Page 85 of Space Cowgirl: Houston, All Systems Go
On another deep breath, I fall back on the couch, blanket still in hand. Why would Jules do these things? Why would she care? Dropping my head back, I stare up at the ceiling, where a huge, wrought iron chandelier hangs. Simple. No crystals or beads.
Like everything else, it’s neat, orderly, uncluttered. Just like I like.
My eyes travel down, catching sight of the fireplace. “Whoa. How did you guys…”
Where a wood-paneled hearth once sat, now there is brick that looks like it’s been sort of painted.
“Isn’t that great? The brick was under the paneling. We just gave it a quick white-wash to tone down the reds a bit.” She pats the new mantel, a large, beat-up piece of wood. “Then Jules had the idea to use some of the wood from the pile behind the barn for the mantel. Tucker said it came from the original barn you guys took down to make room for the more modern one you have now.”
“Jules did that?” But why?
Melissa’s smile nearly splits her face. “That’s not all she did!” Grabbing my hand, she yanks me up off my butt and spins me around by the shoulder.
All I can do is blink.
I was so caught up in the living room, my eyes didn’t even catch the finished kitchen.
The bleached oak cabinets, the white countertops, the light fixtures that look like mini replicas of the one I’m standing under. Even though I know it’s new, it looks like it’s always been there.
“Wow,” is all I manage.
“Come on, come on. Take a closer look.” She pushes me into the space.
Although I knew the island would be large, it looks even bigger with the giant slab of marble on top. I run my hand over it, enjoying the cool, smooth feel and wonder if Jules approved this too. She did complain of splinters last time I had her up there.
Melissa catches my eye, pointing to the far wall by the pantry.
Before I left, Ray had been waiting for countertops and appliances, but the cabinets had been installed. By the pantry had been a hole for an oven and a microwave. Instead, double wall ovens have been installed.
“I don’t remember—”
“Ta da!” More jazz hands from Melissa as she steps forward and turns on the oven panel. It chimes and a mini computer lights up with various buttons and options.
Honestly, it looks more like something Jules would use in space than an oven.
“Why the change of plan?” At Melissa’s look, I rush on. “I mean, I don’t mind, it looks great, but why—”
“Because you bake!” Melissa opens the cabinets over the ovens and the drawer beneath them. Up top are racks of cookie sheets, pans, cooling racks and muffin tins. In the drawer are stacked cake and pie dishes.
“I bake?”
“Yeah.” She closes the cabinets and drawer. “Jules said something about you owing her cookies?”
“Oh.”
“This is my favorite part,” Melissa says, stepping up to the island. “Watch this.” She pushes a button on one of the island drawers. It opens, a control panel at the front. “It’s your microwave! We put it here so that you could get your double wall ovens without sacrificing any more upper cabinets.” She presses the button again and the microwave slowly closes, giving me room to check out the new additions.
“I can’t believe you did all this in three days.”
“Well, it’s all been in the works for some time, and Jules has been checking in remotely as she trains.”
“Training?” Is that really why she left? She was already packing when I went to her room that night.BeforeI was a huge jerk to her. But if so, why didn’t she say, or explain the sketchy text and calls?
None of this makes sense.
“Yeah, she video calls every day to check progress.” The young woman laughs. “I told her that if the astronaut thing doesn’t work out, she could be a general contractor. That woman is so efficient and organized. How she is doing thisandthe weddingandastronaut training is beyond me.”
I’m not surprised that Jules is able to accomplish all this while multitasking to the max. It’s thewhyof it that’s beyond me.
