A lady stood waiting at the door for them.

“Welcome to Declan’s home. I am Maria, and my husband Joseph is somewhere in the gardens. Let me show you to your rooms.”

Zoe trailed after Maria, but Dominic had run straight for the pool. Declan followed him.

“I hope you will be comfortable. Please ask me if you need anything else,” Maria said.

Speechless, Zoe just stared. The room was bigger than anything she had ever seen. The best part was the big, comfortable looking bed facing the windows out onto beautiful gardens. How fabulous it would be to wake up to that view every day.

“Is the room okay, Ms. Clark?”

“Call me Zoe please. Oh Maria, it’s amazing. I have never seen anything like it.”

“Wait until you see Declan’s room,” Maria replied. Zoe turned to put her stuff on the bed. She didn’t want the housekeeper to see her blushing.

“Would you like to see where your brother is sleeping?”

“Yes, please.”

Maria took her to a smaller room that was still bigger than Zoe’s bedroom at home. It was an adult room but she noticed a couple of toys scattered around. Maria caught her gaze.

“Declan asked my husband to pick up some things. He said your brother loved basketball, so we set up a net in the yard. We also have a tennis court. Does he like to play tennis?”

Zoe nodded, unable to speak. This had to be a dream, it just couldn’t be real. She had read about people living like this but had never come close to a house this luxurious before.

“This is Declan’s room.” Maria went to open the door but Zoe stopped her.

“I’m sure he doesn’t want me poking around in his private quarters.”

Maria took her back toward the front door where she showed her the kitchen and dining area, the lounge and what she called the den.

“The TV screen is almost as big as the one at the local movie theater.”

“Yes, it is huge. And it rarely gets used. Such a waste, but Declan prefers to read.” Maria plumped up a cushion before asking, “Would you like to freshen up or are you ready for dinner?”

“Could we eat, please?” Zoe was worried her stomach would make rude noises.

“Yes of course. Everything is ready.”

“Thank you for being so welcoming,” Zoe said, and meant it. It was intimidating to be in a house where everything inside of it cost more than she made in a year.

“It is my pleasure. Declan has been on his own for too long. He needs a good woman.”

Maria walked toward the kitchen leaving Zoe to stare after her. Had Declan discussed her with Maria? It sounded like he had.

“I will call the boys if you want to take a seat.”

“This smells delicious Maria, thank you.”

“I love to cook. And I love having people to cook for. Which means today, I am a very happy lady.”

The thought, ‘me too’, popped into Zoe’s head. She was happy, despite her concerns. Declan’s home was like a piece of heaven.

* * *

Declan came back in with Dominic, who was chattering up a storm. Everything was “awesome” or “cool”. Declan walked over to Zoe and kissed her lightly on the lips.

“You okay?’

“Yes, thank you. Maria has been very kind.”

Declan moved closer to Maria and put his arm around her waist. “She is a wonderful woman, my Maria.”

“Keep your hands to yourself, Declan, or I will get my Joseph onto you,” Maria said before shrieking with laughter as Declan tickled her. “Stop that, do you hear me? That’s abuse.”

“Zoe, this place is so cool. Can we live here forever? Did you see the size of the pool? I can’t wait to swim and did you see Declan got me a basketball goal? I can practice every day. And—”

“Whoa, slow down kid. We can see everything later. For now, eat your meal,” Zoe said.

“Yes ma’am,” Dominic answered, picking up his fork.

Maria joined them at Declan’s insistence. Then he went to call for Joseph. Moments later, a grey haired older man arrived with a smile as wide as Maria’s.

“So nice to have some people around the place,” he said as he shook Zoe’s hand. He patted Dominic on the head. “We met already out in the garden. Your son—”

“He’s my brother.” Lord, what age did the man think she was?

He looked so embarrassed, she hastened to explain.

“It’s okay, it happens a lot. Our parents died a few years back, so I’ve kind of taken over their role.”

“I am sorry to hear that. I was just telling Declan what a good boy your brother is. Nice manners.”

Dominic colored as he sat with his hands clasped ready to pray. Joseph lead the prayers and then they all started eating. The meal passed with lots of laughs. The familiarity and affection between Declan and his so-called employees was a joy to watch. He treated them more like parents than servants.

“Maria and Joseph are like a surrogate family to me. I hated it when I first moved over here. I had lots of people who knew me but no real friends. Then I met Joseph and Maria and next thing we were all living together. It’s been about five years now and they haven’t thrown me out yet.”

Maria laughed while Joseph added “We’ve been tempted, but it’s your house so it’d be difficult to send you packing.”

Zoe watched Dominic’s face. He looked so happy and relaxed. There was no sign of the sulky, moody child whom she had gotten used to over the last few months. Her glance met Declan’s and he smiled at her, his eyes twinkling.

“Happy?” he mouthed.

She smiled a “yes” at him. She was happy.

“After dessert, why don’t I show you the grounds?” Joseph suggested.

“Dessert? On a school day? Awesome.” Dominic’s eyes bulged out of their sockets as Maria placed a large apple pie on the table.

“You like pie, young man?”

“Yes ma’am. I love pie and whipped cream and ice-cream.”

“All together?” Joseph asked.

“Absolutely.”

“I’ll have to try that too. Give me what he’s having,” Joseph said to Maria.

“I will not. You heard the doctor. You have to stop with the sugar or you’ll get diabetes.”

“Come on, woman. A little bit isn’t going to hurt me, is it Dominic?”

“I don’t know,” Dominic said, looking unsure.

“See, I knew this boy was smart. He already knows who wears the trousers in this household.”

Declan ruffled Dominic’s hair. Zoe waited for her brother to protest that he wasn’t a child, like he did when she touched him. But he didn’t. He seemed happy.

“Maria, you can’t keep feeding us like this every day. You’ll have to roll me out of the house.”

“You need some fat on them bones. Girls these days have funny ideas of what a woman should look like,” Joseph said.

Zoe shifted in her chair. Brought up to be respectful to older men, she didn’t want to offend him. But she didn’t like him commenting on her figure either.

“Zoe is just fine the way she is. You stop being a rude old man and get back to work.” Maria chided her husband.

“Who you calling old? You’re at least a year older than me.”

“Go on, get. Or I will make you do the washing up.”

“Not on your life. Washing up is women’s work. Come on Dominic, lets get out of here while we still can.”

Zoe was about to tell Dominic to stay and help but a shake from Declan’s head told her not to.

“He can help tomorrow night. For now, let him get used to the place,” Declan said pulling out a chair. “Maria, sit down. I insist. You enjoy your coffee. Zoe and I will do the dishes.”

“But she’s a guest.”

“No, she isn’t. She can pull her weight just like the rest of us. Isn’t that right, honey?”

Zoe glowed. He didn’t see her as an outsider. She winked at Maria.

“I don’t know about that, honey. I think I’d prefer to watch you work.”

Her answer was a dishcloth landing on her lap. Thankfully it was dry.

“Come on beautiful. Do your chores and then I’ll take you somewhere nice.”

Zoe jumped up to help. She caught the smile on Maria’s face and the look of affection that passed between her and Declan. Maria didn’t stay sitting for long. “Plenty of time for me to be resting when I am dead. Zoe, is there anything you don’t like to eat. I want to plan out my menus for the next few days.”

“Dom and I eat everything and anything, Maria. Thank you for asking, though.”

Maria bustled about in her pantry, leaving Declan and Zoe alone with the dishes. She rinsed while Declan stacked the dishwasher. It would have taken less time to do it herself, as he kept stealing kisses in between jobs.

“Are you glad you came to stay?”

“Yes. Your friends are lovely and so kind.”

“They are. I was lucky to find them.”

“Do they live nearby?”

“They used to live a few miles away but I persuaded them I needed them to be close. I told them it was because I wanted them to wait on my every whim.”

She hit him with the wet dishcloth making him grab her and threaten to pour water over her.

“You made them live here because it’s nicer and safer, didn’t you?”

“Don’t say a word. I don’t want them to move out. They have their own house around the back. So we still have privacy,” Declan reassured her.

Zoe wasn’t sure how much privacy she wanted.