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“And yet you’re suffering with a vicious bout of stupidity. You’re still healing. The grass can wait, or I can call a lawn care company tomorrow. You aren’t doing it.”
Hiring a lawn care company is something I’ve been meaning to do anyway. “You need to stop bossing me around when I can’t fuck you. Unless…”
Her lips curl up as she shakes her head. “Don’t give me that look. We can’t. You’ll survive another seven days.” The sound of a car pulling into the driveway diverts our attention and Maren peeks out the window. “I forgot Pops was coming back today.”
“What are you doing here?” Ronnie asks Maren when he enters, putting his suitcase on the floor. “What happened to Florida?”
“Cooper had emergency surgery last Sunday. I didn’t want this place to implode without me so…” Maren shrugs.
Ronnie’s eyebrows leap up and he looks over at me. “Are you okay?”
“Missing an appendix but much better. Your granddaughter is an excellent nurse.”
He gives her a proud look. “That she is. She’s a stickler for the doctor’s orders.”
“Tell me about it. I was going to cut some weeds but I’m a little afraid for my life.”
“Good. Keep him in line, honey,” he tells her. “Anything else new?”
Maren glances at me, then back at her grandfather. “I suppose I have a boyfriend.”
Ronnie chuckles and leans to kiss her on the cheek. “I suppose I do too.”
Maren looks as pleased with that announcement as Ronnie is with hers.
We chat for a few minutes before I excuse myself to let them catch up. “I’m going to take a walk around and check on things.”
Maren eyes me. “Fine, but I swear if I see you with a tool in your hand or trying to climb a tree, I’m going to kick your ass so hard you’ll need another surgery to remove my foot.”
It’s a beautiful day and a lot of the tenants are out on their porches or in their yards as I walk around the neighborhood. After three months of constant work, everything is starting to come together now, and the place looks a lot better. There are still plenty of things to be done, but I’m happy with the progress.
The only plan I came here with was to fix what my dad had neglected. I figured it would give me time to work out what I want to do next. Falling for the woman who sued my dad wasn’t something I expected but it was the best surprise ever. The repairs here will likely be finished in the next eight weeks or so. It’s time to start thinking about what I want to do with Happy Haven next because Maren is right that I don’t plan to stay here much longer.
One of the things she mentioned before was wanting to travel, and I’d love to take her around the world, but I know what her answer would be. She has responsibilities here, her grandfather to take care of. I’m privileged to be able to do what I want. When I think about it, all I really want is to be with her.
I’m checking out the pool that’s been roped off with caution tape while the cement dries when my phone rings with a call from my mom.
“You paid off my mortgage!” she shouts before I can say anything.
I take a seat on one of the new picnic tables I had delivered last week. “Hi Mom, how are you doing?”
“Don’t you give me that. I told you no. I do not want any of his money. You know that.”
“First of all, I didn’t give you any, I gave it to the bank that held the mortgage on your house. And it’s not his money. Not anymore. It’s mine. There’s no reason for you to have to go on working when I have more than I could ever spend in five lifetimes. Don’t bother making your car payment either.”
“I’m going to kick your little ass. I’m not quitting my job.”
“You can do whatever you want. That’s the point. Work or don’t work. Fix up the house or move and get a new one. You have choices you’ve never had, and you deserve them.” Her frustrated sigh makes me smile. I understand how she feels, but if she thinks I’m not going to share with her after everything she’s done for me, she’s crazy.
“How’s it going there?”
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s coming along well. You should’ve seen the place. If Dad had survived to be here, he would’ve had it condemned.”
“Is it possible that’s the best option?”
“No, lots of families live here and most of this is repairable. It’s just been left to deteriorate for too long. It’s sickening because despite the cost, it would’ve been pennies to him.”
“That sounds about right,” she grumbles.
