She slowly stepped inside, taking in the wide entryway with its two staircases that led to the second level. I tried to see it through her eyes, the expanse and the details. Juliette had rolled her eyes when she saw the plans for the house, thinking it was over the top for one man. But I’d always hoped that a family would fill the space someday. It looked as if that might happen, just not in the way I had planned.
“How about some tea? I have some from Jensen’s shop. Or hot cocoa?”
Anna’s mouth curved the barest amount. “Hot cocoa?”
I shrugged. “I hate coffee, and I’ve got a sweet tooth.”
“Hot cocoa would be good.”
I inclined my head in the direction of the kitchen. The lower level of the house was open-concept. A large family room to the left of the stairs spilled into a kitchen at the back, which led to a dining area. The rear of the house had as many windows as possible to take advantage of the view of the mountains. But none of that was visible in the dark.
“Your home is beautiful,” Anna murmured.
I glanced over my shoulder as I hit the kitchen. I couldn’t quite read her expression. It was almost as if the space made her nervous somehow. Or maybe it was simply the subject we were about to broach. “Thanks. It took a long time to design, and even longer to build. I feel like I’m still not all that settled.”
“You had this place built?”
I nodded as I pulled a pot from under the sink. “I’ve always loved the idea of getting to choose everything about the place you call home, but it never made sense until I moved here.”
“It’s quite the place.”
I chuckled and poured milk into the pot, turning on the heat. “My sister says it’s ridiculous.”
Anna leaned against the counter. “I didn’t know you had a sister.”
Because she hadn’t asked. From the moment I’d made my way through the doors of Hope House, Anna had kept her distance. I just couldn’t figure out why. Over the past two years, I’d seen her with other volunteers, both new and old. She might have an eagle eye until a newcomer proved to be trustworthy, but then she was warm. Welcoming. I’d never gotten that kind of treatment.
“Yup. She’s in law school at Stanford right now.”
Anna let out a low whistle. “Smart cookie.”
“That she is, and she uses it to beat up on her big brother.”
“It sounds like you two are close. That’s really nice.”
I muttered a curse under my breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
Anna waved me off. “Don’t apologize. I meant it. I’m glad you have her.”
“Me, too.” But I hated that Anna had lost her chance at that. I scooped out some chocolate mix from my favorite shop in San Francisco. I still ordered the stuff by the crate to be shipped here now that I couldn’t pick it up in person. Carefully, I poured the milk on top, swirling it around with a spoon.
I moved past Anna to the massive fridge and pulled out a canister of whipped cream. “A little, a lot, or somewhere in the middle.”
Anna stared at the canister. “A lot,” she whispered.
I heaped it on top of hers and then handed her the mug.
“Thank you.”
“Anytime.” I sprayed some on mine and then stuck the can back in the fridge. “Stools or couch?” I wanted Anna to be wherever she felt the most comfortable.
“Stools. I don’t want to spill on your couch.”
“Trust me, it wouldn’t be the first time. I usually end up eating my dinner in front of the TV.”
She slid onto a stool. “I think the countertop still feels a little safer.”
I eased onto the seat one down from hers. Close but not right next to her. “Want to tell me what happened?”