Page 79 of The Bachelor's Dilemma

“True.”

“And I’d be around to help with housekeeping,” Edith said from the back seat.

“Which did you like?” Anna asked.

“I liked them all. Each in-law unit is larger than the apartment I have now. And with a lovely garden to work in, how grand is that?”

“I don’t know if I’d like gardening. Except for pots on the windowsill, I’ve never grown anything,” Anna mused.

“Nothing much grows where I’ve been. All that green grass is amazing,” Myles said.

“It looks like Central Park.”

“We don’t have to decide today. We have other listings we can check out,” Myles said.

Myles was disappointed Anna hadn’t fallen in love with any of the homes. He thought they all were nice. He’d no idea how long it took to decide on a house. But he wanted her to pick the one they’d live in.

After dinner, Myles read to Zack. When his son fell asleep, Myles stayed beside him on the bed. Zack had been excited about every house, running up the stairs, stamping his feet with no admonition to keep quiet, not to bother the neighbors. He could see his son growing up in every one of them. Having friends over, playing in the pool if they had one.

One day, he’d be a teenager and then off to college.

Myles closed his eyes for a moment, appreciating all he might have missed out on had he not bumped into Anna that day. He couldn’t imagine life now without her in it. Or Zack. He was eternally grateful.

When he rejoined Anna in the living room, she had an array of pages spread out.

“I think I’ve found the one I like. We’d have to see it, but what do you think?”

She handed him one as he sat beside her. It described a brick colonial. The front lawn was beautiful, sloping gently to the road. He looked at the photographs of the rooms and backyard. There was a swing set already installed, a play area and a covered sandbox. A pool was behind the house, surrounded by tall shade trees.

“We can go see it one day this week.”

“Or next weekend,” she said.

“I won’t be here then,” he said slowly.

“Where will you be?”

“I have to return to the job site and wind up my part. I’m leaving on Thursday and will be gone at least a week, maybe longer.”

“Oh.”

Disappointment was clear in her expression. Then worry replaced it.

“I’ll be coming back,” he said to reassure her.

“Unless you get blown up by another land mine,” she said. “Can’t you have someone else handle it?”

“It’s my responsibility,” Myles said.

She sighed.

“It sounds so right when you tell Zack about responsibility, but I don’t like this.”

“Me, either, but I’ll be home before you miss me.”

“Not possible,” she said, leaning against him in contentment.

They were silent for a few moments. Myles took a deep breath. They were growing closer day by day. But the largest obstacle to complete honesty lay before them. He wondered if she’d tell him about Zack before they married.

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