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“Just like his daughter. And no. I didn’t make up a job. You’ve seen what long hours I work. I need someone’s help. I need someone I can trust. If that isn’t our family, then who is it?”
She nodded and I added, “Besides, this will mean I get to come home at a reasonable time to be with you. I’d hire a hundred men to help if I had to. We’ve already had enough time apart, I don’t want to make a habit of it.”
“Neither do I,” she smiled. “But as you said, we will be married in a week, and no longer need to live in separate homes.”
“Exactly.”
For the past three months, Kyleigh and her parents lived in a small cottage in the country, and I stayed with my parents about a twenty-minute drive from there. It was far from ideal, but it was part of the Tabiqian culture that we didn’t share a bed until the wedding night. I didn’t know if her parents realized we’d already been intimate, but Kyleigh was adamant about following tradition from the engagement on.
“I need to stop at a job site. Would you like to come with me before I bring you home?” I asked.
“I’d like that. I’ve never seen your work except for the home you built for Reesa and Finn.”
“Then you’re in for a treat.”
It wasn’t far out of the city, but far enough that one could enjoy a view of the countryside without having to see your neighbors. When we pulled into the driveway I looked over at her and her eyes were wide.
“You built this?”
“I did,” I replied. It was like nothing I’d ever built.
I hadn’t forgotten what she’d said while we were in New Hampshire. “Does it remind you of anything?”
“It does. It’s a log cabin like Shaun and Morgan’s. Can we go inside?” she asked.
“Of course. No one lives here at the moment,” I said.
We walked up the steps and onto the front porch. She said, “Look, they have a wooden swing built for two, hanging. Shaun and Morgan didn’t have one of those.”
“No. This cabin has several unique amenities. Come in, and I’ll show you.” I took her hand, and we entered the cabin. “For one, it’s much larger than theirs is.”
She looked around that massive living room and walked directly over to the stone fireplace. “I love the color of some of these rocks. They remind me of the colors you find on the beach in Tabiq.”
Do they now? I wonder why that is.
I wasn’t sure how long it would take her to realize what this place was.
“Did you want to see the rest?” I asked.
“Of course.”
I took her through the kitchen and she said, “This looks like a professional chef’s kitchen but with country décor. I love it.”
Good.
I led her through the cabin, directing her attention to details. “There’s an office to the left and a guest bedroom to the right. Did you want to see them?”
She shrugged. “Not really. Right now, I am more interested in what the upstairs looks like. That staircase is just tempting me to go up.”
I was tempted to lift her into my arms and carry her like I had in White Mountains in New Hampshire. But I didn’t want to give anything away just yet. When we got to the top of the stairs, I had her turn around and I asked, “What do you think of this view?”
She held onto the railing and looked out the huge triangled glass window directly across from her. “That is spectacular. You can see for miles.”
“At least on a clear day you can. Wait till you see the morning fog lifting off the hills. It’s almost magical to watch.”
She turned to me and said, “Are you trying to make me jealous of the homeowners?”
“Never.” I pointed down both ends of the hallway and said, “There’s a bedroom on each end with private bathrooms as well.”
