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“Sell? No, I don’t think so. I bought this place because I really fell in love with it. I was a little naïve about how much work it would take. But it was never meant to be a fix-it-up-and-turn-it-over-for-a-profit project.”

“Good. I’m glad. I’d hate to see you sell it. Pretty big house for a single guy, though.”

“I’m not planning on being single the rest of my life.”

“So, are you going to fill those seven bedrooms with kids?”

“Probably not all of them.”

“You’ll make a wonderful father.”

“I guess we’ll see. My brothers have all done pretty well in that role.”

“Do they all have children?”

“Three of them do. Wes isn’t planning on having kids, and Luke is the baby. He’s still figuring things out.”

“As the parent of one really cool kid, I highly recommend parenthood.”

“You’ve done well, Wilda.”

“I sure never thought I’d be doing it alone.” She shook her head. “Of course I have Mathias, so I’ve had a lot of help.”

“Not quite the same though, right?”

“No.”

“Um…I’d like to say something I probably shouldn’t.”

“Go ahead.”

“I think it’d be a real shame for you to not look for love again someday.”

She was quiet for a moment as she picked up Frenchie and put him on her lap. “You and Mathias don’t get it.”

“It’s true, we don’t know what it’s like to lose someone. Me less than him, I’m sure.”

“It’s not just the guilt. It’s being…that vulnerable again.”

“To loss?”

“Yes.”

Milo leaned forward and rested his forearms on his knees. “Aren’t we all putting ourselves in that position? Every relationship leaves you vulnerable to being hurt, abandoned, or let down…all of it.”

“But having been through it…” She shook her head. “I won’t do it again.”

Milo sighed. “Okay.” He stood. “I should go and let you enjoy this quiet night.” Frenchie jumped down and went to Milo. “Let’s get started on the fireplace tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

He went to the steps. “I hope I didn’t upset you.”

“I’m fine.”

“You know, Mathias and I, we just want you to be happy.”

“I can be happy without…”