Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
“It’s just one level,” I say. “Like we discussed. No second floor.”
“And we’re sure we have to knock down the cabins? We can’t keep them as guest cottages or something?”
My gaze flits from her eyes, to her mouth and back up. I love how sentimental she is about Mike and Beth’s cabins. “Honey, they’re falling apart. They have no central heat or air. Both roofs are prone to leaking.”
She glances down at her lap. “I know, but I’m attached. Like, all those nights we spent on the porches and—”
“Let me show you something.” I bring up the rendering of the front of the new building I’m proposing we build. “I had them change the front so there’s a huge wraparound porch.” It comes up on the screen, and her eyes light up. The porch is big enough for a ten-seater dining table on one side and a porch swing and seating area on the other.
“That’s beautiful,” she says. “Like a new and improved version of what was there before.”
“That was the idea of something that grew into more,” I say.
“Like us?” she asks. “Like Mike and Beth’s cabins is how is started and now this,” she nods at the screen. “This is how it’s going.”
I chuckle. “If you like.”
“Show me more,” she says, glancing at my desk, where the hard copies that Rosalind had couriered over are.
I take her through the plans, and the renders show her the rooms, one by one. I gave Rosalind free reign on this first draft of the design and it’s a lot more rustic than the Colorado Club. It’s definitely a home that belongs in Star Falls.
“I think I’d like the kitchen and the living area to be open plan. When we have kids, I’ll want them to be able to play where I can see them . . . ”
I can’t stop the corners of my mouth twitching at her describing our future. “Sounds good,” I say. “This is the first time I’m seeing the interior.”
“And I was thinking that I’d quite like to work with Rosalind on the design.” She looks up at me from under her lashes. “I love what you’ve done with the Colorado Club and I’d like to understand a bit more about how she works. Having lived in such a small space for as long as I did, I like the idea of being able to design what I want. Of course, I’ll show you everything—”
“You don’t need to. If you’re happy, I’m happy.”
She slides her arm around my neck and presses a kiss to my cheek. “And I was thinking that maybe interior design is something I’d like to do more of. If I like it with Rosalind. I’d like to do something flexible because when we have a family, I want to be able to focus on that.”
Something in her tone catches my attention and I try and catch her eye. “What aren’t you telling me?”
She bites down on her bottom lip and her cheeks flush. “I did a test this morning.”
My heart pinches in my chest. “A test?”
“It’s a very, very faint positive.”
I pull her closer to me and then instantly release her like she’s glass I was holding too tight. “It’s a binary thing. We’re either pregnant or we’re not pregnant.”
She looks at me finally. “I think we’re pregnant.”
It’s like someone has given me an oxygen mask and I’m breathing properly for the first time in years. “We’re pregnant?”
She tries to hold back a smile as she nods.
“Fuck,” I say. “This is great.” My thoughts all jumble in my head at once. Should she be wearing that sweater? Is being hot good? Is the pollution in New York a problem if you’re pregnant? At least we’re near a hospital. Can she fly? “Are you okay?”
She nods. “It’s early,” she says. “We shouldn’t get our hopes up.”
How can I not get my hopes up? I’m engaged to the most beautiful, kind, humble, clever woman I’ve ever met. I’ve laid to bed all the ghosts of the past. The best things happen to me. Of course, Rosey’s pregnant.
“It’s going to be fine.” I can feel it in my bones. This is what I’ve wanted almost since I met Rosey. I knew almost immediately that I wanted to father her children. I wanted to create a family with her.
“We need to think about logistics,” I say. “We need proper air filtration systems in this lodge,” I say.
“The air in Star Falls is mountain fresh,” Rosey says. “I’m not sure you can get fresher.”
My mind starts to race. “I’ll arrange for some tests to be carried out.” I look up into the air conditioning vent in my office ceiling. “And we should get this place looked at. I didn’t think about having an air filtration system fitted. I don’t know how big a job that would be.”