Chapter 14

“Emerson, babe!” the architect with the hippie rattail for hair addressed him as Em pulled up to his plot of land. “Come take a look.”

The man opened the car door and prompted the new homeowner to exit the vehicle. “What do you think?”

Emerson stood in front of the hollowed entry where walls were hurriedly going up and framing being erected. It gave him a warm feeling to see it coming together.

“Step inside,” Dawson urged.

Em followed the creative genius to his future living room where the fireplace was currently being bricked by a man in coveralls. The brick was a lighter shade of amber and Emerson could see himself sitting there one day, enjoying the crackling flames and a glass of wine. It was freedom to think of himself partaking in activities that normal people enjoyed.

“What’s that?” he asked, pointing to a basket of apples balanced near the pile of bricks.

“Oh, one of your neighbors brought that over,” Dawson said airily. “Housewarming, you know, although they’re a few weeks ahead of schedule… wish I was!”

He guffawed and took Emerson’s elbow to steer him into the interior of the structure, leading him through what would be his kitchen, dining area, and along through the corridors leading to the bedrooms and bathrooms. Emerson looked through the still hollow walls down on the hill below, and Dawson’s exposition began to fade away. Slowly he turned to face the morning sun rising over the hill, touching the tops of the farmhouse, and he smiled.

Whatever else was happening, at least his future home was coming together. As the project neared completion his anticipation grew. Soon he would be seeing this beloved view every day. His smile broadened; he could hardly wait.

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