Build Me Up
Page 20
“Okay, I’ll get the water boiling,” he said and left her.
The house was still a work in progress, but it was habitable. Ford had managed to sell the old house faster than she had expected, and at a profit. He’d insisted on putting all the money that wasn’t going into Annabelle’s college fund into their joint business venture, as she’d refused to let him pay her back for the cottage. They’d drawn up papers giving them both an equal share in the business, despite him being the sole investor.
Kristen sat down on the couch and pulled her knees up to her chin. No, this was definitely not how she’d imagined their evening to go, but there was no turning back now. When Ford walked over with a cup of tea for her, she took a cautious sip and then put it down.
“Did you talk to Annabelle today?” she asked, making easy conversation.
“Yeah. She said she’s flying in on Saturday next week. With Clay.”
Kristen chuckled. “You’re such a dad.”
“He’s staying in the trailer. I brought it here with me from the site.”
“Ford.”
“What? You’re not seriously suggesting that I let them share a room, are you? She’s 17.”
“I’m not. I’m suggesting you show some hospitality and let him sleep on the couch. If you give him a whole trailer to himself, you can be sure she’ll be sneaking out there once we’re asleep.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because that’s exactly what I would do,” Kristen smiled.
“And you think he won’t be sneaking into her room if he’s sleeping on the couch?”
“With that creaky step just outside her door? We’ll wake up, for sure.”
“Then why wouldn’t we wake up if he slept in the trailer?” he said, sounding triumphant that he’d managed to poke a hole in her argument.
“Because then she’d be climbing out the window,” Kristen said matter-of-factly. “The hinges have just been oiled.”
“It really bugs me when you know things that I don’t,” Ford muttered.
“I know. That’s what makes it so much fun,” Kristen smiled and kissed him lightly on the lips.
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten that little moment in the bathroom, by the way. I’m still waiting for the full story.”
“There’s no fooling you, is there?” Kristen mock-sighed.
“Kristen… tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing’s wrong. But I’m worried there’s another project in the works that will compete with the new job.”
“What project? How come I haven’t heard about this?” he frowned.
“Well, because I only got final confirmation the other day. I didn’t want to say anything in case it was a false start.”
“So where is it? Will we be able to handle both projects simultaneously?”
“I hope so…”
“Well, come on, tell me,” he urged her on. “What’s gotten you so stressed?”
“Well, the timing could be better, of course… and I’m afraid it’s going to take a pretty big investment to see it through…”
“What kind of time frame are we talking about here?”
“Well, the building phase should take less than a year, but the maintenance… it could last for almost two decades.”
“What?” Ford frowned. “What kind of project takes-“
Kristen watched as the puzzle pieces fell into place, were hammered out and built into a full-scale model.
“You’re pregnant?”
“Like I said, I don’t know if I’ll be able to see the secondary project through seven or eight months from now, as the primary project will be due for inspection then, and-“
He cut her off with a kiss. A deep, bone-jarring kiss that poured all of his emotions into her. He was onboard, it said. He was all in. She clung to his broad shoulders and reciprocated. When they had to come up for air, his first words were ‘I love you so much’. It felt like the most natural thing in the world to say it right back – over and over again.
Everything she needed was right here. She couldn’t imagine life any other way. Well, maybe they’d get some cats one day. Or not.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Growing up on a farm, Lili Grouse discovered her love of storytelling early on, making up bedtime stories for the calves, who were probably happier for the attention than the actual storytelling. In school, she was given a notebook to be used solely for writing stories in. She filled it up and asked for another - she was working on an epic, darn it. Of course, writing time in school wasn't enough, so she took to writing - and illustrating - stories at home on printer paper her father happily provided.
Cut to twenty years later, give or take, and Lili Grouse is still at it. These days, her stories have less to do with strawberries going on adventures and searching for hidden treasures, and more to do with finding that elusive happy-ever-after. It is her dream to one day write for a living, but in the meantime, every minute not spent working, sleeping, or reading is dedicated to working on her passion.