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It looks different without three feet of snow. The grass is green and it’s close to seventy degrees. “How were you able to rent this?”
He loops his arm with mine and brings me closer to the side porch, the one I leaned against as he searched frantically for the key. Flowers are in full bloom, the paint on the siding looks fresh and are those new windows?
He opens the door after entering a code into the electric keypad. Both the old sleeper sofa and over-stuffed chair are gone. There’s all new furniture. What gets my attention straight away is the sign over the hearth of the fireplace. The Roan Family. Established 2023.
He turns my body around, and on the wall are pictures of our family, friends, and the two of us. The one I gravitate toward is Xan on one knee proposing to me. A family picture of Ma, JJ, Xan, Nick, and I is hung next to a painting of the red barn at sunset.
The kitchen has been gutted. Sleek and modern cabinets and countertops showcase the beauty of the space.
“This is ours? Xan?”
“Yep. You loved it so much. I made a couple changes, but it’s all ours.”
I point to the present in his hand. “I didn’t buy you a cabin, but I think you’ll love it.”
His hand connects with my chin. “I know I’ll love it, because it’s from you.”
He opens up the bow and pulls off the top, bringing out a small book, with a picture of Xan and Liz at his Law School graduation. The title of the book isRecipes for my Son.
“What is this?” he asks. And he begins flipping through the book, his favorite chicken recipe is on the front page. “You did this for me? How?”
“Ma had all her recipes. And I had it made into a book, so you’ll forever have a memory of your mom and you in the kitchen together.”
“The banana chocolate pancakes, oh, fuck, Clark, this is better than the cabin. This is everything.” He holds me tight. To say we didn’t miss my father or his parents at the ceremony today would be a lie. That was the only part that hurt. But the entire day has been everything. Because he is everything.
“I don’t know about that, but I can’t wait to see more of this place.” I spin around, looking at the perfection he’s created in this space for us to make memories. I throw my arms around him.
“But, do you know what the best part is?” he asks.
I can’t think. This is too much but knowing my husband, it’s over the top.
“What is that, baby?” I ask.
“The bedroom. It has a bed; one I promise will get a lot of use.”
“Oh, really?” I jest.
“Uh, yeah, let me prove it to you. First one back there gets to top, and believe me, I still have the blindfold.” And just like that, we run toward the bedroom, and with him, I’ll never know hate again.
The end.
