"Because it isn't," Brody said. "Taylor's hermiddlename."
"Ohhhhh." I turned forward once again. "I guess I should've realized that."
"No." Brody said. "What you should've gotten was an apology."
I didn't get it."For what?"
"For all the bullshit we put you through."
I wasn't quite sure I agreed. Still, I tried to smile. "Well Masonsort ofapologized." Thinking of Willow, I couldn't help but add, "And from what I know now, I'm not even sure I deserved it."
"Oh, you deserved it," Brody said. "And more. A lot more."
"A lotmore?" I teased.
"You know it," he said. "And hey, the day's not over yet."
Chapter 75
Arden
I was so thunderstruck, I could hardly speak. Brody and I were standing alone in the kitchen of what used to be my grandparent's place.
The kitchen was completely done – and not in "counter-less" cupboards either.No. The cabinets were the same ones that Brody and I had picked out together all those months ago.
But that wasn't even the biggest surprise. It was the fact that the whole house appeared to be totally finished – with fresh paint, new carpet, and refinished wooden floors. The place smelled brand new and looked it, too.
All it needed now was furniture to make it anyone's dream home.
We'd just returned from Petoskey, and Brody had given me the grand tour, minus the attic as usual. Everything was just as I'd envisioned, only better.
The place had new light fixtures, new bathtubs, new sinks, new everything – except for the things worth keeping, like the wonderful woodwork and vintage chandeliers.
It was truly amazing.
I was still reeling – not only over the state of the house, but over the fact that I was here at all, after everything that had happened.
I looked to Brody and asked, "How'd you get it done so fast?"
"Easy," he said. "I bribed them."
"Who?"
"Anyone who needed bribing," he said. "We've had crews working around the clock for the last three days."
"Why three days?" I asked.
"Because," he said with a sheepish grin, "that's when I realized what a dumb-ass I'd been."
"Oh, stop it," I laughed. "We were both dumb-asses in our own way. I mean,Ididn't do everything perfectly either."
His smile faded. "You did in high school."
I felt my brow wrinkle in confusion. "But what does high school have to do with it?"
Brody reached out and took my hand. "Your scholarship," he said. "The one you lost. Why didn't you say something?"
I stared up at him. "Wait, how'd you hear about that?"
