Page 38 of Where We Call Home

I barely had time to clean up, so I grabbed some cologne from the glove box and gave myself a quick spritz. In the rearview mirror, a streak of dirt stretched across my face, but I shrugged it off. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone.

Pulling into Theo’s driveway, I took in the sight of her small, dark brown bungalow. It looked even more cramped than I remembered—no shutters, no bright pops of color, and the neighbors practically on top of her. She needed more space, no question about it.

I raised my hand to knock, but before I could, the door swung open. Standing there was a woman who could’ve been Theo’s twin–though her eyes were different. The woman’s sharp blue gaze swept over me, head to toe, before a knowing smile tugged at her lips.

“You must be Rhodes,” she said, holding a dish towel in one hand.

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied, catching myself staring.

Her scrutiny softened. “Call me Sissy. ‘Ma’am’ makes me feel old. Theo’s upstairs, come on in, but stay by the door. I don’t need those boots tracking mud through my house.”

“Yes, ma’am—uh, Sissy.”

My mom raised me with strict manners. “No, sir” and “Yes, ma’am” were ingrained in me, slipping out even when I didn’t intend them to.

The house had a dated feel—wood paneling, tiled floors, and a cozy but cluttered vibe. The inside was cozy, the kind of authentic home you would picture in a small town. My eyes landed on a familiar box stacked in the dining room, the one I’d helped Theo move in months ago.

I spent the time alone looking at my surroundings, understanding what Theo meant when she said she had to find her own place before the baby was born.

“You ready?” Theo’s voice broke through my thoughts.

She stood at the bottom of the staircase, dressed in white overalls and a fitted black long-sleeve top. Her hair was braided into pigtails, and there was just enough makeup to highlight her eyes. Smoky shadows made them pop, shimmering under the light.

“You look…” I trailed off, my brain scrambling to find the right words as I realized I’d been staring too long.

“Yes, I’m wearing makeup,” she muttered, her voice tinged with self-consciousness. “You can stop staring.”

I leaned in close, lowering my voice. “You look beautiful.”

Her eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought I saw her swallow hard. Before either of us could say more, her mom’s voice rang out from the kitchen.

“You two better get moving!”

“Thanks, Mom,” Theo called back, sarcasm dripping from her tone as she turned away with a grunt.

I followed her out, jogging to catch up and as she stomped to the truck.

“Nuh huh, Honey. You’re not opening that door for yourself.”

She raised an eyebrow, but I beat her to it, opening the passenger door. As long as she was riding with me, she’d never open a door again.

Fifteen

Iwas a bit more dressed up than usual. After all, I had people to impress. Well, one person: the realtor showing me apartments today.

Our list wasn’t long—just two options. That’s all Faircloud seemed to offer. It wasn’t a town geared toward single renters. Family homes dominated the market, and the apartments I’d scrolled through online were either out of my budget or unlivable. I’d saved enough to cover nearly a year of rent, but my budget was tight. Raising my limit would shrink my nest egg and force me back to work sooner, a thought I didn’t want to entertain just yet.

“There you are!” A woman’s bright voice interrupted my thoughts. She approached Rhodes and me on the sidewalk, binder tucked under her arm. Judging by her polished white pantsuit and straight blonde hair, it was Cassie, the realtor.

“I’m Cassie!” she chirped, shaking my hand and then Rhodes’.

She was stunning. Legs for days, a perfect smile, and she smelled like lilacs and sunshine. Her bubbly demeanor was a stark contrast to my more reserved nature. As she turned her attention to Rhodes, my jaw tightened. Her gaze lingered a little too long, and the way she bit her bottom lip, I wasn’t a violent person but…

Suddenly, I wished Rhodes had changed out of his work clothes. Dirt-smudged face and all, he still looked unfairly attractive. The way my thoughts drifted, thinking about how I should’ve climbed on his lap earlier, was almost embarrassing. His compliment hadn’t helped either. Was I really that easy to fluster, or was Rhodes just impossible to resist?

“You must be Theo,” Cassie said, breaking my internal spiral.

“Yup,” I replied shortly, stuffing my hands into my overall pockets. Good guess,Cassie.

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