered countless options for her to choose from, and maybe I was going about it wrong when I rotated through them. Maybe the best plan is to put something different in each one and have the whole fucking fleet ready to go.
It actually might be a brilliant idea, so I start filling insulated tumblers with everything from orange juice to iced tea to ginger ale, lining them down the counter as I go. I'm just screwing the lid on the final beverage when my front door opens.
Mymom makes it all the way into the kitchen before stopping. "Shit." Her face scrunches in a wince. "I meant to knock."
"Don't worry about it." I can imagine this has been a little bit of an adjustment for her. For years, knocking did her no good. She’s used to simply letting herself in my house, and in general I don't mind. Usually, it wouldn’t be a problem.
Occasionally, however, I may have the chef she hired for me spread across the office desk with my head between her thighs, and I can’t imagine she would love walking in on that. I'm betting Mariah would hate it even more. Especially since we still haven't told my mother what's going on between us.
"Well, I will knock next time." My mother's eyes scan the army of cups on the counter, but she doesn't say anything about them, instead focusing on the other development going on under my roof. "Did something happen? Did your water heater flood or a toilet overflow?"
I can't help but raise my brows. She really thinks there would be this many people here for a little water leak? I highly doubt it. My mother knows her way around most things, so I’m betting she's just trying to figure out where to start fishing.
"I decided to do some renovations. It seemed silly to leave the upstairs the way it is now that..." I almost confess, but I don’t want to put Mariah in that position. When to tell my family will be something we discuss and decide on together. "Now that I'm starting to spend more time outside of my rooms."
“That’s fantastic.” My mother sounds genuinely excited. “Your house should fit the life you’re living, and I can’t say I’m upset this one no longer suits you.” Her eyes drift around the main level, snagging on where the crew is plotting out the addition. “Are you also expanding?”
“I am.” I keep the answer simple, holding my breath to see if she’ll let it slide.
A dazzling smile takes over her face. “I can’t wait to see it.” Her brows pinch. “Where are you going to stay during construction?”
My plan sounds even worse now that I have to admit it to my mother. “Jason and I talked about it and he thinks they can keep my rooms untouched for most of the process, so we’re hoping to just stay here.”
I don’t register what I’ve essentially said until my mother slow blinks at me, like her brain is processing the new information I accidentally gave her. That if my rooms are the only ones untouched, everyone in the house will be staying in them. Together.
But my mom’s bright smile is back almost immediately, no sign of suspicion when she says, “It will definitely be an adventure.”
It’s the same opinion Mariah had when we talked about how to handle the renovation. She didn’t bat an eye at living in a construction zone. Didn’t seem fazed over the chaos and dust heading right for us. Like so much else that’s happened in her life, she just rolled with it.
“It’ll be something.” I grin, looking forward to every bit of it. “I’m surprised Jason didn’t already tell you what was going on.”
My mother lifts her chin, looking a little miffed. “Jason’s been oddly tight-lipped lately.”
I’ll have to remember to give him a bonus for not telling my mother about seeing me and Mariah together. To be fair, he’s already making a shit ton off me, so it’s in his best interest to stay on my good side.
“Weird.” I lean back against the counter, crossing both arms over my chest as I redirect the conversation. “What are you up to today?”
My mother lifts one shoulder and lets it drop, but the motion seems forced. Not a genuinely casual movement. “I was just out and about and saw all the trucks.”
Out and about. Sure.
“It’s a little early for you to be scoping out your flower fields.” She’s up to something, and considering the last time she wasup to something I ended up with a hired chef, I’d like to know what her newest scheme is.
And if I’m the one in the line of fire.
“I just heard Brooke might be in town, and thought she could possibly be coming to see Copper.” Again, my mother is acting overly casual about her activities. “I didn’t want to miss her if she was here.”
