AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I laughed. “It’s not red. It’s mauve.”
“It’s red and it’s a sacrilege. Ain’t happening, woman. It’s gonna look like someone bled all over the walls. It’s creepy. Choose another color.”
“Fine. Go with the sage.”
Angel groaned, getting to his feet. “What is it with you women and giving colors names? They already have names - red, blue, green, yellow.”
Looking up at him, I smirk. “We come up with those names because we know it drives you men nuts.”
“Well, it worked,” he huffed, walking away. “And I’m not painting it green either!”
Turning back to my view, I smiled.
I knew I was going to be happy here. For the first time in my life, I felt wanted and loved, as if I truly belonged somewhere. Not just by Kansas and my kids, but from Vivi, who accepted me as I am, and the brothers with their teasing and laughter. I finally had a family that wanted me for me.
“Kali!” I heard Vivi yell my name from inside the house. Smiling, I got up and went in search of my best friend. Finding her in the living room in a standoff with Angel, I covered my mouth, hiding my smile. Angel stood firmly in front of Vivi, pointing a dripping paint roller at her, while Vivi glared at him. “That’s not the color she picked out.”
“Told you both, I wasn’t painting this room that nasty red color. It ain’t right!”
“It’s not your decision, you idiot. It’s Kali’s house!”
“And I brought it back to life. I have a say.”
“You are not going to live here and look at it every day. She is. So is Kansas.”
“I’m going to what?” the man himself walked in the front door with Talia on his shoulders. Upon seeing me, Talia wiggled as Kansas put her on her feet.
“Tig, I’m here!” she screamed, running off, looking for her best bud. We all cringed as her echoes bounced off the walls.
“Damn,” Kansas groaned, rubbing his ear with his finger. “Forgot how this place echoes. Going to need a lot of furniture to fill it before that shit stops.”
Smiling, I quickly kissed him. “No worries. I’ve already hired a moving company to pack up some of my furniture in New York. It should be here by the time the house is ready. The rest, Vivi and I will buy locally.”
“So, what’s the problem with those two?” Kansas said, placing his arm around my shoulder, titling his head towards the living room.
“They are fighting over wall color again.”
“Thought you already decided?”
“I did,” I smiled as I watched Vivi grab the paint roller and throw it at Angel, who ducked before he got splattered with paint. This wasn’t going to end well if I didn’t do something fast. My damn floors were just refinished, and I didn’t want them ruined.
“Alright you two. Angel, just paint the walls a cream color. And Vivi, we can pick out some pretty rust color accents for the room. Like that rug you got for the penthouse. That would look lovely in this room.”
Crisis averted, I leaned into Kansas and whispered, “Come with me. I want to show you something.”
Taking his hand, I led him upstairs.
Minus a few minor details that still needed tending to, the entire house was complete. I still didn’t think we needed such a big place, but it was stunning and well worth the aggravation. I liked the idea of living in a part of history, even if some parts were dark. Just thinking about all those girls who once roamed these halls made my heart hurt for what they must have endured.
When embarking on this project, I dug deep into the history of the house and the school that once housed the Native girls. Despite the lack of information about the details of those schools, the rumors were obvious. Beaten, starved, and mentally and physically abused, the girls that attended this school suffered under the Federal Government for decades before the school finally closed in the 1930’s. I tried hard to think about those girls who never got to see their families again. The ones who died at the hands of the very people who insisted and ordered them away from the only family they knew.
I left nothing to chance when it came to refurbishing, replacing, and reconstructing this marvelous home. In the end, I found a balance of old-world charm and the rich history of the native culture indigenous to this area.
“Babe, where are we going?”
“Shush. We’re almost there.”
Passing the multitude of bedrooms, I walked into the master bedroom and stopped at what looked like a simple linen closet next to the new master bathroom. Turning to face Kansas, I explained, “When Angel and Ashe were refurbishing the walls, they came across this. Hidden behind layers of wallpaper and plaster, they found another set of stairs. Only they don’t lead to the attic, per se.”
