Love At First Swing

Chapter 5

I woke up that next morning in the old bed, Hunter was spooning me and like always we fit like a glove. I sat their for awhile in silence, but soon my drive to get things done in this house, in our home, had taken over. And it was in that moment I knew that I was home, really and truly home again. Though I couldn't tell if the feeling of home was because I was back in the farm house or because I was with Hunter again. I loved being back here in this house with this guy. And I loved laughing with him about our new home. We had already made so many plans to change parts of the house and which parts to keep. And if I had it my way it would have a very strong influence from Chip and JoAnna Gaines. And with that thought I decided it was time to start seeing what changes could be made. I decided to start with the living room the outdated floral wall paper had to go. I guess the sound of me trying to rip it off the walls woke Hunter up as well. 

"Good Morning Hunt, I hope I didn't wake you."

"Oh sure you don't, you were just casually ripping the walls apart. No big deal really."

"You were asleep on the other end of the house, I didn't think you would notice. You know we could go into town and get the proper tools to take that down with."

"Okay, but we have to go fast, I'm excited to see what it looks like underneath."

"Sure thing Lay, but if I had to guess I would say that it is just drywall."

And after his buzzkill attitude he left to walk into the kitchen and after a few minutes I heard the familiar sound of pans clinking together. Walking inside I saw him and all of his shirtless glory beginning to make pancakes. I sat down at the bar attached to the island countertop and watched him stir in the sliced strawberries.

"Are those for me? Because I would be vary appreciative if those were for me."

"No these are all mine, I only make breakfast for people that don't kick me in my sleep. And I certainly don't make breakfast for people that wake me up to early."

"Well that is just rude." 

Hunter laughed and then handed me a plate with some of the freshly made strawberry pancakes on them. I loved that he made these for me, the boy doesn't even like strawberries and he made them for me anyway. He truly was my best friend. 

"So what are you planning on doing to the wall that you destroyed in the living room, or had you  not thought that through yet?"

"I have a plan and I will tell you when I know what is under there." 

After eating Hunter made is way into town to get the blade for me to continue to tear down the wallpaper. As I cleaned the kitchen I heard a car pull up and then a knock quickly followed. I froze at the shock of it, who would have driven out here this early in the morning? I wasn't completely sure I was ready to face the people in this town. And when I heard them knock a second time I knew that I was going to have to see someone, whether I liked it or not. Though when I opened the door I was happy to see it was Anita, Hunter's mother. 

"Oh Honey I am so happy to see you," she screeched and pulled me into a bone crushing hug. 

I laughed at her, " It is nice to see you to Anita."

And it was, it was so nice to see the woman that had been like a second mother to me my whole life. And with the absence of my own mom, it was nice to know I was going to have her back. I loved that she knew my mom, and that she knew her in ways that I didn't and she could tell me all the stories my mother never got the chance to. 

"Hunter tells me that you have already started the renovations."

"Why yes I have, please don't tell Grandpa Jo. I wasn't even thinking about what he would say the idea came to me this morning and I just had to see it through."

"Oh Laken, Jo already knows. But it is okay, this is you and Hunter's house now."

"Come in to the living room with me. Do you remember Jo saying that originally these were all plain wood walls? Well that has come back into style. So I was thinking that I could stain that old wood and use it as an accent on this wall."

"Something tells me even grandpa Jo would approve of that renovation. What are you going to do with the other two walls?"

"I am going to paint them bright white and I am want to re-stain the floors the same dark color as the wall. Then I think we will do lots of colorful accents. I would like to keep the old green couch. and keep the old coffee table to, maybe just new chairs."

"Well I think that it is going to look fabulous Laken."

"Thanks Anita, that means a lot."

After we finished talking about the living room, I made coffee and we continued to catch up. I told her how lonely I was for the last five months and she told me how much she missed me, and how much she thought everyone else had too. She always knew how to make me feel better, and I loved her for that. She was laughing with me about how ridiculous Hunter was and how scared he was to tell me about our arrangement when Hunter himself pushed open the front door. 

"What are you two talking about?"

And with that we both laughed and decided not to answer him.