Honor

Chapter 63

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

E vie

I stand on a sidewalk in Queens and stare up at a quaint house painted a light shade of blue. Red wooden window boxes are overflowing with gorgeous white flowers. The grass is cut short and as green as can be. I feel like I’m staring at a quintessential single family home with a white picket fence. Granted, the fence is red, but the entire look screams happiness to me.

I glance at where Lottie is standing next to me. “Randall used to live in this house?”

She nods as a single tear falls from the corner of her eye. “It’s so cute. I can picture him as a little boy running around in the yard.”

I can’t quite form that image in my mind because I barely know Randall. “It seems like a perfect place to grow up.”

“Not as perfect as the house my parents have in California.” She laughs. “Seven bedrooms. Ten bathrooms. The kitchen alone is bigger than this entire house.”

An abundance of space doesn’t necessarily equal an abundance of love. I’m not speaking from experience. The house I grew up in had more than enough space for my family. We sat down for dinner at the kitchen table whenever we could. We had game nights in the living room, and a tire swing was hanging from an old oak tree in our backyard. Every memory I have of my parents’ home in Milford is a good one.

My gaze wanders to the left and the house next door. It’s obvious that whoever lives there doesn’t care about the house or lacks the time for upkeep. The yellow paint that covers the house is chipped. The front steps are missing bits of concrete, and the mailbox is hanging loosely by what looks like one nail.

“I think it’s abandoned,” Lottie says. “Although I’ve only been by here a handful of times. The grass just keeps getting longer. The flowers are beyond dead, and it looks like the roof may have a hole in it.”

“That’s sad,” I whisper, wondering if a family ever made sweet memories there.

She shrugs. “It’s life.”

I know she’s not trying to be callous, but all I can think of when I look at the tattered yellow house is what could have been.

“You’re probably wondering why I brought you here and how it relates to Randall’s wedding gift.”

“Are you buying him his childhood home?” I joke. “Is that what the big surprise is?”

Her hand jumps to cover her mouth as her eyes widen. “How did you know?”

Shocked, I stare at her. “You want to live here?”

“I think I might one day,” she says tentatively, as if she’s considering the idea for the fist time. “I love Manhattan, but there’s something special about this place. I feel it whenever I come by.”

I feel something, too. It’s joy for her. She’s finding her way to a life that will be fulfilling. It’ll be a new path for her and Randall while still rooted in his past.

“Does Randall want to live here?” I ask with a slight chuckle. “Have you asked him?”

“I don’t need to ask.” She shakes her head. “Shortly after we met, he told me he always thought he’d buy his parents’ house and raise his family there, but they sold it before he could secure the funds to do that. Less than two years later, they gave him and his sisters their family bakery and moved to Arizona.”

“Randall owns a bakery?”

“Used to,” she clarifies. “He owns Azelius Spas now.”

“I had no idea.” I drop my gaze to the ground. I’m ashamed that I know so little about the man she’s marrying. I’m the maid of honor. I haven’t lived up to that title, but there’s still time.

“My lawyer contacted the owners by phone a couple of days ago, and they’re interested in selling,” she tells me. “I wrote them a long letter about what it would mean to me to raise my kids in this house.”

“I hope it works out for you, Lottie.”

She pulls an envelope out of her purse. “This is that letter. I’ll shove it in the mailbox, and then we can grab some dinner.”

My initial plan was to have dinner with Reid at his place since we haven’t had time alone since Monday, but I can sense Lottie needs me. “Dinner sounds great to me.”

As she makes her way up the front path toward the mailbox, my gaze drops to my phone to text Reid.

Evie: I’m having dinner with Lottie, so I’ll see you tomorrow.

His reply is instantaneous.

Reid: You’ll see me tonight. Text me when you’re done dinner. I’ll send Basil to bring you to me.

A smile inches over my lips as I respond quickly.

Evie: I can get to your apartment on my own. Fair warning: I’m wearing the prettiest pink silk panties right now.

I can’t help but blush when I read his next text message.

Reid: Fair warning: I’ll rip them off of you. So if you want to save them, take them off before you get here.

I look up to see Lottie making her way back to where I’m standing with a broad smile on her face. “I’m craving spaghetti and meatballs. Do you know a place?”

“I know the place.” I drop my phone in my purse. “It’s called Calvetti’s. It’s back in Manhattan. You’ll love the food and the owner. She’s the sweetest Italian grandma in the world.”

“Sounds like pasta perfection.” She sighs. “I’ll have to skip out before dessert, though. I promised Randall I’d meet up with him for a drink later. You’ll be okay on your own, right?”

I can’t contain a grin. “I’ll be just fine.”