Thresholds by Kate Canterbary

Author:Kate Canterbary
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781946352064
Publisher: Vesper Press

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"I don't see it," Lauren murmured, turning in a slow circle. She stared at the plywood boards over the floor, the bare studs, the crumbling fireplace. She shrugged, her lips turned down in a frown. "I want to see it. The neighborhood is nice and the yard is a good size, but…I don't see it."

It hit me then, that we'd done this before. As I thought about that day, I realized everything had changed. My entire world was different now. My father was gone, and not even his home was part of our lives anymore. My siblings were married or halfway there. I had a niece and nephew, and another on the way. And Lauren…she wasn't the same fast-talking woman who tripped down those stairs at Saint Cosmas. She was my wife. The mother of my child. My best friend. She was so much more than the sexy schoolteacher I'd met all those years ago.

"I know you see it," she continued, oblivious to the memories streaking through my mind. "You have the sight." She glanced at me, her hands burrowed deep in her coat pockets. This cold snap was fierce. "You like this one, don't you? It's your favorite of the three."

The house was a wreck but it had good, salvageable bones. An investor—probably one of those people who watched home renovation shows and thought they could pull off the same trick with fifty dollars and a weekend—had torn everything out of this 1920s farmhouse. Tore it straight down to the studs. They had enough sense to preserve the hardwood floors and some of the period details, but left a shell of a house when they ran out of money. Or know-how.

I smiled at her, nodding. "Solid foundation," I started, stepping closer, "newer roof, good systems."

Lauren waved at the empty dining room. "But no walls," she argued. "I'm fairly certain I want walls. I don't know where they'd go, but I know I want them." She turned around, sighing as she moved. "I don't know. This is just…it's a lot, Matthew."

"It is a lot but I promise you'll have walls, Sweetness," I said, laughing. "And I'll make sure they're in the right spots."

"How long will it take?" She glanced toward the living room and kitchen, both spaces dark and empty. "This looks time-intensive."

I made a not even close face as I shook my head. "Have I ever steered you wrong with building projects?"

"You've only steered me on one building project, Matthew," she replied. "That's not a representative sample."

"But that one came in on time and at budget," I said.

"And I'm forever grateful," she said. I pulled her close, or as close as layers of winter clothing would allow, and kissed her forehead. "If you think this is the one—"

"I do."

Lauren nodded. "I understand that you need a project right now. Some place to deposit all this expectant father energy that you're currently using on supervising my showers and agonizing over the bananas at the farmers' market."

"Some bananas are better than others," I replied.

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