Page 41 of This Moment

Confused, she asked, “What do you mean?”

I held up my hands. “Nothing bad, they sat on the front porch for a bit and…well, when they came back in, it felt like they were more…”

“More?” Sally asked.

“It felt like they were more like kindred spirits. I don’t know any other way to describe it.”

Sally nodded. “Maybe Cadie opened up to Opal a bit more.”

I nodded as my thoughts became distracted again. “Maybe.”

The doorbell rang, and I jumped.

Clearing her throat, Sally said, “She’s here!”

“Um, Sally, do you mind if you give her a tour of the house?”

“Me?” Sally asked with a surprised voice. “But I figured you would want to give her a tour.”

Shaking my head, I replied, “I just remembered I’ve got somewhere I needed to be.”

Before I had a chance to leave the room, Sally stepped in front of me, folded her arms, and gave me that look that said she was two seconds away from putting me in time-out.

“Kian Mitchel Carter.”

“Not the middle name,” I teased but quickly sobered when I saw she wasn’t having it.

“You will give that girl a tour of this house since you were the one who invited her to stay. I’m sure she’s already a ball of nerves. How would it look if you weren’t even here to greet her and make her feel welcome?”

The doorbell rang again, and we both turned and looked at the doorway that led out of the study.

“I’m going to go answer it, and I expect you to be right behind me.”

All I could do was nod and dutifully fall in behind her.

Sally opened the door, and I saw Cadie standing there, with a single packed suitcase and a smile. Was that all she had was one small bag? Maybe she had already brought some things to the cabin.

“You must be Ms. Waterford!” Sally exclaimed as she stepped aside and motioned for Cadie to come in.

“And you must be Sally. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

The second she walked in, I took the luggage from her. “Find the place okay?”

Cadie’s eyes were wide as she took in the massive foyer. “Um, yes. No problems at all.”

“Well, welcome to your temporary housing,” I said as I walked farther into the house.

“Wow, this house is stunning!”

Sally walked up and motioned for me to give her Cadie’s luggage. “I’ll take that, Kian, while you show Ms. Waterford around.”

Spinning around from where she was staring up at the ceiling, Cadie said, “Please, call me Cadie.”

Sally nodded with a twinkle in her eye and a wink, then quickly left.

Cadie smiled. “Kian, this is beautiful. Look at those steps!”

When you first entered the house, you were greeted by the back of a large rock fireplace that extended up to the third floor. Each floor had its own fireplace. To the left were the steps that led upstairs. They were made from full logs cut out to make the steps.

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