Sitting in the corner at the drafting table, I studied the plan for a house BAM had recently purchased. It was in a great area, large and well built, but it’d had nothing done to it in years. The rooms were small and chopped up, and Liv wanted to open walls and move rooms, switching the kitchen to the other end of the house, adding a sunroom, and master bedroom on the main floor, as well as more changes to the second story. It would be a massive renovation, and although the end result would be stunning, it was my job to determine if the changes could happen, and if, cost-wise, they were a good investment. I liked seeing Liv’s designs and her notes and ideas, then making them a reality. She was intelligent and knowledgeable and rarely asked for impossible tasks. She understood load-bearing walls and structure, and her designs were always sympathetic to the limits we had to work within.
This time, however, her requests were long and complex. I began my list, room by room, of the changes she wanted, jotting notes and foreseeable problems.
A noise caught my attention, and I sat up, looking around, shocked to see I had been hunched over the table for two hours, engrossed in the plans in front of me. I heard the noise again, recognizing Liv’s voice and the high-pitched reply of a child. Sliding from my chair, I crossed the office, glancing down the hall. Listening, I heard Liv’s soft-toned voice.
“Soon, Sammy. Mommy needs to do a little more work.”
“I’m bored!”
“I know, baby. Why don’t you draw Mommy another picture?”
“I already drawed you three. Why can’t I go stay with Grammie?”
“Grammie isn’t feeling well today, Sammy. Mommy has to get this work done, and I have to do it here. I’ll be done soon, and we can go to the park.”
“Can I have ice cream?”
“May I,” Liv corrected gently. “Remember your manners, Samantha.”
“May I have ice cream, please?”
“Yes. Be good for Mommy and let her work for a while, then we’ll go to the park and get ice cream.”
“Okay.”
I walked down the hall and leaned on the doorframe, studying the picture in front of me. Liv was at her desk, surrounded by drawing pads and sketches. Sammy was stretched out on the floor, dolls and papers scattered everywhere. They had obviously been here a while, but I had been so absorbed, I never heard them. Liv was in a sweatshirt, long and dark, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. Her hair was down today—something I rarely saw. It fell in long waves over her shoulders and down her back, the light catching the golden glints, making it shine. Her fingers were covered in dabs of color as she worked on a design, bringing it to life.
Sammy’s head was bent over a piece of paper, her hair the same shade as her mothers, except it was curly and wild, moving freely as she concentrated on her drawing.
Sammy noticed me first. She sprang to her feet, looking excited. “Hi!”
Liv looked up. Her beautiful eyes were round and startled, but she smiled when she saw it was me. “Hey, Van. I didn’t know you were here. Your door wasn’t open.”
I had pushed it shut for privacy after Jordan left. Often if a crew member dropped in, I lost hours of work as they chatted. I had wanted to concentrate.
“Liv. I was so busy I only now realized you were here.”
Sammy hurried to the door. “Hi. I’m Sammy.”
I hunched down, taking her tiny hand in mine. “Hi, Sammy. We met a long time ago. You’ve grown so much, I hardly knew it was you.”
She grinned wide. “I remember you. You’re Mr. Van. You work with my mommy and build stuff!”
I laughed. “That’s me.”
She edged closer. “I want a new shelf for my dolls. Could you build that?”
“Sammy!” Liv admonished.
I shook my head, holding up my hand. “It’s fine, Liv.” I addressed Sammy. “What kind of shelf do you want?”
She held her arms wide. “A big one!”
“You must have lots of dolls.”
“Books too.”
“Ah—books are good.”
Her responding nod was fast, making her curls swirl around her chubby cheeks. Aside from her dark eyes, she looked exactly like Liv, right down to the row of freckles across her nose. She was an enchanting child.
“Mommy reads to me every night.” Her eyes became round. “Do you like to read, Mr. Van?”
“Yep.”
“Mommy is teaching me. I can read a lot too, but I like it when she reads to me.” She leaned forward, her voice becoming secretive. “Grammie reads to me too, but she talks too fast and she doesn’t do the voices. Mommy does funny voices. I like them.”
I met Liv’s glance over Sammy’s head. She was watching us with a look of patience and exasperation. I grinned and threw her a wink to let her know it was all good.
“I bet she does.”
I stood, smiling down at Sammy. Her head tilted back on her neck as she peered up at me.
“Are you a giant?”
“Sammy!” Liv groaned.
“He’s taller than anyone I ever met, Mommy! You said the only way I would learn stuff was to ask questions.”
I waved my hand, chuckling at her response “It’s fine, Liv. No, Sammy, I’m not a giant.” I studied Sammy. “Although, you’re so tiny, you could be a mouse.”
A grin split her face, showing a small gap in her teeth. “I’m a girl, not a mouse.”
I stroked my chin. “Nope. I think you’re a mouse.”
She giggled.
I glanced at Liv, noting the fact that she looked tired. The need to help her in some small way was suddenly paramount. “How about I take this little mouse to my office and we can plan out her bookshelf while you work?”
Liv began to shake her head, but Sammy clapped her hands. “Oh, yes! Please, Mommy? I’ll be so good for Mr. Van!”
“You don’t need to do that, Van.”
“I’m not doing it because I have to, Liv. I want to. Mouse and I can stay busy, and you finish what you need to get done.” I met her gaze. “We’re ten feet down the hall. She’ll be perfectly safe.”
Sammy looked delighted. “Mommy, I have a new nickname!”
Liv’s lips quirked. “Yes, it seems you do. Mr. Van and Mouse.”
I smiled down at Sammy. “Sounds good, right, kiddo?”
Sammy beamed. “I love it!”
“That’s settled, then.” I glanced at Liv. “How about that drawing?”
Sammy’s tiny hand snuck into mine. “Please?” She beseeched Liv.
Liv grinned, clearly defeated. “Okay.” She wagged her finger at Sammy. “You be good.”
Sammy tugged on my hand. “I will. Come on, Mr. Van! Let’s go!”
Laughing, I let her lead me to my office.
Sammy tapped the paper with a sticky, impatient finger. “More of these.”
I had to bite back another chuckle. I wasn’t Liv, but I could render fairly accurate drawings. A bookshelf seemed pretty simple. I’d thought I could keep Sammy busy for a while and let Liv work. Sketch out a bookshelf and be entertained by her stories. I knew kids liked to talk. They loved a captive audience, and I found her easy to listen to. She was a bright, happy kid.