Page 72 of The Lake House

“No, it’s fine, really. Plus, you know Rachel is not going to go for that.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Roger admits.

“I’m sure Giules will be okay with it…” I hope.

Rog takes a sip of his coffee. “Anyway, what’s on the agenda for this week? Anything new? Or are we still looking at the MacAllister place on Belmont Boulevard?”

I go to the calendar on my computer to pull open the agenda for this week. Usually when I get into my office, I open that right after I turn on my computer and then check my emails. Today, my head has been elsewhere.

I skim through the list before saying, “Well, if this rain doesn’t let up soon, we’re not going to be doing much of anything. I can’t have the guys come in and work in these conditions. But if it stops raining by tonight, we should be able to have the MacAllister place completed by Thursday, and possibly visit the Sandler’s on Friday to schedule them in for two weeks from now.”

Business is good. I can’t lie. Ever since about a year ago, we’ve been picking up contracts left and right throughout all of Silver Mist and all the neighboring towns. I really wish I had a little boy to leave this all to one day when I’m old and retired, but I never got the chance to have any more kids. I guess that’s a good thing right now, because being a single father with one child is hard enough. I can’t picture having another little one to take care of on my own. Maybe someday Rog and Rachel will have kids, and if they have a little boy, I wouldn’t mind spreading the business to my best friend’s kid. Maybe.

“Sounds good,” Rog says, rising from his seat. “I’d better go get the files organized. Then maybe get started on today’s items on my list. I have a bunch of phone calls to return.”

I nod, and as he turns around and reaches for the door, I stop him. “Hey, Rog?”

“Yeah, man?”

“It’s done. I’m past thefallingpart… I’m in love with Giuliana.”

He smiles. “I know. I’ll see you later, bro.”

* * *

“Good night, princess.” I turn out the light and then place a kiss on Lily’s forehead after reading her her favorite bedtime story,A Princess in Disguise.

“Good night, Daddy. I love you.” Lily closes her eyes and flips onto her other side.

A smile spreads across my face like a kid on Christmas morning. No matter how many times she tells me she loves me, I never get tired of hearing it. “I love you, too, baby girl,” I whisper, making my way out of her room and closing the door behind me.

I walk over to the living room and take a seat on the couch. The TV is still on from before I went to read to Lily for bed. It’s an old episode ofGrey’s Anatomycurrently playing from before when Derek Shepherd was killed off the show. I laugh to myself, thinking of how Cheryl got me into this right after Claire took off. She had said I needed something to take my mind off of her. She claimed I should pick a show that I had never seen before, so that it wouldn’t bring up any memories Claire and I may have shared. When I told her I couldn’t decide, she came right over with seasons one, two, and three ofGrey’s Anatomyon DVD. We ended up binging the first couple of episodes that very night, and since then, that is a show that my sister and I always watch together whenever we can. Thank God it’s on a streaming service, because with our crazy schedules, I don’t think we’d ever be able to watch it live.

I smile at the memories of watching this episode with my sister and then pick up the remote to turn the volume down a bit. Then I pick up my phone from the coffee table in front of me and call Giules.

“Hey, babe,” she picks up on the second ring.

Another smile pulls on my lips once I hear her voice.

“Hey, love. What are you up to?” I ask. My eyes dart over to the time on the wall; it’s just past nine.

“I’m just at the store, getting ready to close up for the night. What about you?”

“I just put Lily to bed… I miss you.”

“I miss you, too.”

My heart is now smiling, too.

“I was thinking, how about you come over tomorrow for dinner? I’ll cook.” I have no idea what I’ll make, but I’m excited to cook for her.

“That sounds awesome. I would love to.”

“Great! Lily is going to be with my sister tomorrow night, so I can swing by and pick you up after I drop her off around six. Is that okay?”

“That’s perfect,” she answers.

“Excellent. I’ll see you tomorrow night, babe. Text me when you get home to let me know you got there safely.”

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