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"And if there isn’t work here?" Walt asked

"There will be," Paul said "But until it’s established, I’ll keep the house in Grants Pass If I have to, there’s always a lot of work fora contractor around here, I have a feeling there will be too ood reputation in Grants Pass"

"Hmm," he said "Just how otten pretty big in Oregon," he said with a shrug "We’ve gotten up to a dozen or two structures in progress at a ti on the size, whether they’re commercial, family units or multifamily--apart--I don’t kno much of that I’ll find around here But there’s lots of renovation work How long did it take you to renovate this house?"

"Almost two years," Walt said

"See, that’s it--we could’ve had it done in a few months, even if we started with a lean-to Six at theon a few a year? Renovations or custo," Paul confirain "Give ed confused glances Then Walt was back He held a thick, folded document "This was impetuous of me, and if it doesn’t appeal to you, there will be no hard feelings But then again, if you like the idea, you can consider it an early wedding gift" He handed the pages to Paul

Paul unfolded the document At the top was printed, in boldface, DEED

"I have a lot of land here I wanted a lot--in case the surrounding acreage sells off at soht a couple of acres on the other side of the stable ht work out for you If you’re interested, that is If you’d rather scout around for your own land…"

"Oh, Daddy," Vanni said, so deeply moved that her hand rose to her throat and her eyes swelled with tears

"It’s going to belong to you and Tom one day anyway I have Shelby taken care of If you’re inclined and want to keep your own horses, we can always enlarge the stable and corral" He grinned "I know a builder"

Gently, Paul pushed Vanni off his lap and stood, facing Walt "This is very generous, sir," he said

"It’s very selfish, Paul I wouldn’t randchildren nearby Frankly, a year ago I didn’t think that was an option" Then he looked at Vanni and asked, "Honey, can you be happy in a little town like this? Your husband building around the area, nothing hed a little eht? Dad, not many people even have the opportunity for this kind of life The only coh work here for Paul" She reached for his hand "He loves building houses And he’s brilliant at it We have to keep hi, Vanni," Paul said "Before approaching my dad and brothers with this idea, I called around I said I had house plans and needed a coet someone was a year There’s plenty of work if they’re backed up a year, plenty to spare" He looked at Walt "I’d be willing to call Joe Benson in the , tell him we’re ready to discuss our own plans If you’re sure…"

"You’re holding it in your hand, son It’s your future wife’s property I’in River there was love in the air Paul and Vanni had been back and forth to Grants Pass for a couple of weeks, unable to be apart for even a few days Paul orking out a deal with Joe Benson and his family business to build Preacher’s add-on, and Mike and Brie’s house Then there was To ready to say goodbye for To and then to West Point It was proain to see the proirl still growing, and she was da she woke up at 5:00 am, well before Jack That alnant But she was up and full of energy, so she started her day byout the refrigerator She would routinely bring horoceries and they would inevitably rot while they took their ether at the bar, or packed up so rid of the old food wasn’t quite good enough Mel was on a roll, so she filled the sink with soapy water and began to scrub the inside of the fridge

"What are you doing?" Jack asked as he wandered into the kitchen

"I’ to stop bringing food into this house--we let too o to waste"

She heard David start to stir and lifted her head like a doe set hiet his breakfast ready Would you like s?" he asked

"H "I don’t think they’re deadly yet"

"I think I’ll pass, thanks"

"Coward"

David had his Cheerios, then his playtireat room with all his toys while Mel started the laundry and Jack went outside to spend a few s By next fall there would be a nice huge stack of firewood ready for the winter Some of the trees that had been felled to widen the driveere stacked at the tree line on their property, and he orking on turning them into fuel for the fireplace

Mel wiped down the kitchen cabinets with lemon oil Paul and Jack had truly outdone theranite countertops and stainless-steel appliances The house was absolutely nificent, and much more than Mel had dared allow herself to expect Compared to that little cabin she’d lived in for ale--over three thousand square feet--but she’d ed to fill it up very quickly with furniture and accessories

Once done with the cabinets, Mel did another laundry shuffle, then got a clean diaper for Davie She followed that by getting to work on the shutters with the lemon oil Then she busied herself with a special cleaner for the leather furniture, followed by one more load of laundry When Jack checked in on her before lunch, she was pulling the tags off new little pink things that she’d had for a long tiifts for the baby from Jack’s sisters and her sister Mel laundered and folded all these infant garo

Having babies barely a year apart creates a need for two nurseries--she cleaned David’s roo away the clothes and getting out the newborn diapers and bath towels

By afternoon Jack found her down on her hands and knees scouring the bathroom floor around the toilet and tub "For the love of God," he said