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‘You could sell it and be free of debt. Use any profit to buy a car.’
That hadn’t occurred to her. After the grind of the past decade, it would be nice not to have the mortgage hanging over her head. They could live very comfortably off her salary. ‘How would it work? There’s only the one kitchen.’
‘I could put a kitchen in the narrow room off the sunroom and install a new bathroom in the small room beside my bedroom.’
‘I thought you were planning to do it all up.’
She could see him visibly relax, as if her acquiescence was assured.
‘That’s the plan. Ensuite bathrooms and built-in wardrobes in the front bedrooms. Maybe a second one between the spare bedrooms in my section.’
‘Soooo. This is a long-term plan? The moving in together thing?’
He shook his head, running long fingers through his short-cropped hair. ‘There’s no reason why it can’t happen straight away. Once Dan has moved out, anyway. There’s enough room for people to shift around when any of the renos require it.’ He must have seen her doubtful expression. ‘I could set up a temporary kitchen straight away with a hotplate and microwave etcetera. We wouldn’t have to share at all. Separate entrances. I can use the side stairs once they’re repaired. I have someone coming next week to fix all the stairs and the verandah rails.’
‘You’ve put a lot of thought into this.’ She spoke slowly, trying to read his expression. It could be ideal if it wasn’t for the fear of betraying herself. How much would they see of each other anyway? She wouldn’t have to escort them over to see their father. The children could pop back and forth as they wanted. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to restrict visits? Will there be a system where you’d let them know if they can’t come over?’
‘Why would I want that?’
‘What if you brought a … a date home?’
His eyes cooled. ‘I don’t think it’s likely to be a problem.’
He’d probably go to his date’s place. Sabine had a lovely house on the edge of town near the creek. Handy to town but private.
‘Becca.’ He gnawed his bottom lip, his brows meeting above his long nose. ‘This is important to me. I’ve had so little of my children. I want to live with them. Not be the weekend dad who gets to do treats but none of the everyday things.’
And that was where it got you. Right in the heart. She’d had twelve years of her children, sharing all the everyday joys and sorrows. He’d had nothing.
‘Would I pay rent?’
‘No. You’d cover all your own living expenses, but I’d pay utilities and rates on the property.’
‘What about the renovations? Who would pay for them?’
‘My property, my expense.’
She folded her arms and his lip twitched.Was she so easy to read?
‘If we benefit from the renovations we should contribute. If I sell the house, I should have some money to contribute, even after I pay out the mortgage and buy a car.’
Morgan was silent. She could almost hear his brain ticking over. Finally, he dipped his head. ‘Agreed. I can contribute to Gabby and Edward’s further education as part of my responsibilities.’
Becca had a strong feeling she’d been had. Knowing the Cavanaugh’s idea of a college fund would be overly generous, he was probably going to top it up anyway. But it was his right to be a part of his children’s lives. His right to contribute to the expenses. At least he hadn’t attempted to take away all her independence by insisting on covering everything.
‘In principle, I think it’s probably a solution. I need to talk to Patsy at the realtors about what I can expect if I sell. Things would have changed in the last few years with all the new people coming into town.’
Morgan straightened in the chair, his eyes narrowing. ‘I didn’t realise it had gone as far as involving a real estate agent.’
‘Years ago. Your mother thought it was a good idea for the kids and I to make a fresh start elsewhere.’
That triggered a tautening of his jaw. ‘What did you think?’
‘I was tempted. Aunt Bea was still alive then and she didn’t want to leave town. She couldn’t have cared for Dan by herself. The money for the property back then wouldn’t have been enough to resettle us all.’ She raised her palms into the air with a shrug. ‘So, it didn’t happen.’
The room was still then, Morgan seemingly absorbed in his thoughts. Not happy thoughts, if the furrow in his brow was any indication. It was something she’d become increasingly aware of these last weeks. His serious, almost sad demeanour whenever he was not engaged in conversation or focused on his work. Even then he was mostly sombre. Except with the children. For some reason, they managed to reach past his outer shell and bring him joy. He deserved to have the chance of being a full-time father.
‘What happens if one of us decides to get married?’
