Page 68 of Summer Heat
"We'd have to clear out the furniture to have it inside, or we could get tents with flaps and do it under the tent. It's up to you."
"I really want to be on the beach. No matter what." Elena chewed her lip, looking at Hudson to check in with him.
"Whatever you want is fine with me. I just want you to be happy." He pulled her into his side with his arm over her shoulders.
It was a sweet moment. What would it be like to be that committed to someone? I couldn't imagine it because Derek hadn't been that into our relationship after I got pregnant.
I was extra to this discussion. I didn't have anything to add to the conversation, so I stepped away to check on Maya.
Observing Elena and Hudson together got to me. I wanted that. When would I finally be with someone who treated me like I was worthy? Maybe I had to start thinking I was worthy first.
I headed upstairs, ducking into Maya's room where she was playing with her dolls. I knew better than to ask if I could join her. She didn't like interruptions.
So I sat on the bed and tried not to think about what Shep was thinking. Was he grateful that I'd disappeared? Less pressure on him to pretend that nothing was going on between us?
A while later, I heard voices downstairs. They must have come inside to discuss details. Was it awful that I wanted to hide out here forever?
Shep ducked his head inside the room. "Linnea's leaving soon, but Elena and Hudson are staying for lunch. You want to come down in a bit?"
"I will."
"What are you doing hiding up here?"
I flushed. "I came inside to check on Maya."
Shep just gave me a look because he knew that when Maya got involved in her pretend play, she wouldn't want me to interrupt her. "Come down when you're ready."
I smiled at him, trying to convey that I was fine and that the display of the happy couple on the patio hadn't shaken me.
Either he was proud of what we had, or he wanted to hide it. It couldn't be both. And I didn't like how it felt to be a secret.
I waited until I heard the front door close, and then I headed downstairs to help with lunch.
Elena was seated on a stool, and Hudson leaned against the counter next to her.
"How did it go?" I asked them.
"Great." Elena smiled at Hudson. "We're finally getting married and at a location that means a lot to us."
The house probably meant more to the Kingston family, but it was the beach which satisfied Elena's desires for the perfect wedding.
I wanted Elena to have whatever she wanted. I wouldn't let this thing with Shep interfere with her wedding. But I didn't know what that meant. Would I need to move out before the wedding so that there was no hint of a scandal beforehand?
Hudson dropped a light kiss on her lips. "I'm thrilled you want to get married here."
Elena smiled at him and then asked Shep, "You think you'll be able to have the kitchen finished before then?"
"You want to see the plans?" Shep asked her, opening the drawer where he kept the plans for the house renovation and laying them out on the table.
We moved over to the table to see.
"I thought I could do a gourmet island and state-of-the-art appliances, double oven, industrial fridge. I'll keep the butler's pantry, so we'll have plenty of storage for food and serving dishes. That way, we can host a lot of family parties in the future."
"You really want to open the house to the family?" Hudson asked him, not taking his gaze off the plans.
Shep nodded. "That's what Gram would have wanted."
Elena squeezed Hudson's hand, and he said, "But this is your house now. You should do what you want with it."
