Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Alanna dipped a large lasagna portion onto his plate before serving herself a smaller amount.
“Do you have your lighter on you?”
“Yes … Do I smell bread?”
“Oh … I almost forgot.” Hopping up from the table, she went to the stove to take out the garlic bread. “I almost burnt it.” Placing the toast on a plate, she brought it to the table, seeing the candle was lit.
“Thank you for lighting the candle.”
“No problem.”
After they ate, they did the dishes together then went on their nightly walk. As they did, they stopped by Molly’s pen to feed her the last apple.
Alanna turned her head and saw Moses walking with his dogs.
“He has a real affinity to them, doesn’t he?”
“Yes,” Matthew said, turning to look at where she was staring.
Alanna turned back to Matthew. “That reminds me. When are you going to let me see your house? Moses broke and let me tidy up his place yesterday. Come on; I promise I won’t be shocked at whatever shape it is in.”
Matthew leaned back against the fence to stare at her. “You think I haven’t showed you my place because I’m a slob?”
“I’m not saying slob, per se.” Teasing him, she bumped his arm with her shoulder. “Come on … I promise I won’t be a judgmental bitch.”
A myriad of expressions crossed his face before he gave her a worried look. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
She became worried at the way he was acting when he didn’t take her hand as they resumed walking.
The direction was the same as his other brothers’, yet farther back, so they walked on the back dirt road, which was another entry from the main road.
“This way.” Matthew led her up a small rise that blocked the view from the road they were walking on. He hesitated when they came close enough that she could see the shape of a house beyond three massive trees.
“Matthew, we don’t have to go inside if you don’t want to show me.”
“No.” His mouth firmed. “I want you to see all of it.”
As they walked closer, she was able to catch sight of his house. It was larger than Silas’. The house facing them was a blue and white two-story house. A porch wrapped around to the back and out of sight. Two rocking chairs were sitting on the porch, just waiting to be filled. Struck by the beauty of Matthew’s house, she started taking in the yard and noticed a swing attached to two trees. There was even a small picket fence with huge planters filled with orange mums. It was the small picket fence, though, that poked at a long-ago memory.
“When I grow up and get married …” Her voice cracked as she remembered telling the wind the same birthday wish she’d had for several years until the wind had stopped talking to her. “I’m going to have a blue and white two-story house, with a swing in the front yard so I can watch my children play, two rockers so when my husband and I get old, we can sit there and watch the night sky.” Alanna turned toward Matthew. “And I wanted a blue picket fence around the house.”
“How did I do?” he asked hoarsely.
Alanna stared at him in dismay. “How did you know this is the house I dreamt of having some day? I never told anyone.”
Matthew shoved his hands in his back pockets. “Do you like it?”
“Like isn’t a strong enough word. I love it.”
“I just finished it before you came. Do you want to see inside?”
“Oh yeah …” She could barely contain her enthusiasm.
Watch yourself, Alanna, she warned herself.
She walked through the door and was awestruck by the hardwood floors. Unlike Ginny’s home, it didn’t have all modern appliances. Alanna lovingly ran her hand over the vintage red reconditioned stove.
She gave a low whistle. “I’ve only seen one of these in a house I was selling. The buyer wanted to include it in the sale of the house, and the owner wanted over five grand for it. Needless to say, the buyer didn’t get it.”
“It was in Dad’s house before he bought a new one. It was sitting in the storage building. I had it reconditioned.”
“It’s beautiful. I can see why you prefer working with this rather than having me dump something in the Crock-Pot for you.”
“I love your Crock-Pot meals.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “I know I’m not a great cook. That’s okay. I’m getting better.”
“Yes, you are. You want to see the upstairs?”
As they went up the staircase, she stared down at the empty living room.
“You haven’t gotten around to picking out furniture?”
“No, I’ve been waiting.”
“For what?”
“You.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Matthew could tell from her wry smile that she thought he was kidding.
On the landing, he opened one of the six bedroom doors, letting her glance inside each empty room. He had put a lot of thought into making the home comfortable for all the children he planned to have. There was still an ache inside his chest, but after the last month, he didn’t feel as if there was a gaping wound that would never be filled. She was meant for him. Whatever trials and tribulations they would go through in their lives ahead, they could overcome. Once they cleared the first hurdle … of him confessing his family’s gifts.