“Yes, I’m sure she’ll take a long nap,” Ava replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Let me show you the house, then I’ll grab some boxes,” he offered.
“Alright. As soon as I put her down, I’ll be back to help. Can you show me her room?” she asked, her heart full as she carried Ellie toward the house.
Chapter Fifteen
As Ava stepped inside, a gasp escaped her lips. The entryway, though modest in size, was enchanting. A bookcase with polished glass doors stood elegantly against one wall, housing an array of books. The living room unfolded before her, inviting and homey, with a stone fireplace dominating the back wall. On either side were low bookshelves, filled with trinkets and novels, while small windows above them let in streams of natural light. A sleek flat-screen television was mounted above the mantle, and a plush sofa and cozy recliner were positioned to face it, promising comfort and relaxation. To the right, two doorways beckoned, one led to a dining room, where a table awaited gatherings, and the other opened into a kitchen with a quaint breakfast nook nestled in front of a bay window. The interior walls were a soft blue but all exterior walls were log.
“This is so pretty,” Ava remarked, as Deacon stepped in behind her.
“Thanks. Come on, I’ll show you to your rooms,” Deacon said, guiding her further into the welcoming space.
“Rooms?” she asked him with a grin.
“Like I said, that’s up to you, but you know how I feel about it.”
She trailed behind him down a dimly lit hallway, their footsteps a soft echo on the polished wooden floor, and halted at the first door on the right. As he swung it open, Ava loved the light lavender color he had painted the room, along with the deep purple carpet.
“This is so pretty, Deacon. Did you do all this yourself?” she asked, her eyes wide with admiration.
“My dad helped me assemble the furniture, and I just arranged everything around,” he replied with a casual shrug. “You can change anything you want.”
“No, it’s perfect,” Ava assured him, as she gently placed Ellie into the crib. Ava’s attention was drawn to a cedar chest, its surface gleaming with a rich finish and Ellie’s name elegantly etched on its lid. She lifted the lid, revealing a treasure trove of toys. Ava caressed the smooth wood, its creamy streaks catching the light. “This is beautiful,” she murmured.
“A friend of mine made it. He specializes in cedar furniture,” Deacon explained as he gestured for her to follow him back into the hallway. Ava pulled the door closed, leaving it ajar, then walked to a door on the opposite side.
Ava’s mouth fell open in awe when she laid eyes on the queen-sized bed adorned with a delicate white iron headboard.. Her heart swelled with emotion at the sight of a cedar rocking chair bathed in sunlight streaming through lace curtains by the window. She turned to Deacon, her eyes glistening.
“Did your friend make the rocking chair too?” she inquired softly.
“Yes, he’s really talented. He also made my bed,” Deacon confirmed.
“I want to see it,” she requested eagerly.
Deacon grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Okay, come on.”
“Let me check on Ellie first,” Ava said, peeking into the room where Ellie was still sleeping. She looked back at Deacon with a playful smile. “Just how many dolls did you buy her?”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “I didn’t count. I figured since she liked dolls, I’d get her a few.”
“A few?” Ava echoed, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah,” he replied, his grin widening.
“Okay, I’ll let it slide this time, but you have to learn to tell her no sometimes,” she teased.
“I will… sometimes,” he promised with a mischievous grin.
“I want to see your room.”
“Come on, then.” Deacon led her down the hallway, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly off the walls. He stopped at another door on the left and opened it. “This is my office.”
“It’s nice.” Ava admired the room, taking in the large mahogany desk that dominated the space, its polished surface gleaming in the sunlight streaming through the windows behind it. The back wall was lined with bookshelves, each shelf brimming with old books, their spines faded and titles barely legible, hinting at the knowledge and stories they held. She smiled as she touch the spine of a very thick book, then turned to Deacon with a smile. “My father has one of these,” she said as she saw it was an old Webster’s dictionary.
“My dad has one too. That one belonged to my grandfather.” He gave a slight nod, beckoning her to follow him again. He guided her to another door on the right, and she stepped into his bedroom.
“It’s so big, but just gorgeous,” she remarked, her eyes widening at the expansive space.
