The Thunder Rolls

Chapter 12

I couldn't begin to express my excitement for this yard sale, even tho my mind was still filled with thought of our conversation. We held hand and walked around like a family and that made me happy. Even though we had just been knee deep in a very deep conversation, Dean hadn't been scared off. He had admitted he had already thought about it and wasn't afraid. What more could I ask for from a man.

I saw so many amazing things. Stella was excited about toys she saw, Dean was right, I found stuff to decorate the house. I found a solid wood coffee table, a huge beautiful golden mirror, and some dog toys. We paid $10 for all of it, loaded it in the truck and headed to the next one and it was eight am.

"Dean you were right this is incredible" I spazed taking another swig of the coffee that I brought with me.

"You are the cutest woman I've ever met"

"How far is the next one"

" 2 minutes, sit down beautiful, I promise I'll hurry."

He was right we arrived sooner than he said. And we hurried out. I pulled him around and almost had a heart attack when I walked up to a beautiful bright pink makeup vanity. I literally screamed scaring Dean.

"What?!"

" this would look amazing with that gold mirror above it in the bedroom. I have to have it. Do you see a sticker?"

"Ummm, oh, yeah it's 10$"

"You're lying?!"

" no I promise, I'll go pay for it real quick, go look around some more for anything else." He laughed shaking his head.

Stella walked with Dean to buy my vanity and Roman and I walked around. This family must have loved books because they had a ton. I found a few novels that I wanted to read and a couple picture books for Stella. A few more toys for her and beautiful cloth arm chair as well as a smaller chair to fit with the vanity And a wooden chest. After paying $30 for it all and loading it up we had to drive back home to unload it and head to two more.

The next one we went to had two black book cases for $5 each And little girl clothes. I also got two floor lamps. The fourth and last one we went to had kitchen stuff I got utensils and a microwave a few other little nic nacs to set around. There was a little wooden kitchen toy set that Stella fell in love with play food and toy pots that we bought for her. We loaded our haul in the truck and headed back home.

We put everything in the living room and started to organize it all once we arrived home. We started with Stella's kitchen. We bleached it and took it to her room. Soaking the food and tiny pots in bleach water them rinsing them off. She was so excited for them she didn't leave her room the entire time we arranged everything. I was so excited about my vanity I had to start with that first. I made Dean move it three times before I got it in the perfect spot in my room, right across from the end of my bed. We hung the golden mirror right above it and slid the smaller cushion chair under it. I fell in love and squealed. Next I told Dean to bring in the wooden chest and put it at the end of the bed. He sat on it after he snugged it up against the bed frame.

" do you know what this is?" He asked patting it

"No?"

"It's called a cedar chest or a hope chest and they are made to be past down from generation to generation. In the old days girls would fill them with household items and it would be their dowry. Then later years mothers would fill them as gifts for their daughters. I'm suprised someone sold this. How much did you pay for it?"

"$7"

" wow and its in like perfect shape, it's really beautiful "

" I know I love it. So do you think that arm chair would look good in here or since it's so colorful it would look better in the living room?" I asked him still on a decorating high.

" try it in the living room first. bring one floor lamp in here and the book shelves in the living room too" be directed from his spot on the cedar chest

" ok sounds good."

We arranged the living room putting the two book shelves by the tv that we sat on the Wooden coffee table for now and then the arm chair didn't really fit so Dean took it to the bedroom while I plugged the lamp in.

The house looked amazing. I sat the little odds and ends around and it looked like I had lived there for years. Dean opened the French doors and the windows and it felt amazing. I plopped down on the couch and Dean took Stella her books. He walked back in and sat down on the other end facing me

"Dean, I cant believe how a few trips to Walmart, 4 yard sales and 1 carpenter and his brother has turned this dilapidated house into a home in 2 weeks."

"Yea this house looks pretty awesome"

"Do you think everyone will like it tonight? "

"I think they will love it. It's you, so bright and light, it reflects your personality."

" I couldn't have done it without you."

" well thanks. I've done it for you. I would never work this hard for just anyone."

It was only noon. I got up and kissed him. Then headed to the kitchen to make Stella a sandwich. After she ate I laid her down for a nap, with everyone here tonight I knew she wouldn't go to bed early. With her asleep I figured it would be a great time to talk to Dean. We walked outside with Roman behind us. We sat on the porch swing and he put his arm around my shoulder.

"Do you want to talk about Stella now?" He stated to my suprise.

"I don't even know where to start, let's go to the barn and sit down or something"

" that's fine " He held my hand so tightly as we walked to the barn. He opened every barn window and the way the light filtered in made the setting so much more romantic. Then he sat down in front of me

"Ok, I feel like having Stella makes it hard to have a normal relationship, like we have to think about and face things we wouldn't normally have to face in a relationship after dating 2 weeks. And it makes me feel bad because I dont want you to feel like you have to deal with those things just because you are dating someone with a child. Does that make sense."

"Yea"

" yes she is going to ask those questions and so it will need to be addressed but we shouldn't have to rush ourselves into a relationship because we feel the need to answer my child's questions."

"Can I ask you something"

"Yea"

"Did you go out on a date with me because Stella wanted a dad?"

"No!"

"Ok, cus I didn't ask you out cus of Stella. And I didn't stay that night because of her either. Or any other night. I stayed because of what I said to you the other day about doing what makes you happy because that's what I'm doing. YOU make me happy Harlow. Being with you. I can't explain it, I really can't. Why it's so instant, why I want to be with you non stop Except , you. I wanted to tell Stella that I wanted to be her daddy cus I want to be, I love bein with her. I want to treat her like she's my own, I do, I try to at least. Harlow you drive me crazy. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

I could only shake my head. He crawled over on his knees, put his hand on my face and lowered his voice.

"I'm falling in love with you Harlow."