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“Where are we?” I ask, no longer able to wait patiently.

“You’ll see. Just wait.”

“How much longer?”

“Just…a few…seconds…and…we’re here!” He draws out his words until the truck stops when he proclaims our arrival.

“Can I take this off now?” I ask, reaching up to the bandana around my eyes.

“No!” Warren’s hand reaches over and stills mine, stopping me from removing the blind fold. “I’ll come over and get you, you just wait.”

I can hear him moving around and unbuckling Noah from his car seat between us but wait patiently as instructed. A giddy feeling bubbles in my chest in anticipation. I wonder what it could be. A new car? A romantic day on the water in theKnotty Boy? With Warren it could be anything.

My passenger door opens, and Warren’s strong hand reaches in and unbuckles me then grasps my hand. I let him guide me and slide out of the truck. My feet land with a thud on the gravel I knew we were driving on. It’s quiet and I can’t hear any movement or noise around us other than our own.

“Where are we Warren?”

Warren just chuckles and guides me by the hand. My other hand extends out reaching to make sure I don’t run into anything.

“There’s nothing you’re going to run into or any steps. You’re safe Bambi, trust me.”

“I do trust you. It’s just a natural reaction to being suddenly blinded.”

We don’t walk very far and just like he said there are no stairs and I don’t run into anything. We’re no longer walking on gravel. Now there is short grass and dirt under foot.

Warren drops my hand, and I sense him moving but have no idea what he could possibly be doing.

“Now can I take off the blind fold?” I ask again.

He’s quiet for a moment then responds. “Okay, you can take it off now.”

The bandana is finally gone, and my eyes adjust to the light with bright spots and blurry images until everything finally comes into focus. In front of me…is the hangout house. Strange. This is not where I expected to be. But there’s something different about it. It’s cleaner. The grass has been mowed, the massive weeds that were growing around the porch are gone, the garbage that cluttered a few areas of the yard has been removed. Even the boards on the windows have been removed.

The house itself is still in disrepair and looks as it always did. Except for the blue bow stuck to the front door.

My head tilts from side to side as I inspect the house and try to figure out why we’re here and what the surprise is. Turning to Warren at my side I find him watching me carefully. A tentative smile on his lips as he holds our son in one arm, his little head resting on his shoulder.

“What are we doing here?”

“This is your surprise.”

I look back at the house still confused. “What is?”

“The house.”

“The house?”

“It’s ours. I bought it. For us.”

“You…?”

My brain must be sluggish because I don’t understand at first, but the longer we stare at each other the pieces finally fall into place. He bought the house for us. We have a house.

I turn back to look at the house we’ve all known since high school and in my mind I can see it transforming. Peeled paint smoothed over with fresh colors, broken windows made whole and lit from within. The yard is green and lined with flowers. But the best part of all is the image of us in that yard running and playing with Noah. Laughter ringing out in my fantasy.

I always loved this house. Always knew it could be more than the abandoned house teenagers graffitied. Now it will be.

“Do you like it?” Warren asks softly from my side.