There was a patio on the back that might eventually include a pool, but not until the kids were older, so they didn’t have to worry about them stumbling into it before they could swim. The extra baths were dotted on the two upper floors beside extra closet and storage spaces.
“It’s a lot of house,” Autumn said.
Though she had been very active in helping lay it out, it was as if she was seeing it for the first time. Rowanne seemed to be frowning heavily as she looked down on it.
“What’s wrong, Rowanne? You don’t like it,” Malcolm asked.
“What? Oh, no. It’s going to be beautiful. I just don’t see a guest room.”
“There isn’t one,” Malcolm said, not comprehending. “There is a basement, but it’ll be used for storage and such. I’m not sure it will even be finished—just roughed in.”
“When are you planning on building it?” she asked.
“Very soon. Once we finalize the plan with the architect, they can break ground. Since we are in a corner of two intersecting roads, we will face it toward the opposite road to this one. That’ll let us continue to live here while it is built.”
“I see. How long will that take?”
“Depends on the weather, any holdups with permits, things like that. Anywhere from six months to a year.”
“I see,” she said glumly.
Autumn looked at him and then back at her, not grasping why she seemed so forlorn.
“Is there something wrong, Rowanne.”
“No. I get it. I mean, we didn’t expect we’d live here with you forever. I guess we just thought it would be longer than that. I don’t know if we’re ready to move on yet, but that’s not your problem.”
Malcolm laughed, causing her to jerk her head up as if startled by his callous reaction to her disappointment. He quickly realized that she was hurt and not comprehending what she was seeing. Looking toward Clara, he could see that she was now realizing the same thing that Rowanne was saying.
“No. No, no, no,” Autumn said, reacting before he could. “He’s not leaving you out of the new house. I mean, he is, but not like you think. By the time it is finished, we won’t need your help so much, but we will still need you for a while. We intend to let you stay here.”
“So, we will get to keep our room?”
“Your room? You’ll get to keep the whole house. I thought we could move you up to the master and leave your current room open for when we have guests. I want to add a bathroom to it so that they only share the kitchen. I mean, I don’t know when we will ever have guests that will need to stay overnight, but it leaves a space for that—for us and for you.”
“Oh. I feel so petty,” Rowanne said.
“You’re our family too now. I know it hasn’t been that long, but you fit right in with us and we can’t imagine life without you. You’ll have a place here for as long as we are breathing, even after the kids are grown or you’ve decided to move on.”
Malcolm looked toward Clara and realized there were tears rolling down her face. She wiped them away and nodded her head up and down, expressing her appreciation without words. Rowanne smiled and looked down at her hands and then back up toward him.
“I’m sorry. I’m an asshole.”
“Yes, you are,” he replied, smiling. “But you’re our favorite asshole.”
She laughed, and they went back to discussing the house plans for a bit before the babies woke up for their feeding and everyone had to scramble to take care of them. After they were sorted, everyone returned to the living room for a bit to unwind in front of the television.
“I almost forgot our dessert,” Malcolm said. “I stopped and got cupcakes. Let’s all have one and celebrate.”
“Mmm, I do love cupcakes,” Autumn mused.
“I know you do. I got an extra special one for you.”
Malcolm disappeared into the kitchen and retrieved the cardboard bakery box to take to the living room. He handed Clara and Rowanne the double chocolate ones they were always bringing home when they ventured out shopping and sat down a strawberry cheesecake one for himself.
He pulled one of the two remaining cupcakes out and handed it to Autumn. She looked down at it and smiled. It was her favorite, carrot cake, but on top, he had gotten them to draw a small black bear. By its side stood a wolf, howling at a tiny moon above them.
“Oh, that’s cute,” she said, showing it to Clara and Rowanne, who both smiled knowingly.
“I’m glad you like it,” Malcolm replied. “Go ahead, taste it. I had them make it special for you, and it’s about as fresh as you can get unless you eat it right out of the oven.”