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After the terrible places he’d been, this old house, and Sarah’s connection to it, seeht up in a house, could so obviously belong within its walls, fascinated Bodie

Or maybe it was Sarah who fascinated him

She didn’t wear a wedding band, or any jewelry save a gold chain around her neck The attached pendant was hidden under her collar

“You’re doing this by yourself?”

She shook her head “I’ve had an architect, contractors, electricians, plumbers, floor people, roof people, pest control people, the Historical Society, painters, and dozens of others giving their input or working I can’t take credit for much of the actual labor My hoave his”

He’d wanted to knohether or not she had a husband or significant other to help her Still, she’d answered his question

“Why?”

Her waraze met his “This wasup” A faraway look settled onto her face as she continued “Later in life, she drea the house into a bed and breakfast so it would be filled with love and laughter and people again When she died, she left me the house and her dream”

Things and places didn’t matter too much to Bodie He’d et attached Just being inside four walls was enough to make him antsy Sarah Smith didn’t seem to suffer from that malady She was invested in this house and in her aunt’s vision

What did that even feel like? To be so attached to a place?

“Fulfilling that dreaacy”

He nodded as if he understood In truth, he couldn’t help but stare at her, wondering at how different their lives had been

Glancing around the kitchen, she changed the subject “I’ve finished this roo away the charm from the past”

She’d done a good job The roo off one of those television home remodel shows he’d watched while laid up in bed month after month

“All the appliances are new” She looked around the roo in this room is neas able to use the cabinets—I just reinforced theranite and put a coat of paint over them I had the new sinks put in and the island built with the extra sink, oven, and the commercial dishwasher”