We gave you a home

We gave you a home
Violet

I did not think I would get any more presents from the Kingsley brothers. They had already given me flowers, a fancy new water bottle, that amazing dinner on the gazebo, and the beautiful rings. I could not stop touching them, turning them around on my finger just to prove to myself they were real, that this was truly happening to me. Not to some character in a book I was writing.

But when they drove me out to the waterfall, my heart felt so full. It was such a tender, romantic thing to do, to bring me back to the place where everything really began. Well, I suppose it started at the Professor’s house, but our first official date was here, in the swimming hole under the man-made waterfall. I think that was the first time I truly let myself believe I could be with both of them.

There was a blanket already on the grass, covered in rose petals, so I knew they had put a lot of planning into this extra “gift.” There was a vase with more roses and a box with a big red bow. They sat down facing me on the blanket, and I swear they were watching me with the same deep, hopeful intensity as when they got on their knees to give me the rings. It made me feel a little nervous as I picked up the box.

“Be careful,” Richard warned me, “It is very… delicate.”

Something inside shifted, and I thought it was odd. If it was breakable, shouldn’t it be packed with something soft? I carefully undid the bow and started to lift the lid when the thing inside moved again, and it let out a tiny, sweet meow.

I pulled out the most adorable little ball of fluff I had ever seen. It looked like she had every possible cat color splashed across her small body, and the biggest, bluest, most scared eyes. I held her close, and she clung to my chest, her little needle-claws pricking my skin. I could feel her whole tiny body shaking under my hand.

I remembered once telling the guys that I wanted a cat. So this was a sweet thing to do, but also a really careless one. My happiness about the kitten turned bitter. They had given me a living thing I would have to give back. I had no home; it would be wrong for me to have a pet now. Plus, if finding an apartment was hard, finding one that allowed pets would be even fucking harder.

“This is really unfair!” I snapped, feeling genuinely hurt. Because I wanted so badly to keep her. “How can I keep a kitten in a hotel room?”

I thought the guys would at least have the decency to look sorry for their thoughtless gift, but they did not seem bothered by my anger at all. Michael leaned back with a strange look on his face, like he was trying not to laugh, and Richard…

Richard just smiled and reached out to pet the kitten. He used one finger to stroke between its ears, then turned the little leather collar it was wearing. Something jingled. I sighed, thinking they had already named the poor thing, and lifted her up to see the tag.

But there was no name tag. There was a shiny new silver key. “Wait… what is this?”

“That is a key!” Michael burst out.

I rolled my eyes at him and touched the key. “I know it is a key, you idiot.” I cuddled the scared kitten back to my chest. “What does it go to?”

Richard reached into his pocket and pulled out a matching set of new keys. “The keys to your new house. That is, if you want it.”

My mouth fell open, and I squeezed the kitten a little too hard. She squeaked in protest. “What did you say?”

Richard stood and offered his hand to help me up. I was too stunned to do anything but let him pull me to my feet. “Remember that day, how you said the old factory building would make a cool house?”

“Yeah… but…” I shook my head. “You said it was full of asbestos!”

He shrugged one shoulder, a graceful movement, and Michael came and put his arm around my back. “We had it all taken care of,” he said, smiling happily. “Want to see?”

I still did not fully understand what was happening. I let them lead me back across the grass to the gravel parking lot behind the big brick building. Michael had picked up my sandals, so I would not have to walk on the stones barefoot. He bent down and helped me put them on while I was staring at the building. Yes, it was the same, but I began to notice the changes. The windows were new. The door was new. The spots where graffiti had been were cleaned off.

Richard handed me the keys. “Would you do the honors?”

I swallowed hard, and still holding my new cat with one arm, I took the keys and walked to the new door. I slid the key in, turned it, and pulled the door open.

I had never been inside before, so I had not seen what it looked like. But I was sure a massive amount of work had been done. The original brick walls were all cleaned up. Most of the space was still one big, open area, and a curved metal staircase led up to a second-floor loft. It was filled with bright, happy sunlight from all the new windows. I turned in a slow circle, trying to take it all in.

“You… you did this… for me?” I gasped.

Richard came to stand behind me, putting his arms around my waist and pulling me back against his solid chest. “Mmmhmm.” He kissed the top of my head. “It is yours. There is still some paperwork to finish, a few things to sign, but I have transferred everything to your name.”

I turned in his arms, making the kitten complain again. “You did what? Richard, you did not!”

He looked down at me, his eyes dark and serious as he held my cheek with one hand. “We did, actually. I know you have had to move so many times since your dad died, and we wanted to give you something that would make you feel… safe and settled. If you do not like it, you can sell it and find something else, but… it is all yours now. The old mill, the waterfall, and this old factory building.”

I stared back at him, still not able to process it.

“We did not do much to the inside,” Michael added, coming to my back, putting me between the two of them. “We wanted you to be able to design it however you want. But we fixed the plumbing and put in a nice bathroom upstairs.” He nuzzled my neck. “You can live here while you fix the rest up.”

“You… you gave me a building?” I mumbled, swallowing against the tightness in my throat. My eyes were stinging so much I could barely see Richard’s face in front of me.

“Not just a building,” Richard corrected. "We gave you a home."