My hand went to my neck where, out of habit, I rubbed at the ache that always seemed to appear anytime someone said those words to me.
Will pulled his brows in, then nodded in understanding. “It’s hard when you’re raised as a rancher and your kin don’t want to follow in those footsteps. He’ll move on someday, you’ll see.”
“Roger and I keep our hands in the family business, just not to the extent our father wants. He thinks I need to be working next to him, not building playhouses.”
Evie waved her hands about her. “Psh, you’re known all over Texas for those playhouses. I don’t see your daddy’s picture in People magazine after building that playhouse for…what was the actress’s name in Austin?”
I laughed. “It was a country singer, Lisa Walker.”
She nodded and said, “That’s right. Anyway, let’s walk around the house to the backyard and I’ll show you where I was thinking I want the playhouse.”
Will fell in step next to me and started firing off questions as the three of us walked to the back of their house.
“Who designs the houses?” he asked.
“I draw them up, then I have an architect do the plans, then an engineer signs off so that the customer knows they’re structurally secure and safe.”
“I have no doubt you do sturdy work,” Will stated.
“Thank you, sir.”
“How long does it take to build one?” Evie asked.
“Depends on what the customer wants. The more intricate the design, the longer it will be. An average playhouse takes about two months, but I’ve had one take a year to make, only because the customer changed their mind as often as the wind.”
They both laughed.
“The materials?” Will asked.
“Mostly cedar. We use foam, hard siding, stone. It’s really anything you want.”
Evie stopped and faced us. “And each one is custom?”
I nodded. “Yes. No two are the same.”
She smiled. “Perfect. Our daughter, Saryn, I’m sure you remember her from high school…?”
My chest squeezed slightly at the mention of Saryn’s name. After twelve years, I couldn’t believe she still had an affect on me. “Of course.”
Evie grinned. “Well, she has just moved back home with our granddaughter, Liliana. She’s three and I want her to be able to play in the playhouse now, but also grow into it and use it as she gets older. And of course, expand for other grandkids.”
“That can easily be done. Most of it will be how it’s decorated inside. As Liliana grows older, you simply change the design. Some people keep the outside simple, others go all out. The choice is yours.”
“Who does the decorating?” Evie asked, giving me a skeptical look.
I lifted my hands and laughed. “Not me, I can promise you that. My cousin Lee, she’s an interior designer. She handles all of that for me.”
“I like the idea of making it grow with Liliana. As far as the slides and swings go, can you make them separate from the house?” Will asked.
With a smile, I looked at them both. “It’s been my experience that even adults like to slide down the slides and swing on the swings. If it were me, I’d have at least one slide attached to the house. Maybe something coming from a window or tower, something along those lines.”
Evie grinned. “I like the way you think, Truitt. I have a picture that I’d like it to be modeled after.”
I nodded. “I can draw up a few different ideas for you after I see the picture. Once we get it narrowed down, then we can figure out what types of things you want to include in the playhouse.”
“This is going to cost me a fortune,” Will mumbled.
I laughed then placed my hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “I’m not going to lie to you, sir, but it probably will.”
He rolled his eyes and let out a sigh as Evie clapped her hands and turned to look out over the massive backyard. “Anything for these women in my life, right?”
“Now that that’s settled, let’s start planning!”
I cleared my throat. “What about Saryn? Is this going to be a surprise for her and Liliana? Does she want any input in it?”
Evie looked directly at me, and the way she smiled made me think she was up to something other than just planning a playhouse.
“Oh, for right now it will be a surprise, but I’m sure she’ll want input. She’s a nurse and is going to be starting a new job, so for right now, I’ll take the lead. We are paying for it, after all.”
Another tip of my cowboy hat and I replied, “Sounds good. Why don’t we head on back to the house and you tell me what you’re envisioning so I can start on some plans for you.”
Evie gave me a wide, satisfied grin.
“Son, I have a feeling this isn’t going to turn out like either one of us plan,” Will said, slapping me on the back and heading toward the house.