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“I know! These came from Mister Cody’s garden! He has all types of sunflowers. Yellow ones, red ones like these, black ones. So many pretty flowers.”
I turn to my little boy and arch my eyebrow. “So that’s where you’ve been getting these flowers from?”
He nods. “Yup. Mister Cody is really cool and knows all about flowers. I told him you love sunflowers too.”
I pull Tobias into a hug and kiss on the top of his little head. “I love you, little man.”
We head back outside and I get to work on the chairs. Tobias plays next to me with some wooden blocks.
I look up to wipe some sweat from my brow and see Cody walking up his driveway. He looks up at me and winks. My cheeks turn bright red as he turns his hat backwards and strides away.
Holy. Effing. Shit. That man is… whew!
Shaking my head with a smile, I get back to work. Tobias runs off to play while I hammer down, trying to get these chairs finished by the end of the day.
A few hours go by when Tobias comes up to me, pulling on my hand. I look down to see him and Dagda, a basket of berries between them.
“It’s dinnertime, mommy.”
“Dinner?”
Tobias nods and takes my hand, pulling me up Cody’s driveway. Dagda runs around us, barking with his tail wagging like crazy. As we get to the end of the driveway, I can’t believe what Cody had hidden back here.
The most gorgeous, modern, yet still farmhouse style home sits in front of me. Bright white siding with black accented window frames the two-story house. The first floor has a small covered patio with floor to ceiling windows. Above, the ceiling is lined with old tin and string lights hang from everywhere.
The second floor hangs over, giving the bottom space that cool patio. To the left, it has a deck with dark wood covering the bottom half. That same wood has been used to make a pergola with more lights strung up.
Cody comes up and sweetly kisses me on the cheek, spatula in hand, as he guides me over to the patio.
“Figured you would be hungry after working all day. Wee man helped me prep everything.”
“You made me dinner?”
Cody chuckles. “Damn right I did. Now come sit down. Put your feet up, glass of wine ready right there. Steaks should be done in another minute.”
He heads back to the grill while I sit. Tobias runs around the yard, Dagda behind him. Cody comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and leaning down into my ear.
“You okay?”
“I’m… good. Happy. This is all new to us. I’ve never had another man around Tobias. So this is… strange, but nice.”
Cody softly kisses my cheek and stands. “You lay down the line, Juniper. Tell me when I’m overstepping or when things get too much.”
“Who knew the grouch next door could be so sweet?”
“Yeah, yeah. Just don’t go shoutin’ it around town. I have an image to uphold.”
Laughing, I turn and gaze up at him. “Your secret is safe with me.”
Cody winks and walks back to the grill, whistling for the dog while he brings over a plate of some of the juiciest steak I’ve ever laid my eyes on.
Tobias comes rushing over, sitting on the bench with me while Cody fills our plates. He even makes a small plate for Dagda and places it down on the floor.
We all dig in, laughter all around as the sun sets down around us. Tobias finishes and goes off running with the dog while I help Cody clean up.
I can’t help but silently freak out inside.Everything is just so… easy. Happiness. That’s what this is. Pure happiness.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m very happy with my life. But having this…extrahappiness. It makes life that much sweeter.
