“This looks like the primary bedroom. No ensuite, but the closet is giant.” It’s a walk-in closet, again, not what I expected on the outside.
“That looks like custom-built shelving. Is it?”
“Yeah. No IKEA stuff. This is all handmade. It’s quality, Rhett. Very nice. Frees up more space in the bedroom. Maybe Tater can get a bigger bed.”
Rhett’s quiet laugh makes me ache for him. It’s filled with so much warmth for that little dog, I just can’t keep my crush balloon from expanding.
“She’s already pretty spoiled, but I bet she’d like that. What about the other rooms?”
There’s a second bedroom that’s perfect for a guest room. Smallish, but he doesn’t seem concerned with that. The main floor bathroom is large with updates, including main floor laundry hookups if he wants and another walk-in shower with gorgeous tile work and a double sink.
“The flooring so far is all I’d think you’d want to change initially, Rhett. It’s older and worn in places, and that’s easy enough to update.”
“You’ve done some home renos, have you?”
“Yeah! I helped my dad when we bought the house. Click flooring is so easy.”
Rhett hums, and I glance at the screen to see his expression.
“You don’t think I can do flooring?”
“I don’t think there’s anything you can’t do, Dee. Always full of surprises.”
A beat passes, and for the first time since I met Rhett, I don’t have a reply or know what to say.
“Let’s see the kitchen.”
The kitchen is at the back of the house. Not open concept, but there’s a cutout in the wall from the kitchen to the spacious living room.
“Wow, Rhett. This is something else. Look at this island…. Oh, and the countertops! Holy crap, this is so nice.”
“Is that a demitasse coffee pot?” He laughs. “Is there a huge wooden fork and spoon hanging on the wall, too?”
“Uh…” I turn around, and sure enough, there is. “Yeah, look.”
“Oh my god.” His voice shakes as he speaks, and he puffs out a breath. “I bet there’s a bottle of Sambuca on the counter.”
I switch back to the beautiful granite countertops and locate the bottle by the toaster.
“There is.”
Rhett is quiet for so long, I wonder if I’ve lost the connection. When I flip the camera back to see his face, his eyes are shiny with unshed tears.
“I have to have this house,” he whispers.
“Is everything okay?”
He takes a moment and tries to clear the emotions from his voice. “Have you ever had one of those moments where you think the universe knew what you needed and delivered it so perfectly you almost can’t believe what you’re seeing?”
If only he knew that’s exactly how I felt when I met him the first time. Not the photos or Pinterest board, but when he first walked into my café, and I just knew he was the one.
“Yes. I think so.”
“This is an Italian kitchen, Dee. I bet I’d find all the stuff my grandparents used to have. One time, my grandpa and I spent all day making cannoli for a wedding and drank an entire bottle of sambuca together. Fuck…” His throat clicks with a swallow. “Thank you for your help. This has been…” He licks his lips, and I wish he was here so badly.
“I’ll send you the videos of the yard.”
“I’d like that. But do you mind if I call Arnie now? I’ll let you know how it goes.”
