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Just then, my dad quietly sneaks into the kitchen and grabs two beers from the fridge before moving to stand next to me. He drags me into a side hug. “You found a good one this time, kiddo. Don’t let this one get away.”
“Thanks dad.” I say, taking his acceptance to heart fully. I’ve never seen this happen before. “I’m really glad you guys like him.”
For once in my life, I think I may actually be on the right track. The people I love actually like each other. Is my life finally falling into place?
Chapter 27
Six weeks later.
I place the paint roller into the tray before standing back, hands on my hips, to evaluate my work. Just a week ago, Andrew brought me into the building to show me he had finished the drywall and the downstairs portion reserved for my shop was ready for paint. He wasn’t expecting me to practically beg him to let me do the painting.
One thing I learned while working on my house is how therapeutic painting can actually be. Not only is it a workout, but it’s also a great opportunity to spend time alone with your thoughts. Not to mention that it’s an incredible way to transform a space right before your eyes. I immediately ran to the hardware store for paint and got started the next day. Slowly, I’ve covered the sheet rock in a creamy off-white satin sheen that created a brightness that this building hasn’t seen in decades. I can’t wait to fill it with bookshelves and decorate with plants, further bringing this place to life.
I’ll admit, I’m also ready to bring in all the inventory that’s taken over my guest room. Almost every day I get a shipment of merchandise, clothing and fixtures. Not to mention all the books I’ve been buying and hoarding from every thrift store and garage sale in the county. Let’s just say I probably have more than enough stock in order to get started.
It’s still hard for me to believe that this is really happening. All of my life, I have been a bookworm. As a kid, my mom would take me to the library every week and I would check out as many books as they would allow. Within a few days, I was begging to go back to return them and check out more. Hazel always encouraged my love of literature by buying me new books for my collection any chance she had. We never drove past a yard sale without checking out the books, and we certainly couldn’t leave the grocery store without a new book for each of us in our basket.
Most people didn’t understand my love for reading the way Hazel did. I think what I loved the most was that no matter where I was, I could pick up my book and be teleported to a whole new place. My family didn’t travel when I was young, but I knew all about the beach and the mountains and, of course, plenty of imaginary worlds. No matter how sad or mundane or lonely life was, there were so many adventures waiting for me in the pages of a million different stories.
The memories of my relationship with Hazel flood back to me and I’m overcome with how truly lucky I was to have someone who loved and understood me like she did. Someone that not only believed in my dreams, but who made a way to actively support them long after she was gone. There’s no better example of love or family. That is everything that I want to be in this life. Hazel was the best role model I could have ever known. I just wish she could be here to see this all pan out. It breaks my heart to know that she can’t be my first customer because I waited too long to try this. I can only hope I’m still making her proud.
“Wow, it looks great in here.” Andrew’s voice breaks through the silence and causes me to jump just a little. He must have snuck in through the back door.
“Hey, this is all you, buddy.” I close the space between us and stand on my tiptoes to kiss his lips. “Without you, none of this would have happened. I just painted.” I smirk.
“No, ma’am.” He hugs me and nuzzles into the messy bun on top of my head. “You are just as much a part of this as I am. I can’t wait to see you running your business in here.”
“Me neither.” I agree, letting out a slow breath. It feels good to finally have my walls down and to let myself be excited about my future.
I gaze around the room while he holds me close. Our plan is to open during the fall festival in mid October. We only have a couple of weeks left, and it’s going to be close, but I can finally see the possibility of it being done in time.
I step back to look at him. “Where have you been all day?”
He shrugs. “With your dad.”
I laugh. “My dad?”
“He called and asked if I could come help raise a transmission into his old Chevy. Of course, I couldn’t say no. It’s nice to have someone to work on an old truck with.” He says, with his eyes shining. “I miss the days when I used to do those things with my grandpa.”
I stand on my tiptoes and run my thumb along his jawline. Something about the thought of him spending quality time with my dad makes me fall in love with him a little bit more. If that’s even possible. “I bet he enjoyed having you there to help him. That was really nice of you.”
He leans down to kiss my forehead. “I enjoyed it just as much.” He says with a smile. “I like hanging out with your dad. He’s a great guy and I can learn a lot from him.” He pauses for a beat before changing the subject. “Hey, want to run out to the land with me and get some fresh air? You could probably stand to get away from all these fumes for a little while.”
Fifteen minutes later, after a quick cleanup, we are riding side by side in his pickup, towards the city limit sign. I rest my arm on the center console and hold his hand as I watch the town move past my window. As we turn onto the dirt road, I look over at him and can’t help but smile. Sitting next to him in the truck, holding hands while the radio plays quietly, has become one of my favorite places to be in the last couple of months. Everything I do with him just feels right. He catches me watching him and he slowly lifts my hand to his lips, lightly kissing my knuckles. “I love you.” He tells me.
“I love you, too.” I say, grinning back at him. I don’t think I’ll ever be happier than I am right now.
Andrew turns down the long gravel driveway and I watch as we approach the site of his future home. “Check it out!” He says proudly, already unbuckling his seat belt before the gravel around the truck settles. I follow suit and climb out of the truck, as he leads me toward the freshly dried concrete pad where his house will stand.
“Andrew, this is amazing!” I step on to the pad and look around. “It’s huge! I’m so excited for you.” I say as I turn back towards him.
He grins and takes my hand. “Well, let me give you a tour.” He says, as we make our way into the center of the fresh concrete. “The master bedroom will be there.” He points to our right. “And then over here will be the living room and a dining room with a table big enough to seat all our friends and family. Back there will be the kitchen with an enormous window overlooking the backyard, where our kids can run and play.”
The thought of us having babies causes a rush of butterflies in my stomach. I can’t count the number of times I’ve thought about it just since we started dating, but to hear him say the words out loud set my soul on fire.
“Over here is plenty of room for a nursery, and a couple more bedrooms, for us to fill with as many kids as you want.” His eyes are growing misty. “Back there will be the shop, where I’m going to teach all of those kids how to build and fix things and work on cars.”
“And then here…” He pulls me close to him at the front of the layout. “Will be a big front porch where we will put two rocking chairs. Then you and I can sit here in the evenings for the next sixty years, hand in hand, and enjoy our life together.”
