Page 127 of The House Guest

He stopped walking. “Why? I’m happier than I’ve ever been back home with you.”

“It’s weird to hear you describe Ohio as home.”

“Well, it is my home now. Home is where you and Rosie are. For the first time in my life, I actually feelsettled. I never felt settled here, as much as the nostalgia sometimes gets to me.”

“Speaking of settled, is everything all set with Benjamin?”

“Yup. He’s on board to move to Ohio.” Dorian smiled. “I also have a bit of a surprise for you.”

“What?”

“I’ve been waiting to tell you... I know you’ve been worried about Patsy being out of a job with the sale of the mansion. Well, the new owners are taking her on as their housekeeper.”

My mouth dropped open. “No way.”

“Yep. They asked if I could recommend someone, so it was the perfect solution.”

“You’re right. Thatisthe best surprise. I’d been feeling so guilty.”

Dorian led me out back to the patio.

“What are we going to do for our last night in the mansion?” I asked.

“Well, I was thinking we could watch a movie in the theater for old times’ sake. Maybe I could burn some dinner, too, or we could get takeout.”

“I’ll choose the latter, thanks.”

“Okay.” He rubbed my back. “I miss Rosie.”

“Already?”

“Yeah,” he said. “I wish we would’ve brought her. Casey said it was okay. Not sure why you nixed the idea.”

“Because it’s only a weekend. And I wanted to fully focus on giving this place a proper goodbye.”

“You’re right.” Dorian pouted. “But she’d love the pool.”

“Well, we’re gonna put one in our new place, right?”

Dorian and I were finally moving out of the house I’d shared with Casey to a new home we planned to make our own. I couldn’t have been more excited for the year ahead.

Later that evening, when we went down to watch a movie in the theater, I was met with the most unexpected sight. Sure, it was the theater I’d remembered. But hanging on the walls, replacing the old movie posters, were each and every one of the monkey portraits I’d painted back when I was in college.

“Oh my God.” I covered my mouth. “What’s happening? Where did you get these?”

Dorian beamed proudly. “I bought them.”

“But how? They were all over. Different owners. How did you find them all?”

“I contacted the school and gave them a hefty donation to track down the owners for me. Then I made each one an offer they couldn’t refuse.”

“But why?”

He smiled as if the answer was obvious. “I wanted them for myself. They’re special to me because they remind me of the night we met and the magic of that time in our lives.”

I shook my head incredulously. “How long have you had them?”

“I started the search back when I was in Greece and slowly began accumulating them.”