Page 11 of Forgotten Dreams

She spins around and my eyes quickly move back to hers. “Yes, that is the polite way. My mother would knock me on my ass if I was rude.”

“Good to know.” She walks left and opens the two doors that are closed. “This is my bedroom.”

The room is bare, and the floor looks to be in need of sanding and varnishing. “This doesn’t look too bad.” I look around, seeing the ceiling has plaster crown moldings that have to be handled delicately, and I know exactly who I’m going to call. He’s retired, but for this, I think he’ll come out of it. “Where is the bathroom?”

She points to the side, and when I walk in, all I can say is, “Oh my.”

“Yeah,” she adds from beside me. “I mean, I guess if you were in the fifties and oozing money, this would be like a wow, but I’m not sure I need a gold tub. I’m also not sure how I feel about Pepto-Bismol pink. I mean if I was eight, this would have been my dream instead of the Barbie Dreamhouse, but now, not so much.” I laugh as I look around at the bathtub that sits right under the bay window. Gray and pink drapes hang on each side, held open by a gold-tasseled silk rope. I walk to the closed door, opening it and seeing just a toilet, and closing it back up. “I’d like to add a shower in the room.”

“In that corner,” I suggest, pointing to the side that has an empty space with a linen closet right next to it. “We’ll have to do it all glass, so you don’t cover the window.” She smiles at me.

“I like the way you think.” She takes a deep breath. “So the main question is…” I wait for her to ask the main question. “Can you do this in a week?”

“It’ll be hard, and I’ll probably have to get two sets of crews to come in.” I look at the two rooms, tilting my head. “But for you, I’ll make it happen.”

Chapter 6

Sierra

“Are you sure you will be okay with me staying with you guys for the night?” I ask Lilah as we walk out of the house, followed by Emmett. “It’s not a big deal. I could probably get a hotel in town.”

“Don’t be silly,” Lilah returns. “It’ll be fine.” I look back at Emmett, who doesn’t say a word. We just finished dinner, and Lilah brought up us hitting the bar for a drink. I didn’t really pack anything to go out, so I’m wearing my tight blue jeans and a tight, long-sleeved light-beige shirt that goes off the shoulder. I pair that with the only pair of heels I brought with me. Heels I didn’t even know why I was packing, but luckily, I did.

“Is it okay with you?” I ask, and he sort of grunts, but not before he grabs her hand and brings it to his lips.

“Whatever she wants,” he states, opening her door as she gets on her tippy-toes and kisses his lips before touching her little baby bump that is barely visible.

“You say that now, but then I ask for something, and you say no.” She gets into the truck, and he gawks at her.

“Like what?” He practically screeches out, putting his hands on his hips.

“I asked if we could make me a library,” she retorts, and he rolls his eyes, “and you said no.”

“I did not. I said who is going to use that, and you never answered me.” He points to her, waiting for her to remember the conversation.

“It was a no.” She reaches out for the handle of the door and closes it in his face. He turns to look at me.

“I didn’t say no to her.” He holds up both hands as if he is surrendering to the fight.

“But you didn’t say yes.” I open the back door and get into the truck and slam the door. Knowing that with me saying this, he’ll turn and give it to her to make her happy. Fuck, it wouldn’t surprise me if he built her a whole new wing for it. “You are going to get the best library anyone has ever gotten,” I mumble, putting on my seat belt.

“I know.” She claps her hands as she watches him walk around the front of the truck. I can see his mouth mumbling probably curse words. “And he’s going to get the best blow job of his life.”

“Eww.” I fake vomit. “It better not be tonight.”

She laughs as he gets into the truck and starts it. I look out the window, seeing the trees as we pull away from his house. From the moment I visited Lilah, something about this town just made me smile. I don’t know if it’s because every place I went to it felt like I belonged there or the fact that everyone in the town seemed so friendly. Whatever it was it felt like a big hug after a long day at work. It could be because I liked the people so much. It could be because it was new. It could be a thousand things. All I knew is I felt somewhat settled here. It was the strangest experience.

I don’t have much more chance to think about it before he pulls in the parking lot. The minute I get out, I can hear the music coming from inside the bar. “This is going to be so much fun,” Lilah says again as she slides her arm in mine, and we walk into the bar. The sound of my high heels on the paved parking lot mixed with the clunk of her boots fills the air. Emmett is on her other side, holding her hand before she lets me go and disappears past the open black doors.

I look up and see the sign for Thatcher’s Bar before walking in and stopping dead in my tracks. It’s utterly fucking gorgeous. As I walk into the bar area, the ceiling opens up, and I take a look around at how pretty this bar is. The exposed red brick around the bar pops out against the dark metal cladding surrounding it. It’s a rustic feel but almost modern at the same time. The big brown square bar area is in the middle of the space, with the square metal rack suspended over it with different glasses all hanging in their place, ready to be used.

Old wooden barrels used over time also help with the decor. Dark brown leather stools surround the bar, while little round tables scatter against the outer wall area. “This is fabulous,” I admire, turning around as Lilah walks farther into the bar.

“Oh look, there is Brock and Everleigh,” she points out, grabbing my hand, and she follows Emmett as he zigzags through the tables. Stopping beside a table that seats about six but only two people are sitting there.

“Where is our daughter?” he asks the couple, seated beside each other. His hand is draped over the back of her chair, and her head is leaned close to his.

“She’s with my mother and Oliver,” Everleigh replies, ignoring the hissy fit that Emmett just pulled. “Hi, Sierra.” She moves her head to the side, eyeing me. “Excuse the brute,” she says, “I’m Everleigh.” I smile. “We met when you came down last time.” She looks at Lilah. “But there were so many new faces, you probably don’t remember.”

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