Page 87 of Rookie's Redemption
Ryder: Morning, beautiful. Can you believe this city charges forty dollars for room service coffee. Can't wait to be home with you. How's your morning going?
I show Carol the text, and her face lights up with maternal pride.
"See? He's thinking about you before he's even fully awake."
I type back quickly:Your mom brought me real coffee and muffins, so my morning is significantly better than yours. She's also helping with the animals and being generally wonderful.
His response comes immediately:Of course she is. Tell her I love her and that she's not allowed to embarrass me too much.
I show Carol the response, and she huffs in mock indignation.
"Embarrass him? I would never. I'm simply being friendly."
"What should I tell him you said?"
"Tell him his mother is a delight and that you're lucky to have me as a future mother-in-law."
I nearly choke on my coffee. "Carol!"
"What? Am I wrong?"
Before I can formulate a response that doesn't involve stuttering incoherently, Bear appears in the doorway to the main area.
"Miss Harper? Sorry to interrupt, but the new water system is officially complete. Want to come take a look?"
"Of course." I stand, grateful for the distraction. "Carol, want to see the progress?"
"I'd love to."
We follow Bear into the kennel area, where the transformation is nothing short of miraculous. The new kennels are a sightunder the improved lighting installed yesterday, each one now professionally equipped with automatic water dispensers and food stations.
"This is incredible," Carol breathes. "Mia, you should be so proud."
I am proud. But as I watch Carol move through the renovated shelter, pointing out improvements and asking thoughtful questions about my plans for expansion, I realize something else.
I want to share this pride with Ryder.
He's stopped living his life… and he's stopped living it for me. He's put on the fundraiser that made all of this possible. But not only that, he also spends more time here than at his own house.
Now maybe it's his turn.
I want him to see what his fundraising made possible, want to walk through these improvements together.
More than that, I want to do something for him. Something that shows I'm not just along for the ride in this relationship, but an active participant in building our future, one renovation at a time.
Whether that's here, at my shelter, or at his house. The house, he swears he boughtfor me.
"Carol," I say suddenly, interrupting her conversation with Bear. "What would you say if I told you I wanted to surprise Ryder when he gets home?"
Her eyes light up with interest. "What kind of surprise?"
I look around at the nearly completed shelter renovations, at Bear and Marcus who've proven they can work miracles with the right motivation, at Carol who's clearly invested in seeing her son happy again.
"The kind that involves turning a house into a home."
Carol's smile is radiant. "Oh, honey. I think that's a wonderful idea."
"You think he'd be okay with me coordinating work on his house while he's away?"
