is too big for us. If you’re that set on doing this hole up, we’ll pay for someone to do it.”
“No, we won’t.” I pick up another piece and take it outside. “We’re doing everything ourselves, Cameron.”
“It’ll take years.” He frowns.
I shrug. “So? We have years, don’t we?” I pick up another piece and take it back outside, and I smile as I walk back in. He’s secretly having a panic attack over there.
“Hang on, hang on.” He puts his hands onto his hips. “So, you actually think that we can renovate this house ourselves?”
“Yes.” I roll my eyes. “Are you listening to me at all?”
He shakes his head in disbelief. “How?”
I pick up another piece of plasterboard. “Not by standing there watching, that’s for sure.” I take it outside and I smirk when I come back in.
“Well, I’m not sleeping in a damn barn, Ashley. I need a bathroom, at least,” he demands.
“You can get the bathrooms done professionally,” I concede as I pick up another piece of plasterboard. “We can sell the other house to pay for everything.”
Cameron looks at me blankly, his hands still on his hips.
“You organize the bathrooms. Find a plumber and pick the tiles and fittings, and I’ll clear the plasterboard.” I pick up yet another piece.
“You’re… You’re fucking serious?” he stammers.
I nod.
He frowns. “Well, where will I find a plumber out here?”
I look at him, deadpan. “You’re a heart surgeon, Cameron. I’m pretty sure you’re smart enough to work this shit out.” I carry out the next piece of plasterboard. “Oh, and I want a bathroom out in the barn, too, please!” I call.
“What for?”
“I’m making that a guesthouse so we can have friends stay over.”
“Fuck’s sake,” I hear him mutter under his breath, and I bite my bottom lip to hide my smile. I come back inside.
“So that’s four bathrooms I have to organize. How in the hell will I organize four bathrooms?”
It’s really hard not to burst out laughing here. “I would start by writing a list and maybe Googling bathroom renovation.”
He glares at me as I continue taking out my plasterboard.
“Well, it’s going to have to wait until after the wedding.”
“If you can’t handle organizing a few tradesmen, just leave it.” I sigh as I pick up more plasterboard. “I’ll do it.”
“I can handle it,” he snaps.
“Doesn’t look like you’re handling it.”
“And I thought the hard thing about marrying you was going to be proposing…” he mutters.
I turn to him. “No, Cam.” I put my hands on my hips. “The hardest thing for you is going to be getting me pregnant and looking after our kids.”
His eyes hold mine, and he smiles softly. “Now, there’s a plan.” He comes to me, brushes the hair back from my forehead, and kisses me softly.
“Renovating a house is easy, Cam.” I look up at him. “It’s going to be so rewarding to have done this ourselves. I know it’s going to be hard, but can you imagine when we come here with the kids? The house will be finished, and we’ll have a pool. They can have horses and motorbikes and know that we did all of this ourselves.”
He looks around the house as he holds me in his arms.
“The whole thing is just overwhelming, Ash.”
I smile. “You know what’s overwhelming, Cam?”
“What?”
“Having a baby on your own. Not knowing who his father is. Don’t talk to me about overwhelming because you have no fucking idea what it means.”
He swallows the lump in his throat and blows out a breath. “You’re a tough chick.”
I smile broadly. “I am, so start moving this damn plasterboard before I hurt you.” I smack his behind. “Now!”
It’s 5:00 p.m. when I finally take one last look around Pemberley. Cameron and I have cleared the family room and half of the downstairs today. We’re exhausted.
Owen has climbed trees and gotten into everything. The three of us are filthy dirty.
We walk down to the barn to get our things, and as Cameron loads himself up and disappears outside I stop and inhale my surroundings.
I love this stone barn. I love everything about it.
A thought crosses my mind and I go outside to look at the surrounding paddocks before I come back into the barn. It’s big enough, sitting at about thirty meters long and about fifteen meters wide, but… no, it couldn’t be possible.
Could it?
Cameron reappears through the doors.
“Cam.” I bite my bottom lip nervously. How do I say this? “I think I know where I want to get married.”
“Where,