Page 104 of This Heart
I put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. “Slow down, Dad, we’ve only just started to date.”
Laughing, he made his way into the next room, which was the formal dining room. “You mark my word, Liam Turner. In less than six months, there will be a wedding in this house.”
I laughed. “I hope that gives you enough time for renovations.”
“Ha!” he said, pointing the clipboard at me. “Let’s just see what we need in terms of permits and such, then we can talk wedding bells.”
Once we walked through the formal dining room, we entered a large butler’s pantry and then the kitchen. It was huge, and I could already envision the type of kitchen I wanted in this house. I’d have to find a way to get Aurora to share her dream kitchen as well.
A small breakfast area was at the back of the house. A family room was adjacent to the kitchen, and at the front of the house was a formal living room and another room that could be used as an office.
“If I recall,” my father said as he stared up the staircase, most likely trying to decide how much of the mantel to try and keep and how much to toss. “There are four bedrooms and a library on the second floor.”
“Yes, and it’s the library I really wanted to take a look at today.”
Once we walked into the large room, my father whistled. “This is a library.”
I smiled. Floor-to-ceiling red oak cabinets filled every single wall. The one large window, also floor-to-ceiling, was encased around bookshelves. Each wall had its own ladder, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“She wanted one, but she’s getting four.”
“Ladders?” Dad asked, attempting to move them. They were stuck in place. He frowned. “Nothing that a bit of grease on the wheels can’t fix.”
“Do you think she’ll like it? Everything seems to be in really good shape, minus some of these books.”
He turned in a circle. “I wouldn’t toss any of them until you have someone go through them. You never know what could be buried in them. Or if they’re worth any money.”
I nodded. “Good idea.”
“To answer your question, she’s going to be over the moon when she sees this, Liam. Should I remind you that you’ve only been dating a few weeks?”
Laughing, I shook my head. “No. However, I’d like to leave this room untouched, if possible. I know the house is mine, and I may be getting ahead of myself, but I want Aurora to have a say in the library.”
“If you don’t want to spook her, tell her you value her opinion on the remodeling of it.”
I faced him. “That’s a great idea.”
“After all, you did buy this place before you knew she wanted it.”
“That is true.”
He slapped me on the back. “Come on, we have an entire house to go through and make notes. The plumber is meeting us in thirty minutes, the electrician in an hour or so. We’ve got to make some headway.”
My father and I spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the Victorian house I purchased back in August. Where he saw nothing but money, I saw future dreams with both Winnie and Aurora.
After everyone left, I made my way around the back of the house and down a path. The large, open area had a breathtaking view of Moose Lake. You could also see the lake from nearly every room in the back of the house, including Aurora’s library.
Turning in a circle. I could envision a gazebo situated right in the middle, surrounded by a flower garden, with a path leading from the house to the gazebo. I pulled out my phone and found Declan’s number.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
“I have a project I’d like to get Harper’s take on, but it needs to be kept a secret from Aurora. Do you think Harper can help and not tell Aurora?”
Declan laughed. “Hell yes, she can. You’re talking about the secret master.”
“Great. Are you guys free right now? I’m not far from your house. Maybe five minutes.”
“Let me ask her.”
