Chapter 18 #2
"That's the garage. I was going to put a gym out there."
Hudson nodded. "I like that you're doing something for you."
"What about for the kitchen? You decide whether you're going with dark or white cabinets?" Hudson asked, having slipped into full contractor mode.
"I think dark. It just goes with the overall style of the house. White is too modern."
Elena nodded. "I have to agree. I love white, but I can't see it in a home like this. It's so grand. It needs something that makes a statement."
"You should do what you want. Make it your own," Hudson reiterated.
"It will be a Kingston house. For now and forever," Shep said firmly.
I wondered why he was so insistent that it stay in the family. Maybe because he felt a little guilty that he'd gotten the house over his brothers. "What should we make for lunch?"
"I picked up some sandwiches from the local deli earlier." Shep pulled the platter from the fridge and set it outside.
I grabbed glasses and the lemonade that I'd made yesterday. Shep set the table, and then I went by the staircase to call for Maya.
"In a minute!" she called down.
I waited for her to descend the stairs in case she felt uncomfortable with guests here. She hurried down the stairs, jumping from the second step. I didn't chide her because it wasn't that high. I took her hand, and she skipped to the sliding door.
I opened it for her, and Elena smiled at her. "Maya, I'm so glad you're here."
Maya moved to her for a hug. "Are you getting married on the beach like a princess?"
Elena laughed. "I don't know about a princess."
Maya held her hands out as if she was showcasing a voluminous skirt. "You're wearing the big white dress. You'll be a princess."
Elena smiled indulgently. "I suppose I'll look like one for a day."
"I'm always a princess," Maya said, spinning in a circle, her dress fanning around her knees.
"Come sit, princess," I said.
She flounced onto her chair, and I set a sandwich and fruit in front of her. She dug into the fruit bowl, hunting for grapes. "Use your fork, please."
"Ugh, fine," she grumbled but picked up the utensil.
We talked about Elena and Hudson's plans for the wedding.
"Let us know if we can do anything to help," I said.
"Linnea's handling everything, so you don't have to worry about anything," Elena said.
"I'm sure we'll be moved out before the wedding," I managed to say around the bite of my sandwich that tasted like dust.
Shep's brow furrowed. "I didn't realize you were looking."
I drank lemonade to soothe my dry throat and then responded, "Once the renovation is done, it makes sense for me to move out."
"Don't move out because of the wedding. I promise we'll try not to intrude too much on your life. It will probably just be setup that week and takedown on Sunday. Other than using the bathrooms on the second floor, there won't be people parading around the house."
"It's only for a day. I can handle it," Shep said, but his brow was furrowed.
Was he upset that I'd mentioned moving out? I wasn't sure what he wanted. He hadn't said anything about our relationship. Where did we stand?
"Are we getting any interest from the videos you posted?" Hudson asked me, thankfully changing the conversation.
"It's been really disappointing."
Shep shrugged. "I'm not upset about that."
Elena nodded sympathetically. "It's probably harder to get viewers than we thought."
I shifted in my seat. "Those influencers make it look so easy. Or it's possible I don't know what I'm doing."
"I saw your clips. I thought they were great. Shep and Maya are so cute together." Elena popped a chip into her mouth.
Shep raised his brow. "Cute?"
"Well, yeah, you're really good with her," Elena continued, not realizing she'd offended his sense of manliness.
"I doubt people want cute when they tune into a renovation show," Hudson teased.
Shep smacked him in the arm. "Knock it off. I'm not cute."
Maya popped a grape into her mouth. "You are cute."
Everyone laughed.
"I'm a tough guy." Shep flexed his bicep for her, and she moved over to him so that she could touch it. He let her climb into his lap, and she squeezed his muscle. "It's squishy."
Everyone laughed, and Hudson whistled, cutting through the noise. "She's got your number."
"She's lucky she's so cute." Shep tickled her, and she scrambled off his lap.
Maya yelled, "Cute, cute," as she ran back to me for cover.
I wrapped my arms around her as she looked back at Shep. "You're safe with me."
I'd miss living here with Shep and the easy camaraderie with his family. When I moved out, I'd go back to being an employee. I wouldn't have a reason to hang out with them like this. I was friendly with the women, but I wasn't a part of their family.
"I'm safe with Shep too," Maya said, and Shep met my gaze over her head.
She felt safe here. She didn't have to worry about things breaking or pipes flooding the place. The next time I moved, it would be somewhere nice. Somewhere she could feel safe. I felt awful that I'd failed her as a mother. I should be the one creating a healthy environment for her.