Page 182 of Love in Riverbend
Following a step behind Justin and Molly, I pass through the swinging door to the dining room. Off to the right is a large living room with windows looking out on a stunningly green lawn with a large swing set. Taking another right, we pass through glass doors to a sunroom. It’s outside the sunroom that I see where Molly is taking Justin.
Dax and Mr. Sheers—Randy—are already outside. Built into the tree overhead is a small house. A tree house.
“Is that for you?” Justin asks Molly.
She nods her head quickly. “It has a rope ladder, but” —her little nose scrunches— “I’m not good at that yet. So, Dad put up the real ladder.”
“Can I see inside?” Justin asks after a casual greeting to Dax and Randy.
“Do you want to?”
“I do.”
Molly turns to me. “Devan, do you want to see inside my tree house, too?”
“Very much.”
“Dad,” Molly asks, “can I take them up there?”
Dax’s voice is deep like Justin’s. “I think that will fill it to capacity, but you should make it.”
“Capacity?” Molly asks.
Justin crouches to her level. “It means we might fill it up, but we’ll all fit.” When Justin stands, he wraps his arm around my lower back. “Dad, Dax, this is Devan.” He looks at me. “My dad and brother-in-law.”
“Welcome, Devan.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Randy by the way.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say.
Dax moves the ladder and watches closely as Molly makes her way to the top. The tree house is probably at least eight feet off the ground. I can’t imagine using a rope ladder. Justin motions for me to go next. I do, bending at the top to fit through the doorway. Justin is not far behind me.
“How do you like it?” Molly asks.
The inside walls are painted bright yellow, the ceiling white, and the flooring is actual flooring, the vinyl that’s meant to look like wood. There is a beanbag chair and a small table with two chairs. The windows even have flowy white curtains.
“Molly,” I say, “this is beautiful.”
She sticks her hand out one of the windows. “There isn’t glass, but if I pull this string a door closes. It keeps the rain and snow out.”
Justin sticks his head out the doorway. “Nice job, Richards. Your carpentry skills are improving.”
From where I am, I can see Dax’s middle finger. It makes both Justin and me laugh.
After a more detailed tour, we all take turns climbing down the ladder. Whatever nerves I might have had about today’s gathering are totally gone by the time we all sit down to eat. Instead of eating at the big dining room table, Kandace and Bridget bring the food to the sunroom. Currently, the glass doors are open and it’s like a big screen porch.
“Tell us, Devan,” Kandace begins, “how you convinced this confirmed bachelor that there is more to life than farming and being awful at softball.”
“I’m not awful,” Justin says.
“He did hit the only home run last week,” I add.
Kandace rolls her eyes.
Before I can answer, Justin does. “She kissed me.”
I choke on my iced tea as Bridget’s eyes widen.
