Page 75 of Summer Nights

"I told you I don't dream of things. Especially if I want them to happen."

I shook my head. I couldn't believe she was this stubborn about something as exciting as dreams. Then I looked around at the room we were in. "You've always wanted to tour a Captiva mansion and now are."

She sighed. "I'll give you that one too."

"I think it's possible you haven't been paying close enough attention to when your dreams come true. You're so focused on the negative; you don't see the positive."

She pursed her lips. "That might be possible."

"You wanted a father figure for Duncan, and then I came along, helping him with basketball." I had kept my promise to him, meeting him most Saturdays after my weekly basketball game.

"How do you know that was a dream of mine?" Her voice was soft.

"I guessed." But I was right. I could see it in her eyes. But I didn't want to push too hard. Not yet. "Let's see the rest of the house."

She let out a breath, and I wondered if that conversation had put her on the spot. That's not what I wanted. I wanted her to feel like being with me and that my home was a soft place for her to land. She could count on her needs being met. But I had a long way to go to convince her of that.

I let go of her wrist, and we continued into the living room and kitchen area. Each room was separated with walls.

"This needs to be opened up." The back wall had large windows showcasing the view of palm trees and the ocean beyond.

"I think that's the plan."

She walked through the rooms, deep in thought. "You can maintain the historical qualities of the house while still modernizing it."

"I think that's been why he's hesitated to do anything. He's worried about ruining something."

The corners of her mouth lifted. "Unless he plans to install carpet on the ceiling, then I think he'll be okay."

"You've seen a house with carpet on the ceiling?" I couldn't help but ask.

She shook her head. "Not in real life. On TV."

"Ah, okay. There's no carpet on the ceiling here, and I don't think he plans on adding it."

She wiped her hand over her forehead. "Crisis averted."

The rooms had dark wood trim and could be lightened. There was even a wood-paneled butler's pantry off the kitchen.

Downstairs, there were a game room, a bar, and another TV room. Upstairs there were six bedrooms and bathrooms.

"This is amazing," Ivy said as we moved from one bedroom to another. Each one was filled with old, heavy furniture. "I wouldn't have the heart to replace it."

"I think he's planning on keeping everything he can up here."

The master bedroom was grand with double doors to enter the room, a large sitting area, two master baths, and the room itself. There were paintings on the walls that left a lot to be desired.

"Do these paintings have any sentimental value?" Ivy asked looking at a painting of the woods and a deer.

"I don't know."

"I think it makes the room dark and not cozy. I'd definitely remove these if they don't have sentimental value."

"They've always been here, as far as I know."

"Sorry, I can't help but comment on the salability of any house I'm in."

"Is that what you did when you toured my place?" I asked her.

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