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“We close them at night,” I assure her.
“And this fireplace.” Her hand trails along the brick until she walks to the other side. “Oh my, this home is lovely.”
She can say it, it’s freaking gorgeous. I pinch myself daily wondering how I got so lucky. That answer just wrapped his arms around me, kissing me on my neck.
We watch as my mom steps outside—sometimes watching people look around is better than giving them the tour.
“How do you leave for work everyday?” she asks Josh, who laughs.
“Believe me, it’s not the house that makes it hard to leave.” I don’t know what sort of face he makes at her, but she covers her heart with one hand, while fanning herself with the other. I can’t say I blame her, I often have to do that around Josh.
After showing her the office—which is currently an editing room for the production crew—we take her into the kitchen. “This is the kitchen and our breakfast nook.”
“Joey, your nook is bigger than my kitchen.” She’s exaggerating, but yes it’s huge and far too much space for Josh and me.
“This is the mudroom, laundry room, and direct access to the garage and this will be your bedroom.” Josh opens the door and lets her walk in. It isn’t anything magnificent, but the view of the hills is breathtaking. We’re up high enough that we overlook most of the valley.
“And you have a private bathroom,” Josh adds.
“And I feel like I’m far enough removed that I won’t hear you two having a little fun at night.”
“Mother,” I chide and slyly motion over my shoulder at the camera.
She shrugs. “It’s not like I don’t know you guys have sex. . . you were at my house for God’s sake.”
I’m officially mortified. Not only were Josh and I not discreet enough when we were at their house, but she’s now blasted it all over the airwaves because you know they won’t edit this part out.
My husband is no help as he stands here, laughing. “Come on, Ava, let me show you the rest of the house.”
She follows Josh down the hall, stopping in each of the rooms. When we get to the second to the last room, he refers to it as the nursery. Her eyes go wide and her smile falls as I shake my head.
“Not yet,” he says, “but we’re working on it.” I know her and my father will make amazing grandparents and I’m willing to bet they move here, although I’d want to visit them often. I’d rather my children be able to grow up with land around them and a place to play instead of the concrete yard. We both know playing out front where we have a tiny bit of grass will never fly.
The last stop on the tour is our bedroom and the cameras aren’t allowed in there. After shutting the door, I lean up against it. “Finally, some privacy,” I say to both of them.
“Does it get annoying?”
“Yes,” I tell her. “It’s different from when we were in the house, though. Those cameras were all around us, but suspended. Never up in your face, but still there and you were never able escape to them unless you won a competition and you were given access to the master suite.”
“You’ll get used to them, Ava.” Josh stands, leaning up against the wall that opens to the outside.
“Do you ever fall asleep with that wall missing?”
“Often. Sometimes we get a nice breeze and if I don’t fall asleep outside, I definitely do on that bed. It’s the most comfortable thing I’ve ever slept in.”
Mom continues to survey the room, including the bathroom, closets, and exercise room that only has a treadmill.
“Well, Josh, I have to say, I’m thoroughly impressed with your house.”
“Our house,” he corrects. “Joey and I bought it together. It may have been my money that paid for it, but with what she’s earning from the show, it more than covers her half. Not that I’m asking her to pay. Everything I have is hers.”
I go to him and easily fall into his arms.
“Joey, I don’t know how you keep any clothes on with him around. I’d be walking around naked and falling at his feet every time he opened his mouth.”
Josh blushes and so do I but not in the way that counts.
“Mother!”
