AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I don’t follow, instead I set up the litter box and water dish for Saint. Once that’s done, I take a stroll around the lower level. There is so much natural light pouring through the abundance of windows, I imagine the space full of deep cushioned furniture and houseplants hanging everywhere. They still haven’t come back down after I’ve seen the entire first floor, so I go in search of them upstairs.
They’re out on a small deck off the primary bedroom, where Sadie is pointing out a boat that is sailing by in the distance. It’s a private spot, one that can’t be seen by the surrounding homes. A great spot for morning coffee or evening wine.
I’m jealous of whatever future woman may get to spend her time here.
With him.
Fuck.
Immediately I retreat downstairs and keep busy unpackaging the rest of the items he purchased at the pet store. Today, so far, has been comfortable with him. Last night was too, if how well I slept has anything to say about it. Even after the conversation we had, there wasn’t any panic or lingering depressive thoughts that kept me up or had me in fitful sleep.
The furniture arrives, and I take Cillian’s place on the deck hanging out with Sadie while we make up stories of mystical creatures that lurk in the depths of Lake Union.
“If I live here, I can make friends with one of the mermaids. She’ll have purple hair that sparkles, and her tail is blue.”
“That sounds pretty. Will she have a name,” I ask, ignoring the pang at the idea of her living here. She has all the faith in the world when it comes to her father. There hasn’t been a moment’s hesitation from her; she accepts that he’s here now and always will be. I wish I had her confidence.
“Edna,” she says with distinct confidence.
“That’s a good name.”
“I know that’s right.”
“Of course, you do. Does Edna have an underwater friend?”
“Umm, I think she has a turtle named Bob.”
“Who has a turtle named Bob?” Cillian steps outside.
“The purple-haired lake mermaid named Edna,” I tell him, and he grins. It’s genuine and familiar, making me feel very unstable.
“Makes sense,” he says. “You guys ready to go?”
“I’m always ready,” Sadie says with a happy sigh.
“Good, because we need some sheets for your bed,” Cillian tells her, picking her up he blows a raspberry on her neck. She giggles; it’s infectious and I’m happy for her. For them. Yet no less confused by my own reaction to him.
Target is a situation I don’t think Cillian was ready for. He vastly underestimated Sadie’s love for the store, and she dragged him to every corner of it to show him all the things she thought he needed. I stood back with unveiled amusement.
He’s more exhausted than she is by the time we load two shopping carts worth of home goods and toys into his SUV. Cillian’s kitchen is going to look more like Barbie’s dreamhouse than a bachelor pad, but he doesn’t seem worried about it as he lets Sadie pick out all his small appliances and various dishes and utensils.
It’s probably overcompensation and it’s ridiculous, but her joy at him deferring to her makes me smile. She passes out before we’re out of the parking lot.
“To your parents’ house?”
“Yeah, I’ll text Mom that I’m bringing her a bit earlier.”
“Do they live in the same place?”
“Yes. Mom will die in that house; she loves it so much.”
“She put a lot of work into it,” he muses.
“She took the wall out between the bedrooms Willa and I had. It’s one giant suite for her crafting that’s nearly as big as our entire condo.”
“Marney always did love her crafts, so I guess that isn’t a surprise. But I’ll miss your old room, we had some good memories there.”
It’s where we lost our virginity together. It’s where he told me he loved me for the first time. It’s where he made his first promises to me. Ones he would later break.
