Page 73 of The Path To Us

“To keep it a home.”

“And what did I say would make it a home?”

“Bring her here. That’s all you said.”

He notices the second the lightbulb finally goes off in my big dumb brain.

“Bring her here. That’s how you’ll make it a home.”

I stand up quickly and begin pacing the deck.

When I look at Richard and Zoey, they’re not paying me any attention. They’re invested in each other. Laughing and smiling. He’s her Pop.

Bring her here.

Make it a home.

“You knew about me,” I say quietly, leaning over the porch railing and looking out.

“I did.”

“And you want the house to stay in the family.”

“I do. Addy and I are close. We share things. Important things.”

“And that means you think I’m going to bring your family here to live.”

“I don’t think that. I know that.”

I turn around and face him. He doesn’t look smug or proud. He also doesn’t look nervous. The expression on his face could only come from a deep contentment and happiness.

“You know that I’m going to bring Addy and Zoey here to live with me and we’ll keep this house in your family because you think of Addy as your granddaughter and Zoey, too.”

“By George I think he’s got it, Zoey!” he cheers, making her giggle.

“You’re silly, Pop.”

“I am. But I’m also right. And your uncle Beau here is just learning that about me.”

“Pop’s always right, Unca Beau,” Zoey says authoritatively.

“I’m figuring that out,” I murmur.

“You gonna make this house a happy home, Beau? For our girls?”

Without hesitation, I promise him, “Yes. I am.”

“Good. That brings me peace.”

“I’m a little blown away right now.”

“Figured you would be. Knew Addy didn’t tell you anything about me or the house. She called me the other day, yelled at me for not telling her I was selling the house and I told her she needed to trust me that I knew what I was doing. Made her promise not to say anything to you because I needed to explain my reasoning to you.”

“Reasoning?”

“Why I called you and asked if you wanted to come look at the house.”

He sets Zoey down. “Hey, Zoey. Why don’t you go see the rest of the kittens? They’re in a box right inside the barn door.”

---