“If you find there’s anything you left at the complex,” Rafe said, stepping next to her, “let me know. Ma reminded me that I need to take more time for myself. I’ll try to swing by a couple of times a week to get away from the office.”
“She told you that, and youlistened?” Ahri couldn’t help teasinghim. In some ways, his obsession with work reminded her too much of her brother. She’d have to ask Francie about it and see if it was possible to convince Kayn to do the same thing. Ahri understood that they had a deadline to meet, so she’d be patient until then.
“Sometimes I do, especially when she’s right.” He put his hands in his pockets and skipped down the steps to his car.
Ahri thought the visit had invigorated him. In fact, thinking back, she decided all the guys had left lighter of step than when they’d arrived.
“I’ll take your luggage upstairs for you.” Alex picked up her bags and headed up the stairs.
“I hope you like your room,” Francie said. “It’s the only one in the gable and has a lovely view.”
“Thank you for letting me stay here.”
“Thank me tomorrow after we’ve worked in the garden for a few hours.” Francie indicated they should go up the stairs.
“You have a beautiful home.” Ahri glanced around, wondering what it’d looked like when they’d been poor. “I love your taste in decorating.”
“Some of that comes from Alex,” Francie said. “He’s the historian. We found some old photos in the attic from when my great grandparents lived here. A lot of our ideas came from those. It’s too bad I wasn’t able to keep their wonderful antiques.”
“You had to sell them?”
“Yes. I suppose Rafe already told you. He doesn’t mind people knowing he hasn’t always been rich.” She pointed to a photo on the wall. “This was from high school when he thought he wanted to swim competitively.”
“Wanted to?” Ahri stepped closer. She’d know those blue eyes anywhere. His younger self looked up at the camera from the pool, his hair messed and dripping. “Didn’t he stay with it?”
“No. The coach told him he had the enthusiasm and dedication but lacked one thing.” His mother’s eyes twinkled, evidentlywaiting for Ahri to guess. She shrugged, and Francie said, “Speed. He’d work so hard, but everyone was faster than him in the water.”
“That’s too bad.” Ahri understood that frustration. “I always wanted to play basketball in high school. I was good at it but I lacked one thing.” She shot Francie a sidelong glance.
“Height?” Rafe’s mother said with a chuckle.
“Exactly.”
“You’re taller than I am.”
“Not by much. Kayn got our father’s height, but I inherited our mother’s. I was so happy when I discovered the Petite section at the thrift store.”
When Ahri had gone up a few more steps, she noticed a painting of the house. She glanced back at Francie, her brows raised.
“That’s one I couldn’t bring myself to sell.” Francie ran a loving hand down the frame. “We’re slowly replacing pictures. Alex is quite the sleuth. It takes time because we’re not rich, but I think that makes it more fun.” Her expression clouded. “My two youngest children are experiencing a much different childhood from the one Rafe had.”
It didn’t sound like that was a bad thing.
“Well, here’s your room.”
Ahri followed her hostess inside. The decor was very different from some of the colorful rooms downstairs. It was less fashionable and had a log cabin feel to it. The wood beams on the ceiling had a lighter stain, and the walls were cream-colored. That let the colorful patchwork quilt on the bed take center focus.
“This is beautiful.” Ahri touched the fabric, noting the individual hand stitches.
“It was a wedding gift from my Granny Gladys, the only present we received from anyone in my family.” Francie ran her hand over it.
The only wedding present Francie had received? The sadnessin her hostess’s eyes kept Ahri from asking about it. At least Zed’s family had come to the wedding, though it’d been obvious they’d only done it for show. Francie must only be in her early forties and been right out of high school when she’d married Rafe’s father.
“Granny left me this place. She’s the one who’d wanted to make it into a bed-and-breakfast.” Francie gave a soft sigh. “It’s been fun to bring her dream to life.”
“It’s a beautiful room.”
“Thank you. Now, about tomorrow.” Francie crossed her arms. “I usually like to get as much done as possible in the morning when Alex and the children are in school.”
