Page 121 of Other Side Of Never
Dark chocolate siding and a cedar roof took the place of chipped, peeling paint and rotten wood.The knotty redwood front door, trim, and wide, inviting front porch that stretched across the front completed the effect with sturdy redwood columns like his parents’ home.
“Oh!”I breathed.“You got a porch swing.”
He shrugged.“It was a nice touch.”
It was more than a nice touch; it was a dream.My jaw dropped.“You made the front window bigger!”
“It’s near twice the size it was.”
“It looks so good,” I whispered.
Something was happening in my chest.Warm and tingly, ripe with anticipation, and sharp with anxiety, like a kid waiting for Christmas morning but half expecting to find a stocking full of coal.
“I think I’m feeling too much, Kian,” I murmured, rubbing a palm over my aching heart.
“You’re okay, sweetheart.I’ve got you.”
I nodded.
Sweetheart.
Was there a nicer word in the English language?
Jumping down from the truck, he crossed around to my side and led me up to the front door.Instead of keying in a code, he flipped around his keychain until he found the one he wanted and fitted it into the lock.
“You put the shelves and the cubbies!”I exclaimed, running my hand along the polished wood.“They look great!”
“I’m glad you like them.”
With one glance, I took in the oak staircase leading upstairs and the wood beams lining the ceiling.“Nice!”I exclaimed, then pointed down the hall to the kitchen.“You put in a window!”Laughing, I rubbed my hands together.“I can’t wait to see the rest!”
I turned around.
And froze.
Like a dream of a dream, a comfy pink chair nestled into the corner of the room by the window, fluffy cream blanket folded over the back.
Kian preserved the brick fireplace, restoring it to its original splendor.
The floors beneath my feet showed no sign of the icepick murders but were exactly how I described.
“You can help me pick out the rugs,” he stated quietly.
“Kian,” I whispered, awestruck.
This was a family room that defined the word.A place to cozy up, watch movies and play board games.
Wood burning fire in the winter, front porch swing in the summer.
“I love the reading corner,” I whispered, walking further into the room.When I saw the long narrow desk, over-sized window, and bookshelves taking the place of a traditional dining room, I covered my mouth with both hands.“You did everything—"
Unable to look at Kian, I spun and headed straight for the kitchen.A large window where there used to be none, a butcher block, raw edge kitchen table with built-in bench seating, and shiny, high-end appliances.
“This kitchen…” I swallowed.“This is a kitchen for a cook.”
“It is,” he agreed.
I closed my eyes.
