AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“In truth, I would love to use the bathroom and take a shower and change my clothes. How about you guys do your nighttime routine with CJ, and I’ll wander over to my—”
“Yes, to the bathroom, and no to wandering off by yourself.” My cousin places me on the three-seater couch that faces French doors hidden by thick navy curtains.
Aubrey sits down beside me. “Ophelia, I’ve got something you can change into, I’m curvier than you in places, but I’m sure now that my boobs have grown since having CJ, you can handle one of my knit sweaters, and the pants might be a little loose on you, but we will manage.”
“You two aren’t going to let me out of your sight tonight, are you?” I moan.
“Afraid not, my friend. You haven’t looked in the mirror lately. You are couch-surfing tonight.” She pats my leg.
CJ yawns in his mother’s arms, his thick lashes drooping. He’s already in his nighttime onesie, and this one has little boats on it.
“How about you shower while I go pick up our baby back ribs with sides and signature sauces from the ‘Smokehouse Bar-B-Que,’ and deep-fried brownies—”
Yum!
“—and Aubrey can put CJ down for the night. After dinner, I’ll break in the bed here, and Aubrey can go with you to the main house and spend the night, and I’ll have a boy’s night.” My cousin thinks he has it all straightened out, but I didn’t want to split them up.
I’ll cross that bridge after dinner.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t back here in time to offer you that dinner I had promised you both, but even I haven’t eaten as yet at the Smokehouse.”
“Now we have a child—trust me—nothing goes to plan. We just roll with it.” Aubrey brushes away my apology. She’s the sweetest person when she’s not feisty.
“Okay, I’m taking that shower, so I am ready to devour my share.” I get up off the couch and maneuver my way around. I know where everything is because I designed every nook and cranny.
I make use of the composting toilet (I’m waiting for Chance to comment on that) and then strip down, stepping into the one and a half shower, enjoying the hot water cascading down from the rainforest showerhead.
Couples on vacation want a romantic experience, hence the queen-size bed and roomier shower in each tiny house. I designed small kitchens because I wished the valuable space to get used elsewhere. There are no TVs in the tinies, but a projector TV can get hired from the main house, and a cleverly installed pulldown screen is available in each tiny.
I designed each house for a romantic getaway and not for work; it’s all about playing. The couples come to spend quality time together and visit the wine country and all the flavors it has to offer their taste buds, but I do give the option to stay in and watch a movie. I mean, we do get bad weather here from time to time.
Wrapping myself in a towel, I open the bathroom door to find clothes neatly folded in a pile on the ground.
I get dressed in white leggings, fluffy pink socks, and a gray long-sleeved Gap T-shirt. The little wood-burning stove near the double front door puts out enough heat to keep the tiny house comfortably warm without needing a sweater.
Mmmm…the scent of barbecue is in the air.
I make my way down to where the wooden coffee table—with some brilliant ingenuity—has now been widened (like they do with dining tables) and raised to a comfortable eating height while sitting on the couch. Four wood floor panels lift out, revealing four wooden legs that can easily be attached to the original four legs’ underside and locked into place, and then slip into the floor panel holes.
A fold-out chair sits opposite Chance, his wife seated in his lap. They are wrapped up in each other’s arms, canoodling, and don’t notice my arrival. “That’s my dirty girl,” he murmurs.I did not just hear that.
CJ is sleeping soundly in his travel cot beside the couch.
I’m used to their open displays of affection; I’m more interested in the delicious-looking spread laid out for us to devour.
My stomach growls. “Oh, boy, I need to have a sleepover with CJ tomorrow night”—I put my hand over my heart—“because you two raise the bar.”
They are a couple who love each other deeply. It hasn’t always been this easy for them, but persistence and love conquered, and now they are a family.
Aubrey lazily pulls her mouth from her husband’s. “One day, you are going to meet a man who will be all kinds of cocky, but he will make you laugh.”
I think I may have just run from him.
Eight
HOMEMADE LEMONADE AND CHARADES
Ophelia
