Chapter 8 - Building a Home
By the time the summer sun had fully warmed the city, the lease on the Maple Street apartment was coming to an end. James didn't want Grace and Lucy living in a cramped space anymore, but he also knew his minimalist penthouse wasn't a home for a child.
So, he bought a house.
It wasn't a modern glass tower or a cold, historic mansion. It was a beautiful, historic brownstone in Brooklyn, right across from a sprawling park. It had a small backyard with a maple tree, a large kitchen with plenty of room for a table, and big windows that let the sunlight flood the rooms.
On the day they took possession, before the furniture arrived, the three of them stood in the empty living room. The hardwood floors gleamed in the afternoon light.
Lucy was running in circles, her laughter echoing off the walls. "Look at my room upstairs, Mommy! It has a window seat!"
James watched her, then turned to Grace. He pulled a small, black velvet box from his pocket.
Grace gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
"Grace," James said, his voice thick with emotion. "Six months ago, I was standing in the snow, wondering why I had spent my whole life building a legacy with no one to leave it to. Then a little girl told me her mom didn't come home, and she led me to you. You gave me a purpose. You gave me warmth. I don't want to just share a house with you. I want to give you my name, my heart, and my entire life. Will you marry me?"
May you like
Tears streamed down Grace’s face as she threw her arms around his neck. "Yes, James! A thousand times, yes."
From across the room, Lucy cheered, running over to wrap her arms around both of their legs. James pulled her up into his arms, holding the two of them close against his chest. The empty rooms of his life were officially gone, filled to the brim with the only wealth that ever truly mattered.
