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“My grandparents. The house has been empty for over twenty years. But it’s been maintained. And Genny and Sage went through it over the weekend and got it ready for you.”
“Sage?”
“My daughter.”
“Oh. I hope to meet her soon.”
“Oh. You will. All three of my kids are here for the time being.” He moved toward the front porch. “Let me show you around.”
They went onto the porch and Jake looked at Rosie. “Stay here.” He put his hand on the knob, put it refused to turn. He jiggled it and it finally gave in. “Old lock.” He opened the door, then let Ember go in first. The house was sparsely furnished with some of the original furniture and some newer things. It was clean and neat and looked sad to Jake. It definitely needed someone to live in it.
“Wow. This is a wonderful house.” Ember turned to him. “Are you sure you want me staying here? I assume there’s a reason it’s been empty for twenty years.”
Jake removed his hat. “My father never wanted anyone to live in it. But Genny convinced him it was time. You need to be on the ranch. And this is really the only option.” He moved to a rocking chair and with a touch, set it in motion. He’d been rocked in this chair on Noko’s lap. He didn’t have any real memories of it. But he’d seen pictures of himself as an infant and a toddler, wrapped in his grandmother’s safe and loving arms.
He moved away from the chair and looked at Ember, who seemed to be watching him. Could she read his mind?
She gave him a quick smile. “Well, thank you.It’s really beautiful.”
“I’ll show you around the rest of the house.”
He showed her the three bedrooms, only one of which was furnished. The furniture was all new, or had been as of about fifteen years ago when Genny had finally convinced their father to let her go in and clean the place out. Before that, it hadn’t been touched. She’d boxed up all of the personal stuff and stored it in one of the bedrooms. She then got rid of the old musty furniture and replaced it with the bare essentials. She seemed to know at some point someone would once again occupy the house.
Jake showed Ember the big kitchen next. The old wooden table they’d eaten at more times than he could remember was still there, as was the old hutch. But the hutch was empty. It didn’t matter though, Jake could remember everything that had once been on it. As a child he’d been fascinated by the treasures it held. It wasn’t the typical grandmother’s hutch. This one held painted clay bowls and sculptures of animals, carved from stone and the local hardwoods that grew in the area. There were clay masks with feathers on them and crude instruments also carved from wood.
Jake realized he’d been lost in thought again, and he returned his attention to Ember, but she wasn’t looking at him. She was looking at the large symbol painted on the wooden floor.
“What’s this?”
“My grandmother was Chippewa. This is a symbol of peace and prosperity. She painted it as soon as the floor was done before they moved in.”
She looked at him. “I feel like an intruder.”
“It’s fine, Ember. Really.”
She nodded. “Okay. I’ll get my things.”
“Do you need help?”
“No. I’m sure you have better things to do than help me haul my stuff in the house. It’s just clothes and a few books. Nothing I can’t handle. Although?”
“Although, what?”
“There is one thing you could help with. I have a small aquarium.”
“Sure, no problem.”
They went back outside to Ember’s car. She opened the passenger seat door and Jake saw the aquarium strapped in with the seatbelt.
He laughed. “An occupied aquarium.”
“Yeah. I didn’t want to leave him behind.”
Jake released the seatbelt and lifted the aquarium. “Where do you want it?”
Ember picked up the stuffed cat that was sitting next to the aquarium and headed for the door. “In the kitchen, I guess.”
He carried it into the kitchen and set it on the counter she indicated, then looked at the goldfish inside. “What’s his name?”
