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“Good man,” I teased.
“The bigger question,” Joni said. “Do you have a vision for how to turn this kitchen into the kitchen of my dreams?”
“How do you feel about knocking down walls?” I inquired.
“I feel good about it,” Joni said.
“I don’t feel good about it,” Zip muttered.
Joni glared at her husband.
“You’re the love of my life, the mother of my son, you get whatever you want,” he intoned like an automaton.
“Damn right,” Joni said with a grin. “So what walls were you thinking of knocking down?”
“The wall that separates the kitchen and the dining room,” I said. “If it’s not load-bearing, it shouldn’t be that challenging. It’ll open up the space and give you more to work with.”
“How can you tell if a wall is load-bearing?” Joni asked.
“Is there an attic?”
“Yeah.”
“Will you show me? Once I’m up there I’ll be able to tell,” I said.
“Sure.”
“I’ve got to get out of here,” Zip said. “Colt’s waiting on me.”
Joni nodded. Zip walked toward her, placed his hand on her hip, and kissed her. Kissed her deep enough that her eyes closed and she looked like she forgot they had an audience.
He gently brushed his hand over his son’s head. “Later, babe,” Zip said to Joni as he pulled back. “Bye, Logan.”
“Bye.”
“What about dinner tonight?” Joni called after him.
“Call Waverly,” he said. “I’m taking you out to dinner.”
The front door shut and he was gone.
“Who’s Waverly?” I asked.
“Willa’s younger sister. She didn’t come to the barbecue, so you didn’t get to meet her. She babysits for all of us.”
“Ah, nice.”
“So, the attic?” she asked.
“Yes, please.”
I tromped up the stairs behind her, stopping when we got to the landing. She opened the door to the attic and stepped in first. Joni was tall so she had to be mindful of her head not hitting the rafters. I was a bit shorter so I didn’t have to duck. The attic had the usual boxes labeled Christmas and seasonal clothes. But I found the wall in question and grinned.
“Yep. See the way the joists are laid out and the wall is parallel to them just below?”
“Yeah.” Joni nodded.
“The wall isn’t load-bearing. Your contractor should have no trouble removing it.”
