Page 14

HUXLEY

O pen space is incredibly important in interior design.

When I first started flipping houses, I learned quite a bit about decorating pretty quickly. For example, some people want to pick a theme and then overwhelm the entire house with it to make their point.

I always took a more laid-back approach: have a nice framework with trim, lighting and doors that match the original era and style of the exterior of the house, then leave the rest of it fairly neutral, so prospective buyers could envision their own elements.

I smile to myself while driving home with a small load of supplies in the back of my truck.

This is exactly what I'm doing with Willa.

Giving her space and time to imagine what her life could be.

Allowing her plenty of breathing room, so she can see the basic structure of what I want to create with her.

We've been texting a lot, and I’ve been picking her up from work every day to take her home. Our conversations have been light, without talking about the future past a certain summer festival in West Stoneburg I’d love to take her to next month.

It's been three days since I suggested she move in with me. It's pretty clear that she wants to, but I’m not surprised she's hesitant. She hasn't even known me for a month, for crying out loud.

I pull into my driveway, open the garage door, then start hauling everything inside. Then I spend half an hour clearing out the end of the garage by the window.

Standing back, I envision Willa's workspace.

I figure a workbench perhaps five times the size of what she has now should do the trick.

All the machinery and heavy tools can go at one end, and the fine work stuff in front of the window.

I might install a larger window so she has more light – and of course, I'm going to have to measure her height before I finish the workbench.

Which means it can't be a surprise. But I wonder if?—

I spin, surprised to see a car coming up the driveway. For a split second, my stomach lurches, then I see it it's not my parents.

Willa gets out of a blue car, then waves to the driver. "I'll text you later. Thanks!" An older woman waves back before driving away. I suppose this is Aunt Carlie.

Willa comes straight into the garage. "Is it okay that I dropped by?"

"Of course, Angel. Always." I wipe my hands on my jeans before enveloping her in a gentle bear hug. "How was work today? I was going to text you to see if you wanted to have dinner."

"That sister of yours…" Willa looks up at me with a grin. "She has some of her rather out there friends in for a seasonal coffee something-or-other. The incense was making me sneeze, so she said I should leave early.”

I squeeze her tight, laughing. “Yeah, Desire is a bit kooky sometimes.”

Willa’s head fits perfectly against my chest as she murmurs, “She’s a very caring person, though. The second she realized why I was sneezing she put it out, opened all the windows, and told me to take off. She’s even still paying me for the full day.”

“That sounds like my sister all right.” I release Willa while keeping my arm around her, turning us both to face the garage window.

“The house sale goes through in a few weeks, but Grandpa said it was cool to start making updates now. I was thinking this could be a great place for your workbench… It could take up the entire wall. I’ll get those special mats so you don’t get tired from standing on the concrete, and a stool.

I’ll sketch it all out, make sure you like it, measure the height you need, all that good stuff. ”

Her chin tips up, lips parted, eyes wide. “You’re serious?”

“Of course. If you decide to be with me, you’ll need a nice…studio? Workshop?” My hand wanders down to cradle her hip. “Jewelry creation emporium? I dunno, you’re in charge of naming it. I’m just building the damn thing.”

“I can’t believe you’re doing this.”

“And I thought we could look up all the gift shops and galleries in the area who might want to sell your pieces. I’m always down to check out new restaurants in Old Hemlock Valley, or Spring Grove.

Heck, we could take a long weekend and hit every town on the way to Kingsville, maybe stay in a fancy hotel. ”

“Is Kingsville somewhere…” She trails off, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip, then smiles tentatively and begins again. “Somewhere we could go to pick up things like jewelry making supplies, and…maybe new lighting for the kitchen?”

Joy, relief and excitement surge through me.

“ Our kitchen, where we’ll be cooking together for years?

Where your parents can’t intimidate you or threaten to forbid you to stay at your Aunt’s any longer?

Yes. Definitely.” My lips press to her forehead.

“You’re right, you know – it’s not bright enough in the kitchen on cloudy days. ”

“I was thinking of midnight snacks when I’m up late working.”

“Good idea.”

Willa’s palm caresses the side of my jaw gently. “I’d love to live here with you. I don’t know about that ‘woman of the house’ stuff. But if it will help if your mom thinks that a woman is here to make sure everything stays balanced or whatever, and leaves you alone, I can do that.”

“You must know that’s only two percent of my concern. I really just want you here so that I know you’re not leaving at the end of the summer, and so that you don’t have to worry about your parents freaking out at you.”

“I know.” Willa stretches up to kiss me. “I want to stay because… I love you.”