Page 120 of Take My Heart
‘Of course. I’d be happy to.’
‘Do you think you guys will keep the house?’ Callie asks.
Brody and I look at each other.
‘We haven’t decided yet,’ I say. ‘We want to finish it first and see how it turns out.’
‘Either way, we’re not done after this one,’ Brody says. ‘We’re already talking about fixing one up next fall.’
‘We decided we wouldn’t work on one this summer since that’s Brody’s busiest time, plus I’ll be busy with the store.’ I hand Callie the baby. ‘I could hold her all day, but I should get back to work.’
‘The new lights are in the back,’ Brody says to Nash.
‘Before he starts, we’re going to run next door and get coffee,’ Callie says. ‘You guys want anything?’
‘We already got one,’ Brody says. ‘I’ll get the lights so they’ll be ready when you get back.’
‘Count on me for putting up the shelves too,’ Nash says. ‘The only payment I’ll take is that you invite us to the store opening.’
‘Of course you’re invited,’ I tell him.
They leave and go next door.
‘It’s so nice of Nash to help me out like this,’ I say to Brody. ‘And not even charge me.’
‘It’s a rule. We don’t charge family, which works out great with Sawyer owning a brewery. We get all the free beer we want.’
‘But I’m not family.’
Brody puts his arms around me. ‘Sorry to break this to you, but my family’s already adopted you. If you want out, you should do it soon because once you’re in, it’s hard to leave.’
‘I don’t want out. I love your family.’ I kiss him. ‘Almost as much as I love you.’
It’s true. I feel closer to Brody’s family than my own,especially now. My parents have only talked to me once since I moved here. When I call them, they don’t pick up, and they won’t return any of my messages. They think if they ignore me, I’ll do what they want to get them to talk to me again. They did the same thing when I was growing up. If I didn’t do what they said, they punished me by ignoring me and withholding their love. So I learned to always do what they told me. But no more. I can’t live that way, and I shouldn’t have to. My parents should love me no matter what, the way Brody’s parents love him.
‘When are we going to tell people about the house?’ Brody asks.
‘When it’s done.’
‘Why wait?’
‘Because it’s a mess right now. I want to finish it before we tell everyone we’re keeping it. Why are you in such a hurry to tell people?’
‘I guess I’m thinking if we tell people, you’ll be less likely to change your mind.’
‘Brody, I love you. And I love this town. Why would you think I’d change my mind about staying here?’
He shrugs. ‘You changed your mind about marrying your ex. Maybe when the house is done, you’ll decide you don’t want to stick around.’
‘There’s no way that’s happening. I’m here for good. I can’t leave. I have a store here. And I own a house, or half of one.’
‘It’s ours. We’re a couple. We own it together.’ He gives me a kiss, which turns into another and then another, until the bell on the door jingles and we break apart.
‘I don’t know how you two get any work done when you’re making out all the time,’ Jason says, coming into the store.
‘What are you doing here?’ Brody asks.
‘Water leak at the school.’ Jason walks over to us. ‘It’s closed until noon so they can figure out where the water’s coming from. If they can’t find it, there won’t be school today.’ He looks around at the store. ‘It’s really coming together.’
