Page 109 of This Heart
It was my turn to laugh. “Oh my God, Liam! You want me to move into this house! This house!” I said, pointing to the house.
“Yes!” he laughed. “I want you to move into this house with me and Winnie. It’s like Harper said, new beginnings.”
My hand came up to my mouth to hold back the sob that was threatening to emerge.
“Come on, let’s take a look inside.”
I didn’t even wait for him. I pushed the door open and did my best to run up to the house, through the fresh snow in my black boots. Once I was up on the front porch, I took it all in. I could see rocking chairs and a porch swing. Tons of flowers and bird feeders hanging down all along the porch.
Liam walked up and unlocked the door, pushing it open and motioning for me to go in. The second I stepped inside, I crinkled my nose. The smell of fumes and paint mixed in the air. Ladders and scaffolding were in the large living room and the formal dining room.
“I see work has begun!”
“They’ve mostly been working on repairs and such. Updating the plumbing and electricity, things like that.”
He took my hand and guided me through the living room, formal dining room, and into the large kitchen.
“Wow!” I said as I stood in the middle of the massive room. “Why is it so big?”
“There was a butler’s pantry that we took out to make the kitchen bigger. There was also a large fireplace located over here, against this wall, from the original kitchen. I went back and forth with my dad on whether we should keep it or not. In the end, the inspector said it had to come down.”
I slowly shook my head. “Do you have the designs for the kitchen?”
His cheeks turned pink. “I was kind of hoping to get your input on it.”
Surprised, I asked, “Mine?”
He nodded. “Aurora, I know we’ve only been dating a few months, but when I look at this house, I see us. You. Me. Winnie. And if we’re lucky, maybe another baby or two.”
Tears stung at the back of my eyes. “Oh, Liam.”
Leaning down, he brushed his lips against mine. “There’s more on the second floor.”
Laughing, I wiped a tear away. “More?”
“This area over here was a small eat-in kitchen, and if you go through here another living room and a room that can be a guest room or an office.”
We walked up the grand staircase and I marveled at the beautiful original oak banister.
“There are four bedrooms and four bathrooms up here. One is only a half bathroom.”
He stopped. “Close your eyes, this is your surprise.”
A bubble of excited laughter came out. “I thought the house was my surprise.”
The feel of his warm breath against my ear caused my body to shiver. “I have a few surprises for you.”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. Squeezing my eyes shut, I said, “Show me the next one!”
Liam guided me into a room. My boots alerted me to the wood floors.
“Open your eyes, Aurora.”
I slowly peeked open and felt my body sway as I took in the massive room with its floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.
“Oh my gosh!” I covered my mouth with my hands and turned in a circle. Each wall was covered in bookshelves, except the back wall, which also featured a beautiful floor-to-ceiling window with a view of Moose Lake.
“There are ladders?” I said, my voice cracking from my attempt to hold back the tears.
