Page 54 of Reckless and Rooted
I can’t believe I’ve been here for over three months, that I’ve got a quickly growing baby, that I have friends I feel I can trust,a house that will be done in the next two days, and maybe even a guy willing to stick with me.
Life is moving faster than I am ready for, but ready or not, here it comes.
“Graham,” I gasp, spinning in a circle, looking at every single detail. There are cream-colored walls with an accent wall with dark floral wallpaper that holds a gold-framed mirror.
Diagonal to that wall is a brick fireplace that has a light wood mantelpiece, ready to be decorated with picture frames and trinkets. There is original hardwood flooring throughout the living room and extending into the small dining room, transitioning to tile when I walk into the kitchen.
The cabinets are light green, the cream walls again in the kitchen, with shiplap on the ceiling, making it look cozy and the home feel complete.
“I have no words,” I tell him, holding a hand half over my mouth as I look in awe at the transformation the house took.
“That’s a good thing, I hope,” Graham says, looking bashful and proud at the same time.
“It’s an amazing thing,” I reply, my head nodding vigorously. I turn my belly on display in my long-sleeved dress. I won’t wear this out in public yet, because it is very obvious that I am pregnant, and I don’t miss the way Graham quickly diverts his gaze. I rest my hand over my stomach and say, “It’ll be perfect for us.”
Graham, seemingly relieved that I called myself out, says, “Actually, that third bedroom will be perfect.”
I frown. “You got it all done too?”
“The house is one hundred percent livable,” he answers, shocking me as he leads me down the hallway to the three rooms.
We enter the first room off the hallway, and I gape in shock at the pale pink, almost white, blush walls. A large desk that sits in the middle of the room takes me off guard, as do the guitar hooks hanging on the wall in perfect order, ready for instruments.
“How did you know about the pink?” I ask him, completely shocked. Ever since I can remember, that color has been my favorite. It is feminine and a dainty color that most wouldn’t pick, but I absolutely love it.
“Actually, Jax picked the color and got the desk and the guitar equipment,” he says, making my arms go limp. I’ve never been so surprised in my life.
“How did he do that?” I ask, still completely out of words.
Graham grimaces. “I thought maybe he knew you well. I don’t remember you two so much, but my brother says there’s history.” He shakes his head. “I’m so sorry. I can take all of this out right now if you don’t?—”
“No,” I interrupt, giving him an almost giddy smile, and laugh at the man who is making me swoon without even being here. “It’s absolutely perfect.”
Graham lets out a breath and nods. “Good. Then let’s show you the rest, ’cause I think you’ll enjoy it.”
He walks me down to the last two rooms, and I take in the large master bedroom. Its en suite is in pristine order with large mirrors, a deep soaker tub, a tiled shower, and a vase of flowers sitting on the counter. The bathroom is bright and has plenty of space for moving around. The master bedroom has wainscotting on the walls and a beautiful light hanging in the middle of the ceiling. I’d paid to have air conditioning running throughout the house, so I opted out of the ceiling fan in this room.
There are floor-length curtains already hung, making the room feel cozy.
We walk out of the master after I gush to Graham over his amazing work, and I walk into the blank room. It is large enough for a king bed plus some.
But that’s not what will go in here.
A crib, a rocking chair, a changing table, and books and toys. Little tiny clothes that I can’t even believe will fit a baby, soft cream curtains, and dark green walls that haven’t been painted just yet. That is something I want to do myself.
A tear escapes my eye as I spin in the room, picturing everything exactly the way I want it.
“You knocked it out of the park,” I say, shrugging with a laugh.
“You two will be very happy here.” Graham smiles kindly. “And now my wife is going to want me to change our whole house.”
I laugh with him, and we make our way back to the kitchen. He pauses by the back door. “I’ll head out now.” He peeks through the door. “But there’s one more thing here that Jax did for you. I just figure you’d like to look by yourself.”
I frown but give Graham a hug and thank him again before he lets himself out, and I make my way onto my newly refurbished back deck. I see that Graham and his crew cleaned up back here. There is a noticeable yard now, though the grass is brown with the season. The trees that would be full of bright green leaves in the spring are half full of leaves. The privacy fence is fixed now, with reinforced steel pipe and two more feet of length on it.
Ezra may have had a hand in that, especially given the severe security gate that is now leading into the backyard from the side of the house.
But there, behind one of the large trees, is a greenhouse.
