Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Bennett
The construction company I work for is owned by Aaron’s dad, who also happens to be my cousin. Having an uncle who designs homes, lays everything out, and leads you in the right direction is definitely a bonus.
Where Brantley went with a ranch style home built into a hill with a walkout basement, I want the rustic cabin feel.
Uncle Randy took my ideas, tossed in a few of his own, and even my dad offered his input.
I never thought I’d go for an A-frame look but with windows that would overlook the lake, it was perfect.
My place would be turned slightly so I wouldn’t be having a view of my brother’s house across the lake and had a great view of the water instead.
A large wraparound porch, three bedrooms, two baths, a two car garage, as my lower level.
I don’t cook, but as my father pointed out, one day I may have a lady that enjoys cooking. I think that input was more from my ma, but I had to give them that. So I decided to upgrade from my original plans and allow them to build me a kitchen for a family.
The living room, right off the kitchen, the master bedroom on one side, with a master bath. On the opposite side of the living room would be the other two bedrooms and a bathroom that you can access from the rooms, or the living room, for guests too.
What I added, and I thought it was perfect, was a staircase that led up to a seating area above. Kind of like a tree house, above everything else. I imagined a couple hammocks hanging, bean bag chairs, and a larger projector screen for movies.
I’m a kid at heart, and later I knew I’d end up doing more with it. I like to have fun, and this home was going to be my forever home. Hopefully one day I’ll have that lady and a couple kids to share it with.
I smile as I look ahead at the open piece of land all mapped out for the work to begin.
I could almost picture the deck, with oversized chairs and Lexi sitting back with her feet kicked up on the railing.
A drink in her hand and a smile on her face and a blond little boy tugging at her leg wanting to be picked up.
I used to think my brother was insane when he was building his house and he said he could already see Sutton running around with kids in tow. Now I get it.
I’ll admit the situation with Derrick, it hit me hard. It was a reality check and I hate that it took Lexi getting hurt for me to realize the one I was meant to love was right in front of me all along.
“So they’ll be here tomorrow.” I glance over at my uncle. He stands at my side with the house plans all rolled up. “They’ll be here at sunrise, the foundation is set, we’ve given it an extra week. From here on things will move quick, you know this.”
If I knew anything it was that the men under my uncle work their asses off. They get paid by the job, so slacking doesn’t put money in their pockets.
“By the way, your dock is crooked.” I glance back at the dock Brant and I built on my side of the land and instantly hear him chuckle. Slapping me on the shoulder, he walks off proud of himself for making me double check myself.
I wasn’t quite ready to leave, so I took a seat on the pile of dirt and looked around.
The sun had already started to set leaving an orange glow over the water.
The lake was the perfect size, not overly big, but definitely large enough to have a couple boats out there fishing and not interrupt the other one.
A large tree to the left of where my house would be was the perfect tree to tie a rope to.
The lake close to my parents’ house, one we all hung out at often while growing up had one Brant and I set into place.
But this, it was ours. Our kids would grow up here, their friends, hell even us. We needed a swing.
“Can’t find your way home?” I look over to find my brother walking up with Sutton at his side. They belong together, I see it now so easily. No resentment, no lingering feelings for her, just love for my sister-in-law, is all.
“We need to put a rope swing in that tree.” I glance back over to the large branch hanging out over the cove in the lake, where part of the land started to wash away making it the perfect place to swing out. “Better than the one we used at the lake near Mom and Dad’s.”
“We should check the depth there. If we have to we can dig it out more, set up a storage shed, with tubes and stuff.”
“Yeah.” I nod. “One day we’ll have kids running around all over the place and that’d be a good setup. Build a staircase in the side there. A way to get back up out of the water and to the top again.”
“I think that sounds fun,” Sutton says as she moves around and sits at the empty space next to me. Silence falls over us for a few minutes as all three of us look around the quiet area. Tomorrow and for several weeks, even months after, it will be work trucks and chaos.
“Are you still coming to the grand opening Saturday?” Sutton asks with a hopeful smile.
“I wouldn’t miss it.” I wrap my arm around her and pull her in for a hug.
Brantley doesn’t get all huffy like he used to.
Not as easily anyway, unless I push it. So of course I offer Sutton a kiss on the cheek and smile when a growl rumbles in my brother’s chest. Sutton pushes at my side, knowing exactly what I was shooting for.
Standing she grabs my brother’s hand and lifts up on her tiptoes. Offering him a kiss she tells him she is going to walk back home and I watch him watch her.
“She’s not running off to Greece again, she’s across the lake.” Brant flips me off but still watches until Sutton is safely inside the back slider door.
“You talk to Lexi since game night at her place?”
Asshole told every one of the guys about my card night with Lex and Adley. I’ve heard all about it every single day since. I even found a new deck of each game on the front seat of my truck. There was also a box of tampons and a bottle of Midol too.
I shake my head and cross my arms over my chest. “I guess I’ll see her Saturday.
” Sutton has been working her ass off for months to get her dance school set up in Hudson.
The nearest place being in Montgomery, she wanted something for our little town that people wouldn’t have to drive more than forty minutes one way to get to.
Brantley found the perfect space and on nights and weekends, it slowly became the perfect place to teach the art of dance.
Saturday the entire town of Hudson, and even some from her old school friends in Montgomery, are coming to celebrate her dream.