time or place for it right now. Instead, I reach across, wrapping my fingers around the back of her neck and give her a squeeze.
Tennessee lifts her gaze up to meet mine and I can see the sadness in her eyes, it’s so incredibly strong that I can feel it deep inside of me as well.
With a jerk of my head, I keep my eyes focused on hers and nowhere else. She licks her lips, watching me as her breathing starts to become shallower. My lips twitch and I squeeze the back of her neck, hoping to comfort her.
“I thought you would want to make it your space. I was trying to do something that you wanted. If you don’t, we can use the same interior decorator who did Holden’s room? I used her for my penthouse and my office, she’s an old friend.”
Tennessee’s eyes flick to the side, then her lip curls slightly. I don’t even allow her to ask the question that I know is on the tip of her tongue. Instead, I immediately answer it for her.
“Susan doesn’t use her, never has. They don’t get along at all. Susan says that her style is simple and boring, and that it lacks the pizzazz she enjoys.”
She presses her lips together, then before she can hold it back, she lets out a giggle. “Holden’s room is gorgeous. Whoever this designer is, she goes for a subtle and classic look. If it wouldn’t upset you, I think it would be easier for me, especially since she already knows your taste.”
Leaning forward, I touch my lips to hers. “Don’t decorate just simply for my taste, honey. I want it to be a mixture of us, because at the end of the day, this home is ours. It’s not mine. It’s ours.”
“Okay,” she says, her gaze drifting back down to her lap.
I can tell she’s lying. Even if she doesn’t realize it, she is. Squeezing the back of her neck again, her eyes fly up to meet my own. She clears her throat, her lips parting slightly.
“I’m serious, Tennessee. It’s ours. Both of ours. It’s not mine.”
“But it is yours,” she rasps.
I shake my head once. “You’re living here. You’re mine and this is ours.”
“Okay,” she says, lying again.
Unable to stop myself, my lips twitch into a small smile. “You still don’t believe it yet. That’s okay, I have time to make sure that you do and fully.”
Touching my mouth to hers again, I flex my fingers around the back of her neck one more time before I release my hold.
“How about we pack up the stuff at your place today? If you don’t want to do that, I can hire it done. We can do whatever you want.”
What I want to do is see her smile again, but she’s not really giving it to me. I can’t blame her and I’m not going to force it, but I like it when she smiles—when she’s happy.
“We can do that, pack up a little,” she says softly.
I nod my head once, then without saying anything else, I stand and walk toward the full glass back door to look out at the yard. There is plenty of space for Holden here. A pool with a full gate, and even a playground.
Looking over my shoulder, I give them a smile. “I can take Holden outside to play on the toys while you get ready?” I offer.
It’s that moment that the sparkle in her eye reappears. Her lips curve up into a smile and she nods her head once. “He would love that,” she murmurs. “I would too.”
I hum, knowing that statement is the truth. Holding out my hand, I watch as she speaks to Holden softly, then he scrambles off of the chair and runs over to take my outstretched hand.
Together, hand-in-hand, I walk him out to the play yard. Before I let him on the toys, I do a quick perimeter and toy check for snakes and scorpions then tell him to get his play on. I watch as he climbs the mini rock wall, slides down the slides, attempts to swing on the swing and runs all over to the place. It’s perfect for him, and it’s just big enough that he’ll be able to grow with it for a few years before he completely outgrows it.
Never in my life did I think that at the age of sixty-two I would be starting all over again, and never in my life did I