While He Built Her Home novel · Chapter 24 of 24
Chapter 24: Walnut
The shed behind the yard on Fulton Road smelled like cut walnut.
Clayton pushed the door open on Saturday morning and stood back so I could see in.
Under a work light in the middle of the floor stood a crib.
It was the same dark wood as my display wall at the shop, with rounded corners and a high, smooth rail.
I walked all the way around it.
There were no nails anywhere.
Every joint was pegged, and the pegs had been sanded flush.
"It's from the offcuts," Clayton said. "The ones from the wall. I couldn't throw them out."
"You started it the same week we set the wall."
"I started it the Sunday after we set the wall. I was supposed to be sweeping the floor."
"Why?"
"You laughed at Phoebe's shovel joke and you were holding on to the counter."
I ran my palm along the top rail, and it was warm.
"I didn't know if you'd ever want it," he said. "It's all right if you don't. I'd have put it in my own spare room, and it would've been a very nice bookshelf."
I laughed, and then I stopped laughing, because I was crying.
"It's the most beautiful thing anyone has made me."
"It's got a drawer underneath for the blankets."
"Of course it does."
I wiped my face on the back of my wrist.
Phoebe stood in the shed doorway with her arms full of paper bags of lunch, wearing her worst apron.
"I'm not crying," she said. "There's sawdust."
Behind her, the whole crew was lined up along the fence.
All twelve men stood in their work boots, holding mugs, and every one of them was watching.
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