Haunted(40)

I stepped into the foyer. The first thing I saw was a grand staircase. The spindles and the wood were carved from mahogany. Ten steps up the staircase split into two, one going to the right and one going to the left. The wall where the staircase split would be a great place to hang an oversize portrait.

I could tell right away that this was a brand-new home. It had that smell to it—the smell of fresh paint, wood, plaster. The house was waiting to be filled with the smell of a family. I wasn’t ready to go up the stairs yet. Instead, I turned into my right into a large living area. Walking into the room, I saw a fireplace with bookshelves surrounding the whole wall, from top to bottom. If I looked toward the back of the house, there were spanning windows so all I saw were rolling hills and mountains. As far as I could see, there were different colored trees—red, yellow, and orange. It was like looking at the most beautiful painting of autumn I had ever seen.

The floor was carpeted, which I liked. Opposite the huge windows was the front of the house with the bay window that overlooked the front porch. I returned to the foyer and went left into the kitchen. I didn’t really like to cook, but the kitchen might change my mind. The kitchen cabinets were made of mahogany and the countertops were granite. There was an island in the middle. At the end of the island, I could put three bar stools where people could sit while I cooked. There was a large double-door, stainless steel fridge and an area for a family table by the bay window.

Toward the back of the house, offset from the kitchen, was a dining room. In between the kitchen and the dining room was a half bath. I’d seen all I needed to see on the first floor. So I ran back to the foyer and started up the stairs. I heard Roman following me, laughing the whole way. It was the kind of laughter made by a happy child. I looked back at him and smiled.

“Do I want to go right or left?” I asked, feeling like a child myself.

“Do you want to go to Joey’s wing or ours?”

“Joey’s!”

“Then go left.”

I stopped at the first room and opened the door. There was a huge bedroom sectioned off into two separate rooms. The ceilings were steepled. Joey’s bedroom was a good size room with a bay window. A door opened into a bonus room. Roman came up behind me.

“This bonus room is for Joey’s TV and gaming equipment. See, we can put a couch right here with end tables and put the TV and gaming on the opposite wall,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. I had the feeling Joey wouldn’t be the only one using this room.

“This is like two bedrooms in one,” I said with wonder in my voice.

“Yes, it is, but have you seen his bathroom?”

“He has his own bathroom? Roman, you are totally spoiling him!”

“I know, but I can’t help it.” He smiled.

We returned to the bedroom and another door led to Joey’s personal bathroom. This area would absolutely be Joey’s paradise.

“Come with me,” Roman whispered into my ear.

He took my hand and led me back out of the hallway. We went down the hall toward the back of the house. There was another room exactly like Joey’s room.

“This will be the baby’s room.” Roman kissed my ear.

Tears came to my eyes. I kissed him hard.

“Now, let me show you our bedroom.” He took my hand and led me toward the hall.

I could tell this hallway was circular, leading to all the rooms. He opened the door to our bedroom. It was just like Joey’s and the future baby’s except the bonus room was a cozy den overlooking the mountain view. It would be our tiny piece of heaven. I looked forward to where the wall would be to separate the bedroom and the bonus room. Bookshelves lined the wall. I mean the whole wall all the way up to the steepled ceiling with a small skylight at the top. Of course in the middle of the wall was a door to go to the bedroom.

The whole wall is one huge bookshelf! Oh my God, I have died and gone to heaven.

I walked to the bookshelves, and my fingers skimmed over them, mentally deciding which books would go where. The steeple of the roof was high, and there was a balcony eight feet up with a walkway and railing made of black wrought iron. It was a loft. I bet I could even put chairs and tables up there. Eve was going to be so stoked! This room alone was a selling point.

Roman pulled me from my reverie. His hand grabbed my hand and tugged me to our bedroom. It was a charming room, but it didn’t even compare to the room I just left.

My room!

We kissed.

“Let me show you the rest.”

Roman gave me a tour of the rest of the house. In the back of the house, downstairs between the living room and the dining room, was another foyer. Against the wall was again nothing but bookshelves and across from that was a door leading to the outside. Of course my eyes went to the bookshelves and my fingers started skimming over them.

“Look at this.” He grabbed a hidden panel that I would have never seen in the bookshelf. It opened and swung out. On the inside was nothing but more bookshelves. There was a comfortable couch, a side table, and lamp in the room.

“What is this?” I asked in wonder.

“It’s a two for one.”

“What do you mean?”


“It is an extra place for you to have books and to hide from the kids when they’re driving you crazy. Also and most importantly, it’s a panic room where you and the kids can hide if someone breaks in the house. Look.”