After I got off the phone with Ken Cameron, I was excited. I quickly texted Garett to let him know Ken would be by tomorrow to do some measurements and take some pictures for us - and he'd have plans and ideas for us within a week. Our bedroom wouldn't need much, just some paint and some work on the built-in storage. Years of use - and lack of use - had taken its toll on some of the drawers. The master bath though, both Garett and I agreed, would need a complete redo. The claw-footed tub could probably be refinished, according to Ken, but the floors and the rest...well, we’d see what he came up with. Garett told me to tell Ken whatever I wanted for the kitchen. I already knew what we needed and what Garett liked and he said he trusted my judgment, besides Ken would know best what could be salvaged from the old kitchen and what needed a complete overhaul. I suspected it would be best to refinish all the floors while we had the rest of the rooms painted and redone. We decided to leave the exterior til summer. Garett had plans for the backyard and I wanted to put in a new garden off the side of the house just outside the kitchen. There was a larger open area in between the garden area and the backyard beyond the side kitchen porch and we spent a long, lazy Saturday afternoon on the porch swing considering what to do with the space. Garett had memories of ducking in and out of the hedges as a little boy. They had long been cut down and dug up after separating the garden area from the larger yard for most of his childhood, but he didn't want to replace them. I agreed - a shorter picket fence would be better with Grey. I'd be able to let him out the side door and watch him through the window while in the kitchen. It was during that conversation that Garett told me more about his childhood - his memories of the house and the yard. He was holding my hand between both of his, kissing my fingertips as he looked out towards where he said there once had been a couple of swings and a slide. I'd curled up against him and had my head resting against his chest and listened to the slow, steady beat of his heart. Months ago, the quiet would have had my mind racing to find something to hold onto for a minute. Now, his own contentment was the foundation of my peace. He’d learned to harness my energy towards projects like the remodeling, and in doing so, helped me channel it away from anxious habits I tended to fall into. I never felt any guilt for being who I was with him. No shame for my mind falling onto every little thought. Just freedom to be myself - which led me to being better than I had on my own. I'd had this with Michael, but I'd never been able to truly rest in it due to everything else we’d suffered through together. So, it almost felt indulgent to sit back against Garett and envision a future together. I was relishing in that indulgence when Garett pulled me closer and pushed my hair off my shoulder. He rested his chin right at the base of my neck and whispered in my ear, “Come. I want to show you something.” He stood up and took me by the hand to the stairs off the porch. He stood there, in front of one of the columns connecting the stair handrail to the house, and smiled. I'm sure my face gave away my confusion because he only chuckled for a moment before stooping over and pulling me closer to see whatever it was that had drawn his attention. “Look,” he said, running his hand down the edge of the wood of the column towards the floor. “Look close.” I bent over and looked closer - and saw several little notches carved into the edge of the column. I glanced back at him and he just stood back and smiled. That's when I took a second look and noticed the letters near some of the notches: “Garett - 10,” “Garett - 8”... I dropped to my knees and looked closer - there were almost a dozen or so of them altogether! “Garett - 5,” “Garett - 3 ½,” “Garett - 18mths”... I sat back on the top step and looked up at him, “This is amazing...and adorable…” He joined me on the step and wrapped his arms around my shoulders as I stared back up at all the notches making their way up the column through the years. He watched me and said, “I knew you'd like that. I'd almost forgotten about it myself until I was walking through here looking at what needed work last week.” I looked back to him quickly, “We can't get rid of it. Promise! No sanding it.” He chuckled, “I promise. No sanding. Just a bit of paint this spring.” I shifted myself in his arms until I was facing him. “I love you. I love the idea of ‘little Garett’. You know I need to see more now, right? There has to be to some pictures or albums in this house hidden somewhere…” I've never seen Garett embarrassed...but I am pretty sure his sudden stutter was the closest I’d get. “I’m sure they’re...somewhere…,” he trailed off just before I slapped his arm lightly, then he acquiesced, “Ok, ok - we can look for them. I promise.” Satisfied, I pulled in closer to him, resting my cheek on the softness of his shirt. “You know,” I said, certain he could feel my grin against him, “there's a whole empty side of that column where the railing doesn't touch. Just empty...and waiting…” I bit my lip and kept my head down, wondering if he'd laugh - nervously or otherwise - wondering what exactly he had to add to that. After a moment of quiet, I looked up, “Garett? I’m sorry - did I…” He cut me off, “Don't apologize. I was just counting. We’ve got at least 4...5 other columns out here...at least two empty sides each.” He'd called my bluff. “Garett Holt!” I said a little too firmly as I pulled back and gave him a slap on the chest. His loud laugh told me he knew he’d beaten me at my own game. I was quickly lifted to my feet as he picked me up in his arms. He set me back down after spinning around once with me in his arms and said, “Pryce, you are all I need - but I will take all of you I can get. And that includes any ‘extra’ that comes our way, got it?” My smile couldn't get any broader, “Got it.” I couldn't believe this man. His patience, his love - he was all I needed. And I was overindulging with him. I don't think either of us could be happier about it.
