Chapter Text
Sunlight spilled over the 40 acres of quiet ranchland as a dusty old truck rolled down the gravel driveway. Inside were wooden chairs, Sadie’s antique dresser, a disassembled crib, and a few boxes labeled “KITCHEN” and “DO NOT LET THE KIDS OPEN THIS.”
Arthur hopped out first, wiping his brow and grinning wide. Behind him, Javier, John, Charles, Uncle, and Hamish filed out with hoots and cheers.
“Look at that!” Charles said, hand on his hip, admiring the clean white siding and big, inviting windows. “You really did it.”
Arthur scratched the back of his neck, heart full. “We did it.”
Sadie stepped out the van next, stood at the walkway to the porch steps with Violet on her hip. Maisie was skipping around, and admiring the new flower beds, and Theo riding his trike on the gravel like it was the Indy 500.
“Hey!” Sadie called out. “Less gawking, more lifting, boys!”
“Yes, ma’am!” Javier saluted good-naturedly.
They got to work—hauling the couch into the wide-open living room with its vaulted ceilings, hanging up family photos in the hallway, propping up rocking chairs on the porch. Theo "supervised" with a toy hammer, Maisie rolled out rugs, and Violet clung to her mama's leg while humming her own little soundtrack.
Inside, the house had 4 bedrooms (one for Mom & Dad, three for the each of the children), 4 bathrooms (because let’s face it, that many kids means someone’s always in the bathroom), a spacious kitchen with a window overlooking the pasture, and a big open dining area where family dinners and homework sessions would happen side by side.
The furniture wasn’t fancy. Some were thrift finds. Some Arthur built himself. Sadie had spent weeks picking cozy blankets, soft rugs, and calming wall colors. It all came together in the most heartfelt way.
When the sun began to dip low behind the hills, and the truck was finally empty, Arthur stood on the porch with Sadie by his side.
He slipped an arm around her waist, lips brushing her temple. “Reckon they’ll grow up here,” he murmured, watching the kids chase each other across the yard.
Sadie leaned into him. “They’ll have everything we never did.”
“And more,” Arthur said. “They’ll have us. And this.”
The porch light flicked on behind them. The wind carried the smell of fresh wood, new beginnings, and the sweet sound of Violet yelling, “DADDY! Push me please!” from the swing set.
Arthur chuckled and kissed Sadie once more. “Duty calls."
"Yup." Sadie smiled. "Home sweet home.”