Return to Celio by Sasha Cain Page B

little clouds dotted the clear, blue sky. I inhaled deeply, wondering how the air smelled of fresh-cut grass when lawn mowers probably didn’t exist here. Darrios took my hand, guiding me down a side street. The sign said Rosewood Lane.
    “My house is just up ahead,” he said, surprising me again.
    “If you have a house here, why in the world don’t you live in it?” I inquired. “It’s so beautiful here...how can you possibly prefer the Outer Rim to this?”
    “It’s like I told you before. I wouldn’t want to live here alone. Besides, I’m not needed here. I’m needed out there.” He motioned with his head back toward the mountain where we’d come in. “This place is where I get away to. It’s like my vacation spot. I inherited the house from Jezbah’s sister, as a matter of fact. He wasn’t kidding when he said we take care of each other.”
    He turned, heading up the walk of the most adorable cottage I’d ever seen. It was made of slate rock, a light gray color, with a deep maroon door and shutters, and a dark gray roof. Both front windows held large flower boxes, bursting with blooms.
    Neatly trimmed rose bushes, also top-heavy with blooms, grew up against the house under each of the two big windows. I loved it immediately.
    “What is it?” Darrios asked. He was looking at me with a half-smile on his face.
    “It’s fantastic...it’s perfect,” I gushed.
    He chuckled. “And you haven’t even seen the inside.”
    ****
    Darrios opened the door, which I noticed hadn’t been locked. He motioned for me to go in. I walked in and he followed.
    “Oh, Darrios,” I whispered as I looked around.
    The polished hardwood floors shined so much I could almost see my reflection in them. The knotty pine walls, as well as the floor, both had a natural finish. I felt safe and comfortable as soon as I stepped into the room.
    A fieldstone fireplace stood in the corner and a large bookcase, overloaded with books, leaned against the wall. An overstuffed couch and two matching chairs surrounded a thick, fluffy, forest-green rug on the floor.
    The furniture was cream colored with splashes of dark green and burgundy. An old grandfather clock stood against the other wall. The room just oozed with cozy.
    On the other side of the room was the kitchen area. It had no table, just a counter with three stools and an old wood stove for cooking. A sink with a hand pump and an old-fashioned ice box, the kind that actually needed ice, sat next to the sink. Cupboards and a full pantry lined the wall.
    I couldn’t imagine owning this place and not spending every minute here...alone or not. I looked at Darrios. He was smiling, watching me as I looked around. Taking my hand again, he led me down a short hallway to the washroom, with a tub. Yes! And the tub had a shower. Big band music played in my head at the sight.
    Darrios explained that he'd installed a vat on a platform out back that collected rainwater. Water could also be pumped into it if necessary. It was heated by the sun and used for showering or bathing. I nodded, impressed, not to mention very grateful.
    I followed him out and into the next room...the bedroom. A queen-sized bed stood under a large window and next to it, a matching dresser butted up against the wall. A small closet was next to the dresser.
    I ran my hand over the quilt on the bed, the incredibly puffy and soft fabric a delight to my fingertips. I was sure it had been handmade. Four full, poofy feather pillows rested at the head of the bed.
    “You can have the bed. I’ll sleep on the couch,” Darrios said.
    “But I thought...what about Avascon?” I asked.
    Darrios gave me a sideways look. “Um, okay...but I was hoping to get cleaned up first...maybe have some decent food...”
    “I’m sorry,” I told him. “I know I’m being pushy. I’ll slow down.”
    He shrugged and turned around. I followed him back to the kitchen.
    “Why don’t you go and freshen up?” he suggested. “I’m going to go