Chapter 13 - THE HOUSE WITH FOUR BEDROOMS
Rafe had owned many houses.
Penthouses.
Townhouses.
A waterfront estate in Connecticut.
A villa in Italy he rarely visited.
But none of them had ever felt like home.
Then Rosie walked into his kitchen one Saturday morning and announced:
“This house needs more purple.”
Rafe looked up from his newspaper.
“Does it?”
“Yes.”
Owen nodded.
“And a dinosaur room.”
Rafe considered.
“Separate rooms?”
Rosie looked horrified.
“Obviously.”
Audrey stood in the doorway, laughing.
Rafe looked toward her.
“Apparently I've been living incorrectly.”
She smiled.
“For years.”
The twins had begun spending more time at Rafe's home.
At Audrey's pace.
With clear boundaries.
No pressure.
No sudden changes.
One evening, after the children fell asleep, Rafe sat beside Audrey on the sofa.
“I want to ask you something.”
She looked up.
“Yes?”
“Would you consider moving in?”
Audrey froze.
Rafe continued immediately.
“Not because of the threats. Not because of Grant. Not because I think you need someone to take care of you.”
She watched him.
“Then why?”
He swallowed.
“Because I love you.”
Silence.
Audrey stared.
Rafe looked almost nervous.
“I've wanted to say that for months.”
Her eyes filled.
He continued.
“I love Rosie. I love Owen. But I know loving them doesn't make me their father, and I won't pretend otherwise.”
Audrey began crying.
Rafe reached for her hand.
“I want to build a home with you. If you want that too.”
Audrey smiled through tears.
“I do.”
He exhaled.
Then laughed softly.
She leaned into him.
“But one condition.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Only one?”
“For now.”
He smiled.
“What is it?”
“Rosie chooses her bedroom color.”
Rafe closed his eyes.
“Purple.”
Audrey laughed.
“Very purple.”
He nodded solemnly.
“I'll survive.”
Three months later, they moved into a house with four bedrooms.
One for Audrey and Rafe.
One purple room for Rosie.
One dinosaur room for Owen.
And one guest room.
For the people who loved them.
Because Audrey had learned something important.
May you like
A home wasn't measured by square footage.
It was measured by who stayed.
