I’m speechless. He lifts his other hand to my neck, his fingers reaching the base of my head.
“Listen. Yes, I care about you—a lot. I would love to have you stay with me as long as you wanted, and it wouldn’t be taking advantage. Hell, if anything, it would give me some peace ofmind to know you’re safe every night. I might get a good night’s rest for once.”
I search his eyes for a few seconds, then allow myself to give him a tight smile. It’s all I can manage without getting too emotional. I step away from him and resume walking. A second later, he joins me. He must realize I need a minute because he doesn’t pick the conversation back up.
We walk in silence, and I’m lost in my thoughts, replaying his words. Up ahead, I see the small cabin Ellie and Leah had pointed out to me on one of our walks.
“Whoa, why didn’t I think of this before?” A glance at him tells me Harrison is talking to himself. Then, he says, “I have a brilliant idea.”
I chuckle. Teresa is visible in the distance; maybe two or three minutes of walking remain.
“Okay, I’ll bite. What’s your idea?” It’s still early, but the sun is already hot, and I’m ready to be in the shelter of my car while I wait for someone from the automobile club to arrive. I hate paying that renewal bill every year, but right now, I’m happy to be a member.
“It’s a visual. Take a quick detour with me, please?”
I shouldn’t, but what’s another few minutes?
“All right.”
A glimpse in his direction finds him looking toward the cabin and smiling. He leads me up the path to its front door. I wait on the wooden porch while he types a code into the keypad, and I look at the vintage glider. It appears to be in great shape, and happy memories flood my mind, making me smile.
Mom and I had a glider like that, and we would sit on it during hot summer days and drink lemonade. Mom would either read me a story or, as I got older, we’d talk about my life. It was my grandmother’s, and Mom dragged it with us every time we moved.
I didn’t want to sell it when I sold Mom’s house, but I had nowhere large enough to store it and no easy means to move it. It hurt to watch it go, but it added to Mom’s care fund. The only thing that made me feel better was that a middle-aged woman who loved it for the symbolism it held for her bought it. She shared that she had precious memories of time spent with her grandmother on a similar glider.
“Here we are.” Harrison steps back and gestures for me to walk in. Once I’m inside, I take in the room. It’s nice and cozy with a fireplace and furnished.
“Who lives here, and are you sure it’s okay for you to give me a tour?”
“Uh, well, no one stays here… at the moment. Let me show you something.” He walks to the center of the small room and points up at the ceiling. “See that?”
“The skylight?” I’m glancing upward, and I don’t see what he’s talking about.
“No, all the cobwebs.” He ambles over and sits in a chair. “Give me your finger.”
“Uh, excuse me…”
Still, I give him my hand. He takes my index finger and runs it along the end table nearest us. When I look down afterwards, a thick layer of dust covers my fingertip. Okay, so maybe the place needs a good cleaning.
“Would you sit for a minute?” I sigh, but lower myself into the chair closest to him.
“All right, so it’s a bit… dirty. What’s your point?”
“Henry and I were talking recently about needing to hire someone to keep the house clean or, better yet, rent to a person who’ll take care of it on an ongoing basis.”
“Ah, so, you’re looking to see if I want to clean the house?” I fix my gaze on his. I’m still confused.
“Yeah, kind of. But I’m thinking more along the lines that you could stay here while deciding your next steps. Then you don’t have to go back to Brandon and the trailer except to pick up your stuff.” Harrison’s face is bright, and the grin he’s sporting is enough to take my breath away.
I pause for a few seconds as I try to get my bearings. He’s offering me a place to stay, but the rent here would have to be ridiculous—it’s small, but beautiful.
As if he can read my mind, Harrison’s eyes turn serious. “You wouldn’t have to pay anything if that’s what you’re thinking. It’s payment enough to have the house cleaned for us. It would take you a week or two, I imagine, to return it to tip-top shape.”
I glance down at the floor. Gosh, it would buy me some time to find a decent place to stay long-term.
I lift my head and pivot it in his direction, my eyes finding his, watching me. “If no one lives here, why do you need it cleaned, and why not just hire a company?”
Harrison’s smile fades, and he runs a hand through his hair. “This was our dad’s cabin. He… he bought it when it was a beat-up shack, and he worked on bringing it back to life. He always said he was making it a dream house for him and Mom to retire to.” Harrison closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
