Page 28 of Summer Heat
I led the way back upstairs. I'd bought a few wax candles that automatically turned on at five in the evening. They were placed on the deck and gave it ambiance. Something I'd never thought of before when it was just me enjoying this area.
I pushed open the door that led to the deck and waited for Kinsley to move past me. She smelled like something tropical. My entire bathroom smelled like her after she showered, and I wanted to bottle it up and keep it forever.
She'd made my life better by being here, but I couldn't share any of those thoughts with her.
The deck ran the length of this side of the house but wasn't very wide. I'd placed a long couch along the wall so that I could lay here when it was hard to sleep.
I showed her where the blankets were, then ducked back inside to grab drinks from the kitchenette. I returned with water and a bottle of wine with two glasses.
"I thought you might enjoy some wine."
"That would be nice." Kinsley sat on the couch with the blanket covering her legs.
I sat next to her, pouring the wine into two glasses, then handing her one. I lifted my glass. "To the ocean."
"To the ocean." She clinked hers against mine.
She was quiet for a few minutes, probably taking in the glow of the moon over the water. "I can't believe you get this view every might."
"I come up here in the evening."
"I don't blame you. I'd do the same."
"My grandmother told me stories that her and her siblings played up here in the attic. Then they'd play hide-and-seek through the house and grounds."
"Those are sweet memories."
"Her siblings moved off the island and made lives elsewhere, but she couldn't let go of this place. Neither can I."
"Thank you for sharing that with me."
"I miss her. But it helps to share this house with her. I can still see her baking cinnamon rolls in the kitchen or sitting on the back patio to enjoy the view."
"And now this is all yours."
"The responsibility feels like too much sometimes. I want to preserve the history while bringing the house into the modern era. I want an updated kitchen and plenty of storage space, but I'm still working within the confines of the current layout."
"I think we can do that and keep it tasteful. You were able to create this oasis without hurting the feel of the home."
"The only thing I added to this deck was the couch and the lanterns."
"If I were you, I'd sleep outside."
"Sometimes I do. I can't get enough of the stars." I pointed overhead, and she dropped her head back to see. There were a million out tonight.
"There must not be a cloud in the sky now."
"The stars made me feel like anything's possible. Like if you wished upon a star, your dreams would come true. The only problem is what do you want?"
There was a breeze coming from the ocean that left the taste of salt on my lips. The sound of the waves crashing on the shore lulled me into a feeling of contentment.
"A family for me and Maya? Someone to come home to at the end of the night who's older than five?" Then Kinsley laughed as if she'd revealed too much.
"I always feel small when I come up here. The world is so big, ya know?" I asked to make the moment feel lighter.
"I'm getting that feeling too."
We fell silent, content to enjoy the view and the night air. I was reluctant for the night to end. "Do you want to play a game?"
