Page 128 of Fix Them Up
‘Liam, if anyone wrote me poetry, I’d die of embarrassment.’
Liam pulled me closer, pulling me into a quick kiss, his hands still wrapped in my hair when he said, ‘This is my way of saying I love you.’
My heart pounded at his words as he pulled me towards the house, and then I noticed it. The front garden had been neatened, and the moss and overgrown plants had been trimmed back. A new porch light had been fitted. The door had a fresh paint of colour – a pale pink.
Then – I glanced through the front door windows and pulled back.
I turned to him. ‘Liam. What did you do?’
Hope and happiness blazed through Liam’s dark eyes.
‘I’ve been waiting to show you for weeks. I’ve kept all the photos I wanted to send.’ He threaded his fingers through mine to pull me towards the door.
As it glided open, my jaw fell open.
Parquet flooring was shining up at me. A cream carpet runner led up the stairs, with new spindles painted black. It smelt of fresh paint. A huge round mirror hung above the console table.
Three framed pictures hung, empty.
Liam clocked my gaze. ‘I figured you would want to pick out the pictures. I didn’t want to assume who you’d want in them – this isn’t for me. This is for you. I’ve still got my place, so we can live separately, if you’d prefer.’
‘Liam.’ I squeezed his hand, grinning up at him. I’d never seen him so flustered. ‘Take a breath.’
His eyes took me in, moving across my face. ‘I want you to enjoy this.’
Liam put his hands on my shoulders and ushered me into the first room, the lounge. The deep blue walls made the space feel cosy and homely. A log-burning fire sat at the hearth, and on either side were fitted arched bookcases, which looked familiar…
Then it hit me.
I turned to Liam. ‘My Pinterest.’
He’d gone on my Pinterest and recreated it.
Liam shrugged. ‘It was public, and you made it easy. You catalogued each room so I could replicate what you’d designed. I was impressed. I’ve worked with a few interior designers, but none were as thorough as you. And before you say anything, I chose to do this. I’ll take the hit.’
He’d paid for all of this. He must have spent a small fortune.
‘You –’ I stuttered. ‘You’ve done each room.’
My eyes almost bugged out of my face. I hadn’t held back. I’dgone all out. Bold Farrow and Ball paint, floral Sanderson wallpaper, and expensive furniture from West Elm and Soho Home. I’d gone down a rabbit hole until three in the morning and made notes and lists. It was my dream house, an ideal scenario. But I never actually planned to decorate it like this. I’d planned to find some cheaper alternatives.
‘How – how did you have the time? What about the other fittings?’
When I’d left, this house had been half finished.
‘I had some help.’ Liam smiled. ‘Pretty much everyone chipped in. Every labourer at the club. I couldn’t keep Brian and Sandra away. They kept coming to do odd bits after work. And Lydia helped with some of the heavy lifting.’ Liam hooked his arms around my shoulders, pulling me into his back. He planted a kiss on my neck. ‘Unsurprisingly, you are very popular. Once Pat caught wind, I had a whole list of volunteers. Carpenters, painters. Someone who tried to sell me solar panels. I held off on that, but if you need them installed, I know a bloke.’
I made a choking sound.
Liam murmured, ‘But even if they hadn’t helped, I would have done it. It might have taken me longer.’
I stood there, Liam’s arms wrapped around me, in the same room we’d crossed paths in all those months ago. I’d got him so wrong. I’d presumed he was an arsehole, grumpy, uncharitable. But he was the opposite.
‘I – I’m lost for words.’
‘First for everything, Red.’ I could hear the grin in his words. ‘Come on, there is more.’
I let Liam tour me around the house. It was surreal seeing a house I’d designed on a social media app in real life. Liam had replicated my perfect kitchen and somehow improved it. Originally, I’d planned for a small kitchen and island, but Liam had shiftedthe design to make room for more units. It made it more practical, with a perfect triangle between the oven, sink, and bin. He’d installed the brass handles and a huge Belfast sink I’d dreamt of.
