AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I am. You make me happy.”
He kisses me and then grabs my hand again as we start walking. “You make me happy too.”
We’re both smiling as we reach his house. He’s still living with his grandmother, although she’s arranged for a couple of her friends to come help her on weekends so Chase can often stay with me on Saturdays and Sundays. I spend the night over there sometimes too, so we basically bounce between our two houses.
I don’t mind at all. His grandmother can’t afford an assisted living place, even if she wanted to move. She doesn’t have any other family, and she can’t live alone. He’s going to stay with her for as long as she’s alive, and I’ll always support him in that decision.
I’m not going to give up my house, but I wouldn’t mind renting it out for a while and moving in with Chase and his grandmother. Since she stays in the downstairs bedroom, he and I would have the entire upstairs to ourselves.
But she’s old-fashioned. She’d never say a word about it, but we know it would make her uncomfortable if I were to move in full-time before we were married, so neither one of us has suggested it.
We have our whole lives. His grandmother is worth making a few small compromises.
I’m spending the night there tonight since we leave for our trip tomorrow morning. This year, we couldn’t get as many days off, so we’re taking a four-day weekend and staying at a bed-and-breakfast in Asheville.
I’m excited to celebrate a whole year together with Chase.
His grandmother is in the kitchen, working on packing up her Christmas cookies in festive tins to give as presents. I sit down at the table to help her as Chase takes out the garbage.
“Now you both make sure to relax a lot on your trip,” she tells me after watching Chase walk outside. “You both work too hard, not to mention having to take care of me.”
“You’re no trouble at all, but we’ll definitely take it easy. We don’t have anything big planned, so we’ll probably just hike and visit some crafters I like and eat out at fun places.”
“That sounds perfect.” She gives a satisfied nod. “He’s been so happy this year. I’ve never seen him so happy.”
I flush with pleasure. “I’ve been happy too.”
“Good. Because I like to envision him being happy with you for the rest of his life.”
“He will be,” I tell her, my voice slightly hoarse from emotion I wasn’t expecting. “We will be.”
She holds my gaze, and we share a moment of true understanding. Then her face changes to an almost naughty excitement. “Oh, guess what. Next month I’m having someone in to redo the upstairs bathroom.”
My eyes widen. “Really? Isn’t that expensive?”
“Chase and I have figured out how to manage it without going into debt. That bathroom has needed it for ages. I’m not sure how you’ve been showering in that old tub. We’re going to get a new sink, a new toilet, and a walk-in shower. But we’re keeping the pink tile on the walls.”
The bathroom upstairs really is old and inconvenient. I wouldn’t complain for the world, but a new shower up there sounds like a dream. “That’s amazing. And I love the pink tile, so I’m glad you’re not getting rid of it.”
“Yes. It should be really nice when we’re done.” She slants me a little look that feels significant somehow. “Just wanted you to know. For the future.”
“Okay,” I say with a smile, confused but not wanting her to see it. “Thank you.”
Is she hinting I might move in with Chase upstairs? That doesn’t sound like her at all.
I shrug it off when Chase comes back inside.
We have a good time finishing her cookie packages. Then she goes to bed, and Chase and I head upstairs. One of the three bedrooms upstairs has a big couch and television, so we hang out there for a while, cuddling as we watch a few episodes of a show on a streaming network.
When we go to bed, we have some quiet sex under the covers, and he holds me until we go to sleep.
I wake up early the next morning, excited about our trip.
It takes a couple of hours for us to shower, dress, have breakfast, and make sure his grandmother is all set until Darlene arrives later in the morning.
Chase packs the car as I clean up the kitchen.
He’s grinning as he comes back inside.
