He slows the car before turning onto a narrow road which soon opens onto a gravel driveway. Now he drops the speed further until we’re almost crawling. Something about this is vaguely familiar.
“Have I been here before?” I look at him, then at Cynthia. She has a funny look on her face.
“No… Not here, though it does look familiar.” She stares out the window, frowning. “Uncanny.”
“What is this? Tell me. No joking.” I’m speaking to Christian but staring out the windshield. Every roll of the wheels makes me more convinced I’ve been here in the past. When I was little, of course.
“You tell me.”
He nods, and I follow the direction he’s looking in. Now I can’t believe my eyes. Now I know what I’m looking at—at least, what I think I’m looking at. It can’t be, though.
“Christian!” Cynthia places her hands against the window. I turn my head to watch her. She looks like she’s on the verge of a meltdown, but in a good way. If there is such a thing. “How did you do this? Is this the surprise?”
“You’re looking at your new home if you’d be so inclined to share it with us. There’s plenty of space. You should know that.”
"Siân." Her hand grips my shoulder now, hard enough to make me wince. “Do you know what it is? Do you recognize it?”
“If… I had to guess,” I venture, “it’s the house I lived in when I was little.”
“Close. It’s a replica of your childhood home.” He takes us the rest of the way up a winding driveway before pulling to a stop in the circular courtyard. Cynthia weeps softly in the back seat while I stare up at the stucco walls, the tile roof, and the lush landscaping.
He turns in his seat to look at both of us. “I located the plans for the original house. I wanted you, Siân, to live somewhere that reminds you of how life was before my father stepped in and destroyed it.”
“But we didn’t need a new house.” Why that’s the first thing that comes to mind, I don’t know. My brain’s not moving in a linear fashion right now.
“No, but you can’t pretend being in my father’s home doesn’t remind you of everything he did. I don’t want to put you through that. You deserve a new home where you can build new memories. With our family.”
He looks at Cynthia next. “I meant what I said a minute ago. I would be happy to have you living here with us. You’d have all the time you want with this grandchild and the others who come after them. You and Siân would have the opportunity to be together, too. You deserve that.”
My heart’s too full to speak. I look back at Cynthia, waiting for her to respond.
Instead of saying it in words, she bursts out of the car and runs around to the driver’s door. Christian opens it and barely manages to get on his feet before she throws her arms around him. “Thank you. Thank you.” He pats her back and murmurs about it being his pleasure.
She leans in a little. “You coming in to look around?”
I’m sure I’ve never seen her this happy, except maybe when she learned about the baby.
“Give me a minute. I need to take it all in.” I open the door, and Christian is quick to hurry over to help me. Under any other conditions, I’d wave him off, but right now, I need all the help I can get.
“What gave you this idea?” I ask once I’m on my feet. “And how the hell did you keep it a secret?”
He’s glowing from his cleverness and pride. “I made sure the contractors and landscapers knew their asses were entirely mine if they so much as whispered to their girlfriends about this project. Word spreads fast. They signed agreements to keep it confidential.”
“Smart.”
“As for myself…” He grins, shrugging. “I told myself it would be worth watching you when we arrived. Are you happy?”
“Happy?” It seems like such a needless question. Don’t I look it? “I’ve never been so happy in my whole life.”
“Then it was all worth it.” He pulls me in for a hug, kissing the top of my head. “Every bit. I can’t wait to watch you make it a home. You have everything you want at your fingertips. The sky’s the limit.”