What are you doing, Neamhchiontach? Caleb kisses the top of my head. The boys are putting all the camping gear back into place in the garage. We did inventory this morning. We are officially out of space, both for storage for all of the out of season clothes, snowboards, sleeping bags, car parts and hair products the boys keep on hand plus boys themselves, as there is no longer any switching up as Dalton and Gage no longer travel and with Asher becoming permanent (did I tell you? We're keeping him) there is not even a spare bed here. Next door there is, as only five of them live at Schuyler's and at Batman's house there is only two so he has loads of space.
There is no space here.
(Also Caleb doesn't camp. Hahahahaha.)
I found a place. Seven bedrooms and thirteen bathrooms. It isn't finished yet and so maybe they could throw in three or four more bedrooms. Probably an extra level on top. I don't know. Figure it out.
Do you want to move?
Sometimes, when I feel overwhelmed.
Where would we go?
Home.
That isn't home anymore. Besides, you're the one who always reminds us home is where we're all together.
Yes but when I'm homesick I feel differently.
I feel like the pain is talking for you, today.
Maybe. It hurts a lot.
It isn't feeling better?
Nope.
Hmmm. Did you want me to try and get better pills for you? Another kiss on the head but he pauses, lips on my hair. Waiting for my response which comes in the form of a shrug.
Maybe just enough so I don't want to run.
Bridget, we have the means to do whatever your heart desires.
I know. I choke it out. A whisper. I'm so ridiculously aware of his means, and his ability to keep score that I'll just hold tight.
He sits down next to me, lounging in the chair so gracefully, considering my face as if he's never seen it before. I believe we could add on? A second level for the stables for a guest suite? That would buy you the room you'd like. Or maybe we could expand off the guest wing here.
I don't want to build to the property line. Maybe the stables would work.
Well, we can't build vertically so our options are limited. That or you could have Asher live at Batman's.
He did, remember? It wasn't really working.
Batman has a lot of space.
I nod. I could lean on him to house boys in a pinch but he's militant about his privacy.
There is also more space above the garage we could convert so that there is a second self-contained loft.
I nod. But it's more work. More construction. More noise and upheaval.
How about this? When you decide what you'd like to do, come and tell me and I will make it happen.
I nod again dutifully.
The sky is the limit, he reminds me.
One final nod from me to show I get it and he stands up, checks his watch and is gone with a final kiss to my cheek. Going for a massage. Do you want to join me?
I shake my head. I won't let strangers touch me. He always says I am missing out. I always point out that I'm not.