Cameron

Two weeks later, Diana finally had a chance to introduce me to something important in her life. Something she loved, and something I had helped her save.

Her house. Rather, her mom’s house - to which she would be returning today, bringing Eli with her.

“Let’s get started cooking,” Diana said as she unlocked first the large wooden outer door, then the screen door so we could step inside onto the foyer. “The kitchen is upstairs, and the basement and guestroom are downstairs. My bedroom and my mom’s bedroom are both upstairs, along with everything else. Except the laundry,” she amended. “Oh and watch that step!” she added quickly as I started up. “The carpet’s loose and it slips when you step on it sometimes.”

“Oh, I see that,” I agreed when I did as she asked and continued carefully, holding Noah’s hand.

“Yeah… sorry.”

I took my eyes from the homely furnishings to find her watching me anxiously. “What? What’s wrong? Did your mother text you or something?” This was supposed to be such a wonderful day, and of course, I jumped immediately to the worst possible assumption.

“No. no, no.” Diana’s curls bounced in reassurance along with the shake of her head. “I just… I’m sorry it’s not what you’re used to. You know, like the brownstone. Some things are kind of falling apart… Like the loose carpet, and the squeaky doors, and the drafty windows.”

“Come here.” Noah released my hand and ran into the living room where Diana told me she had previously strewn about a few dinosaurs. She stepped into my arms to take his place, finding that place where she fit just perfectly under my chin against my body. “My house isn’t perfect either. The bathroom faucet leaks if you don’t turn the hot water handle hard, I covered up a stain from when Noah spilled my coffee with a rug, and the key sticks in the back door. I never use the back door-” That drew a little giggle from her. “-but that’s not the point. The point is that no house is perfect, and no person is perfect. This is a home, and a beautiful home at that, and that’s why you love it. And I love it too. And I love you.”

Diana pulled away, locking her fingers in mine so she could lean back and see my face. “I love you too.”

That was the first time we said that to each other, but it certainly wouldn’t be the last.

Diana and I had a wonderful time cooking lunch, laughing and joking over the music she played from a small speaker on the dining room table. Our merriment turned into dancing, and we danced so long we nearly forgot the macaroni and cheese in the oven.

Then, there was a knock at the door. Eleanor and Eli didn’t wait for us to answer to come in, of course - this was their house and their day. Hugs and kisses floated around, even for me - even though I’d only seen Eleanor once and never met Eli, I felt at home amongst their joking and laughter.

And I suddenly realized where Diana got her beautiful curls. Even at her age, Eleanor’s hair retained them, and watching the two stand side by side and arrange cutlery gave me ample chance to admire the likeness.

Eli and I were two lucky, lucky men. One day, when he was grown, Noah would be a lucky man too.

Lunch went better than I could ever have imagined. I’d never sat down with a group of people that I just… clicked with so well. Laughter, jokes, stories, everything we shared around the table over the spread of delicious food - none of it was lost, and all of it was shared.

Even Noah had a great time. Of course, he was shy at first, but gradually, the love and joy around the table pulled the sensitive boy out of his shell. He never really talked and Eleanor and Eli respected that he didn’t want to, but he listened with a smile on his face.

Then, all too soon, lunch was over. It was nearly three by now, and Eleanor and Eli wanted to unpack and do a few things around the house.

“No, we’ll clean up,” Eleanor said firmly when Diana tried to offer to help, ushering us down the stairs. She knelt carefully to give Noah a quick hug and a kiss, which he allowed. How had I managed to find a whole family Noah loved?

“Are you sure? We really don’t mind staying and-”

“Positive. Lunch was wonderful, and you worked hard enough already. Don’t think I didn’t notice that you cleaned the house, too.”

Laughing, we let ourselves be shown out the door. The sun shone in the sky, turning the snow into shimmering white fire - and it was warm. It had been so long since the sun had made the temperature warmer. I almost felt like I could take off my coat…

“What’s that?”

I followed Noah’s voice to him and then his pointing hand to a patch of snow. “Come here and I’ll show you, Buddy.” We all walked to the edge of the sidewalk and knelt down. “Here.” I slid off Noah’s glove and guided his hand to the snow around one of the objects in question. Together, we brushed away snow ever so gently -

“Flowers?” Noah asked, and the pleasure in his voice sent a thrill straight to my heart.

“Flowers. These are crocuses.”

“Flowers don’t like snow.” His confusion was the most adorable thing I’d ever heard, and Diana and I shared a secret smile as Noah touched a purple bud in wonderment.

“These do. They mean spring is coming,” Diana explained.

I put Noah’s glove back on and plucked him up, sitting him high on my shoulders to look for more crocuses. Just like that, together, the three of us set off along the sidewalk toward the car, the promise of spring lighting the way back to our beautiful home.