Chapter 12 - Foundations and Blueprints
By late summer, the blueprints for the new house were finally complete.
After months of searching through historic Boston suburbs, Matthew and Jenna found what they were looking for: a sprawling, turn-of-the-century farmhouse in Concord, nestled on two acres of land surrounded by weeping willows, a sprawling lawn, and an ancient apple orchard that practically begged for a treehouse to be built in its branches.
It needed work—plenty of it. But unlike the sterile, finished perfection of the Beacon Hill mansion, every nail, every coat of paint, and every floorboard in the Concord house would be chosen together.
On a warm Saturday morning in August, the three of them stood in the overgrown backyard of the new property. Daisy was busy chasing a yellow butterfly near the apple orchard, her laughter carrying across the grass like wind chimes.
Jenna wore a denim overall skirt and a simple white t-shirt, her hair tied back in a messy ponytail, a smudge of pencil dust on her cheek from reviewing architectural drafts.
Matthew stood beside her, a set of blueprint rolls tucked under one arm, watching Daisy with a soft, protective smile that still amazed Jenna every time she saw it.
"The contractor says we can move in by November," Matthew said, unfolding a section of the architectural plans across a wooden picnic table they had dragged onto the grass. "Which means we’ll have our first Thanksgiving here. A real one. With a turkey that doesn't come from a catering truck."
Jenna leaned against his shoulder, looking down at the blueprints. "And a Christmas tree?" she asked teasingly. "From a real tree farm? Not a midnight heist at a closed toy store?"
Matthew chuckled, wrapping his free arm around her waist and pulling her against his side. "I promise, no armed negotiations required this time. Though... I do have a condition."
Jenna raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What's that?"
"The living room fireplace needs to be large enough to hang three stockings," Matthew said softly, looking down into her eyes with a quiet, fierce intensity. "Mine, yours, and Daisy's. Permanently."
May you like
Jenna’s heart swelled until it felt too big for her chest. She reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck, and kissed him deeply, right there in the warm August sunlight, surrounded by the open air and the sprawling green grass.
"Approved," Jenna whispered against his lips. "Unanimously."
