Josiah had kept Max with him all day while he worked on the remodel next door. The two of them were still over there. I kept expecting them to come home any minute, but Josiah must have been busy finishing some last-minute project and didn’t want to stop until it was done.
The kitchen cabinets and counters were all in and the bathrooms were finished. In fact, as far as I knew, as of yesterday, the entire house was basically done. And I had yet to see it because Josiah had forbidden me to go inside.
He’d said he wanted to show it to me himself and I had to wait until he was ready.
I was dying to see it. I could still remember what it looked like the first time Josiah had taken me on a tour. It had been little more than a beat-up shell. Fortunately for me, I hadn’t been subjected to the smell before they’d done all the demo work. Apparently it had stunk worse than Max after he’d rolled in something gross.
When I’d come home, the landscaping crew had still been hard at work. I glanced out the front window and saw them putting their tools back in their truck. I couldn’t see the whole yard from here, but it was looking great.
Finally, the front door opened and Max dashed inside. He circled around me, then sat with his tail wagging happily.
“Hi, Max. How was your day?”
“He was a good boy.” Josiah came inside and shut the door behind him.
I smiled, relishing the warm feeling that spread through me at Josiah’s subtle smile. He walked straight toward me and wrapped me in his arms.
“I missed you today,” he said.
“I missed you too. What have you guys been up to over there?”
He stepped back and his almost-smile that I loved so much still graced his lips. “Want to see?”
I gasped. “Do I get to see the house? Finally?”
“Yeah. It’s ready.”
I popped up on my tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss. “Yes! Show me!”
He took my hand and led me outside. Max followed, bounding along beside us, ready for whatever adventure awaited. Even if it was just going back to the place he’d been two minutes ago. For a dog, everything is fun.
From the front, it looked amazing. The huge dumpster was long gone and instead of weeds and bare patches, the yard was a friendly mix of native plants, decorative rocks, and grass. The pine dotted hill rising behind it gave it a cozy, protected quality.
The outside had been freshly painted just the other day, and of course I’d seen that. We’d decided on sage green with white trim. The new front door had been stained a warm chestnut brown and the contrast complemented the fa?ade perfectly.
Josiah paused with his hand on the door handle. “Ready?”
I was practically bouncing with excitement. “Yes! Oh my gosh, don’t make me wait.”
He opened the door and I gasped.
The once empty, run-down house had been completely transformed. Big, new windows let in lots of light and the warm brown of the antique java hardwood looked incredible. The color palette was neutral without being boring, the walls, floors, and trim coming together to create the perfect backdrop for someone’s dream home.
Instead of leading me deeper into the house, so I could see the kitchen and dining area, he started up the stairs. They were the same wood as the downstairs with a white railing to match the trim. So pretty. The wood continued onto the landing and down the short hallway. We peeked in three of the bedrooms. I could totally picture bunk beds and kids’ toys strewn around. Maybe one for a guest room.
Some family was going to be so happy here.
He led me to the master bedroom and I immediately slipped off my shoes.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“I want to feel the carpet.”
I walked around barefoot, pausing to flex my toes and feel the softness. It was perfect. Not so high a pile that it would hold onto every bit of dirt, but thick enough to feel good beneath your feet.
I couldn’t tell if Josiah was amused or just confused as he watched me test the carpet. “Well?”
“I like it. You should try this, it’s very relaxing.”
“I’m good.”
“Your loss. Let’s check out the bathroom.”
He gestured for me to go ahead.
The master bath wasn’t large, but what it lacked in size, Josiah had made up in style. The double vanity had lots of storage and the framed mirrors were a nice touch. There was a big glass shower and much like next door, a nice freestanding bathtub.
“This is so pretty,” I said. “Whoever lives here better take advantage of that bathtub.”
“I hope they will.”
“Okay, what’s next? Can I see the kitchen yet?”
In answer, Josiah gestured toward the door.
Max ran ahead and started sniffing things while Josiah and I went downstairs. Without furniture, the entryway and living areas were wide open. There was a small room at the front of the house that would be great for a den or little library. In the back, there was a big living room with a wood stove they’d kept from the original. I could just imagine cozying up in front of its warmth on a cold winter day, watching the snow fall through the big windows and new French doors that led to the back yard.
But the kitchen. I rounded the corner and my jaw dropped.
“Oh my gosh, Josiah. It’s gorgeous.”
The wood cabinets were simple but lovely and the cream quartz counters contrasted beautifully. He’d built a small island and painted it sage green—a touch I wouldn’t have thought of but thank goodness he had, because it was amazing. A light hung over the island, antique bronze with a textured glass shade. The sink was huge and the stainless-steel appliances blended right in.
“Look at all this.” I wandered around slowly, turning in a circle. “It’s the prettiest kitchen I’ve ever seen.”
“Which house do you like better? This one or next door?”
“Well this one, obviously. Don’t get me wrong, my house is adorable. But this is everything I’d want in a house. It’s like I designed it myself.”
“You kind of did.”
“That’s true, isn’t it.” I walked over and threaded my arms around his waist. “Thanks for letting me help. This was fun.”
“There’s one more thing.”
I stepped back and looked up at him. “What, the back yard? We don’t have to go back there, I see it all the time.”
“No, there’s something in the cupboard over there.” He pointed.
“Ooh, is there hidden storage for small appliances?” I walked over to the cupboard. “That would be handy.”
“Just open it.”
Inside I found an envelope. My name was written on the back. “What’s this?”
Josiah didn’t answer, so I opened it. There was a white notecard, blank on the outside. I took it out and opened it. In blue ink, it read, Welcome home.
“Welcome home?” I looked up and met his eyes. “What does that mean?”
He smiled, then. The biggest, most genuine smile I’d ever seen on Josiah Haven. “It means this house is for us.”
My mouth dropped open and my eyes widened. I sputtered, trying to say too many things at once and failing at all of them. “This is – What? Ours? You mean – I don’t know what to – Are you serious?”
“Yes, I’m serious. I didn’t realize it at first, but I think I’ve been getting it ready for us the whole time.”
I dropped the card on the counter and was about to throw myself into his arms out of pure joy, but he held up a hand. “Hang on.”
“What?”
“There’s one more thing.”
“You said that already and it was a house.”
He dug into his pocket and pulled out a small box. Before he opened it, I knew what it was. If I’d sputtered nonsense before, I was completely speechless now.
While my eyes filled with tears, he approached. I watched in awe as he slowly lowered himself to one knee. He looked up at me, his stormy blue-gray eyes intent on mine, and in true Josiah Haven fashion, he kept it simple.
“Marry me?”
“Oh, yes. Oh yes, yes, yes.”