Page 42 of Wood You Knot

“Aww, can’t we have ten more minutes?” Bella demanded, appearing at the top of the stairs. She was dressed in a princess dress—Belle, from Beauty and the Beast. Daphne and Brielle appeared beside her, also wearing princess dresses. Daphne was dressed in a Sleeping Beauty dress, and Brielle was wearing a Snow White one. They looked so adorable; it brought an instant smile to my face and lightened my worrisome mood.

“Yeah, Mommy! Please? We’re having a tea party,” Daphne said.

“All right, fine. You have…” I checked my watch. I wanted to be out of there before Nix got back. “Twenty minutes. Okay?” Daphne nodded in agreement, and the three girls took off.

“Do you want a coffee? I just put some on,” Tabitha offered.

“Okay.” I nodded, following Tabitha into her kitchen. “Did you want me to hold Bryson?” I offered, and she smiled her thanks.

“That would be great,” she said, passing him off to me so she could go about getting our coffees. I sat down at the central island, positioning Bryson on my lap. He seemed content enough to be there, especially when I passed him an apple from the fruit bowl in front of me. He brought it to his mouth and started gumming on it.

“He’s teething,” Tabitha apologized.

I shrugged. “It’s not a big deal, I don’t mind,” I told her, snuggling a little closer to him. Bryson was such a cuddly baby, and it made me feel a little nostalgic for days that had long since passed with Daphne. I could handle a little drool from a teething baby.

Tabitha smiled and went back to preparing our coffees, doctoring the mugs with sugar and cream. I lost count of how many sugars she put in her own cup, but by now, she’d learned how I liked it—which only reminded me of Nix popping by with coffee earlier, then asking me out.

I still had the supply list in my pocket. I’d stared at it so much today that the words at the bottom of the list seemed imprinted in my brain at this point. Say yes. Trust me. You won’t regret it.

I looked away, forcing the thought from my head. To distract myself, I focused on my surroundings.

The kitchen was one of my favourite parts of Tabitha and Parker’s house, and I loved being in it. Tabitha had told me during one of my earlier visits that it was one of the first rooms they’d renovated after they moved in. She showed me pictures of how dark and dreary it’d been before.

It was an entirely different kitchen now, so bright and beautiful. They’d redone it in an eclectic British Edwardian style, with gently arched openings and the refrigerator, sink, and range forming a work triangle that was organized around the central island.

The green-painted cabinets added a depth and were highly responsive to light. In neutral light, it was a subtle mint colour, with the indoor lighting warming it. The stile-and-rail paneling that covered wall surfaces complimented the lawn and hedges seen through the windows on three sides of the expansive room.

The room was further brightened by light reflected off the marble countertops. Each of the three windows was framed by casework that extended to the countertop. Recessed downlights were concealed behind the beautiful arches over the sink, highlighting the windows over the cabinets.

They’d built a shallow nook just outside the busy work triangle, with a built-in desk that overlooked the backyard and was flanked by shelves for cookbooks. A large opening next to the desk connected the kitchen to the family room.

Everything about Tabitha and Parker’s home was bright and inviting, but this kitchen…it was the hub of the home, where all the activity seemed to happen.

I’d always dreamed of having a kitchen like this, somewhere that truly felt like the heart of the home. Maybe because I’d always lacked that. My mother was never into cooking meals or hosting family functions.

Tabitha smiled and placed the mug of coffee she’d made for me in front of me, just out of Bryson’s reach. “So how was work?”

“Pretty good,” I replied, unsure whether I should confess Nix had been in and asked me out, or that I’d said yes but was now having regrets. I decided not to just blurt it out and instead returned her smile. “How was your day?”

“It was good,” Tabitha said, pausing to take a sip of her coffee. “I did some running around for the fundraiser. I can’t believe it’s in two weeks. Did you have a chance to talk to Isla yet, or figure out your business name?”

“Oh, right…that’s coming up fast. No, I haven’t. I’ll send her a message when I get home tonight. I think I’m going to go with SW Photography for the business name, but I really don’t know what I want for a logo.”

“Isla is great at figuring that out,” Tabitha assured me. “She did Parker’s logo for his portable sawmill service and custom wood projects, as well as Nix’s logo for Hutchinson’s Lumber & Construction. She also did the twins’ logo for Bass to Mouth and their social media channels, and she even talked their dad into refreshing the logo for the lumberyard. It still has the original feel, though. Just modernized.”

Bryson dropped the apple and let out a squeal when it bounced off the counter and rolled away. Tabitha caught it, returning it to his little outstretched hands, and he gave her a drooly grin, bringing the apple back to his mouth.

“I appreciate you introducing me to her. And the others too. Your friends are so kind,” I remarked.

“It’s my pleasure, really,” Tabitha insisted. “And they liked you a lot too.”

I smiled, appreciating her kindness. “I really am grateful for you. You’ve made this whole situation a lot more bearable for both Daphne and me.”

Tabitha’s expression softened. “I’m glad I can help.”

“I’d like to thank you somehow, so…if you’re up for it, I’d like to do a family session for you guys.”

“That would be awesome! I don’t think we’ve had family photos done since Bryson was a newborn. It’s time for some updated ones.”

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