Cian

When we get back to the cabin, my parents are in bed and Walker is asleep on the couch. The TV is on at low volume across from him, and his blanket has fallen to the floor. Siofra walks over to pick it up and throw it back across him. Afterwards, we tiptoe down to my bedroom and lock the door behind us.

As we tuck into bed, I bring up a conversation I had with one of my neighbors earlier in the week.

"I was talking to Mr. Sherwood earlier today," I tell her, twirling one of Siofra's locks around my fingers.

"What's he been up to these days?" Siofra asks.

"Turns out he plans to put his cabin on the market. He says he wants to move south where it's warm all winter. I guess the snow and the cold are aggravating his arthritis. And the upkeep on the cabin is getting to be too much for him to manage. He told me he has a sister down there, too. It seems she's widowed like him."

"It could be good for them both if he moves down with her. They could keep each other company."

"I was thinking that, too. At 85, I think some family would do him good. His wife Betsy's been gone 10 years now. He's got to be lonely, living in that house by himself," I comment, rubbing Siofra's arm as we talk. "I know I would be if anything ever happened to you." I kiss her head.

"Speaking of living arrangements..."

"Yeah?"

"I was thinking, what are we going to do about our own living situation, Cian?" She asks. "Don't get me wrong. I love your parents and all, but don't you think it's about time you and I got a place of our own? One without your brother's twin bed laying across from us? It's been convenient to live at home while I've been in school. I feel like it's time, though, you know, to move out into a place on our own. Take that next step?"

I smile down at her. "Funny you should bring that up, Siofra. I was about to say that maybe we could buy Mr. Sherwood's cabin? Our electrical business has been doing very well these past few years. My dad and I have been able to keep expenses down, and our overhead has been pretty low. We've had steady work and I've been saving towards a down payment on a house for a while now."

"And when I graduate my salary should be pretty substantial, so I could pay my share, Cian." I can hear the excitement building in her voice.

"Right. I don't see any reason why we couldn't swing the mortgage on Mr. Sherwood's cabin. And, it just so happens that I already talked to him. He said he'd give it to us for a fair price. Actually, he'll give it to us a little under market value since it needs all new electrical lines. That and a new bathroom. But, I can do renovations on both those things myself so it shouldn't be too costly."

"Are you serious?" Siofra squeaks, sitting up excitedly, the blankets falling back from her bare chest. "We can buy our own house? How soon? When? Yes! Yes! That sounds great, Cian. Let's do it!"

I reach out to tease her now-peaked nipples with my thumb and forefinger. She smacks my hand away.

"Ci-an!" she laughs. "Be serious. This is serious."

"Shio-fra" I tease back, leaning up to suckle her. She dips her head back and moans, the vibrations of it coursing into my mouth through her breasts. I know the first thing we're going to do once we set up house in the cabin; christen all of the rooms inside (and maybe outside if no one else is around).

"Oh, shit," I swear to myself as Siofra squirms under my hips to celebrate.