When they all walked outside, Claire lifted her face toward the sky. Inhaling, she savored the fresh autumn breeze. Despite the gray sky, the changing leaves added color to an otherwise dark day. An overwhelming sense of freedom momentarily paralyzed her movements.
“What is it?” Tony asked.
“It’s beautiful. The trees are colorful and the season is changing. It feels so good to be free.”
Tony smiled and wrapped his arm around Claire’s shoulder. “I want to show you something.”
For most of the drive from Cedar Rapids to Iowa City, Claire watched the landscape through the window, and with her hand in Tony’s, she contemplated their family. Of course, it would be hard on Nichol. Why hadn’t she thought of that? But Tony had. He’d even consulted a child psychologist. Claire rested her head against his shoulder. After everything they’d been through the world was right—Tony would make everything right.
When she recognized their location, she asked a question she hadn’t thought to consider, “We’re near the estate. What about the fire? Was there a lot of damage?”
His eyes twinkled. “That’s what I want to show you.”
Nervously, Claire watched as they drove toward the entrance. The front gates opened and they wound up the familiar drive. When the trees parted, Claire gasped. “What happened?”
“You don’t like it?”
She heard the disappointment in his voice, but she couldn’t lie. “I—I don’t know? Did the whole house burn?”
“No. There was a lot of smoke and water damage, but the fire was pretty much contained to the first level southwest corridor.”
As soon as Tony stopped the car, Claire opened her door. Silently, she stood trying to comprehend the grand, white, brick structure. Mesmerized, she stared at the tall windows, long porches, black shutters, and lovely columns. The landscaping was perfect, with tall trees and beds of colorful mums. At one end of the house, there appeared to be an enclosed porch, while at the other end, she saw a carport.
Finally, Tony asked, “Do you want to see the inside?”
Claire didn’t move—it didn’t seem real. Searching for answers, she asked, “What happened to our house?”
“I had it demolished. I built for the wrong reasons”—he took her hand—“it was our house, but it was never a home. It contained too many memories.”
“So, you got rid of it? Tony, there were good memories there too.”
“I built that house for Nathaniel.” His brown eyes sparkled. “Claire, I had this home built for you.” Standing in front of her, he tugged her hand. The uncertainty behind his eyes pulled her forward; she allowed him to lead her inside.
The entry was beautiful—instead of marble, the flooring was a light polished oak. Immediately, Claire felt the warmth of a home. Yes, the estate had been their house, but there were times it felt more like a museum. As Tony took her from room to room, Claire saw the attention to detail—bookcases, cabinetry, custom ceilings and intricate lighting. The back of the house was nothing but windows. In the living room, the windows extended two stories. When they entered the kitchen, her eyes shone. It wasn’t the industrial kitchen of the old mansion. This room was designed with a family in mind. The granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, ornate tile work, stone floor, and back wall of glass all added to the casual yet luxurious feel.
“Oh, this looks like a kitchen where I’d love to cook.”
Tony smiled. “You have a cook, but it’s your kitchen. You can do whatever you’d like.”
The lower level contained all the amenities of the old house: a theater room more modern than before, a fun family area, as well as an exercise room and lap pool. When they entered the pool, Tony squeezed Claire’s shoulders. “I couldn’t build you a house without your favorite room.”
Speechless, she shook her head. Finally, she whispered, “It’s beautiful, thank you.”
Next, Tony took Claire upstairs to Nichol’s room—it was a room fit for a princess. Shades of pink and purple dominated the senses as the canopy bed set center stage. Each door or drawer Claire opened was filled. The closets were stocked with clothes and shoes, while the shelves were full of books and dolls. Lastly, he led her to the master bedroom suite.
Compared to the rest of the house, Claire was surprised by the darkness of the room. Letting go of her hand, Tony walked to the far wall and lifted a switch. The draperies moved and the room filled with natural light—more ceiling to floor windows. Claire gasped. In the middle of the windows were two large French doors. He opened the doors, allowing the fresh air to fill their suite and motioned toward the balcony. They stepped through the glass and Claire exclaimed, “Tony, everything is so open and bright.”