Page 292 of Wild Card
The smell of Italian grows stronger the closer I get to the kitchen, but Willow is not in her usual spot by the fireplace with Beckett.
A faint thumping comes from above, and I follow the sound to the only room up the stairs. Willow added this room to the original plans, explaining she thought we may want the extra space.
She rattled on about a playroom, game room, or whatever else we chose to do with it.
We were barely in the house two weeks before Beckett came and hadn’t discussed any plans for it since.
I stop dead when I find Willow on a ladder, hammering a picture hanger. My eyes go to our son who’s bundled in his little chair, his eyes darting around the room. Wolf lies protectively beside him, staring at me with understanding in his doggy gaze.
He knows Willow is in trouble.
“Princess, what the hell are you doing?”
She jumps, swaying haphazardly. I get to her in one stride, steadying the ladder.
“You scared me.”
“Don’t know how since we have a security alert system.”
Her eyes widen and she pulls her bottom lip through her teeth. “I must not have heard it over the hammering. You’re home early.”
“That’s what you have to say to me?”
“Damn you, Talon, this is supposed to be a surprise!” She tries to push me away, but I catch her under the arms and haul her into me
“We have a deal, and you’ve broken it multiple times today.”
“No, you have an archaic opinion that I am not allowed to do anything worthwhile.”
“You agreed to take it easy.”
“I do take it easy. It’s been seven weeks. I’m healed.”
“Not part of the deal.”
“Your deal. Carrying in a few boxes from the porch and decorating aren’t crimes against humanity.”
“Taking care of yourself and our son is your job right now.”
“We’re both fine. I wanted to work on my house today.”
“Then you wait until I get home.”
“This was supposed to be done to surprise you,” she huffs out. “But no, Captain America decides to come home early.”
My lips twitch at the reference.
“Nothing is worth you endangering yourself.”
“It’s a ladder! Barely four feet off the ground.”
“Lose the sass, Princess.”
“Ugh! Fine. Since you’ve already ruined it, you can help.”
She ducks out of my hold and goes across the room, turning a large frame my way. Not much shocks me, but damn if I don’t stand there stunned.
My first Little League and my LSU jerseys, side by side.
