Chapter 32

"Do you really have to go?" asked Olivia as they sat on the table, having breakfast. "You know, you are always welcome to stay here as long as you want."

Marcus smiled and held Nikka's hand that was on top of the table.

"We thank you for openeing your home to us, Olivia but we really have to go. I have promised to take Nikka to this place for so long and I think this would be the best time," Marcus replied.

"Where will you take me?" asked Nikka. She did not know what Marcus' plan was and she felt anxious.

"Don't worry, hon. I'm sure you're going to like it there."

"Very well then," Olivia sighed. "Have fun and enjoy."

"By the way, Olivia, about the gifts-"

"Oh, don't bother! I will ask someone to bring them to your apartment, Marcus."

"Thank you, Olivia."

"You're welcome, Nikka. Anyway, better eat more so you won't get hungry on the road."

A few hours later, they were on the road. After having breakfast with Olivia and her husband, they packed their bags and said their goodbyes.

"We could go horseback riding, and do other activities," she recalled Marcus say and she laughed remembering how she panicked the moment he said "activities." If before it did bother her, now she did not mind if they would spend their whole day doing nothing but that.

She smiled as she scanned the road. Large houses, with about two-storeys high towered each other on the side of the streets. The area was more suburban, with lots of residential houses and barely have commercial areas.

She wondered where they were, but she knew they were definitely out of the city area as thick trees sprang up around the sidewalks and into the backyards of some houses. It made the area feel a bit isolated yet peaceful.

      They soon ran into a dirt road with a metal wire fence. A wooden red barn stood from afar and Nikka furrowed her eyebrows.

'Was this a ranch?' she asked herself as she continued to let her eyes scan the wide acres of land surrounding them. The car pulled in front of the gate.

A man with a cowboy hat opened the gate for them, and Marcus rolled down his window as he approached.

"How are you doing, Marcus?" greeted the young man.

"We're good, man. Nice to see you, Jacob," Marcus answered. "This is Nikka, my wife."

"Hello," Nikka greeted and she waved at him from inside the car.

"Nice to meet you, Nikka," Jacob greeted back. "I guess I'll be seeing you often then."

Nikka smiled at him.

"See you later then," as Jacob moved away from the car. Marcus smiled and said his thanks to him. Then they drove up to a stone-bricked house. The house had a red roof  with large wooden windows and a wooden door. For Nikka, it was like a real life gingerbread house except it was made from large shiny gray stones.

Marcus parked the car inside the garage, turned off the engine and got out. Nikka followed through.

       "Welcome to your ranch, my love," he announced, walking towards her, he reached out for her hand.

       'My ranch?' she asked herself, confused.

She did not remember owning a ranch.

      "Did you buy this for me?" she asked.

       "Technically, yes, but it was a joint agreement."

      Her eyebrows furrowed.

"What do you mean joint agreement?"

    Marcus smiled and led her towards the house. Nikka watched him as he opened the door.

The door opened to a beautiful sight. Inside, the house was made of expensive materials that were carefully picked only an architect would know. She stepped inside as her eyes scanned the room. The high ceilings were made of wooden beams with a gold chandelier hanging from it, giving the marble floors a shiny glow. Tall glass windows framed the walls with long drapes that were neatly tucked on the each side with a golden tussel.

The living room area was the coziest spot as Nikka walked over to feel the red sofa set facing the fireplace. A glass coffee table with a white plush rug spread out underneath. She touched the material and sat in one of the love seats, crossing her legs. She leaned her head back for a moment, closing her eyes.

"Cozy, right?" Marcus voice echoed above her as she opened her eyes and saw his face. He lowered his head to give a peck on her lips.

"I love this chair," commented Nikka.

Marcus smiled. "I personally picked this one for you."

"Thank you," and she reached for his neck to give him a kiss.

Marcus let go of her lips and mumbled, "As much I wanted to kiss you all day, I can't. I need to give you a tour around the house before we settle in."

She smiled. "Okay."

Soon, she was standing beside him. They walked towards the main door where a wooden staircase led to the upstairs bedrooms.

Nikka felt compelled to go upstairs as her eyes focused on the newly polished steps.

Marcus led her upstairs and they started to bound the steps when Nikka pulled his hand back, stopping at the bottom. He turned towards her, confused.

"Can we see the dining room first?" she suddenly asked.

"Okay," Marcus obliged as they both went through the archway that led to the dining room. The dining room consisted of a twelve-seater wooden table with red cushioned wooden chairs. The table was neatly set with a beautiful handwoven centerpiece and a dozen of roses in a vase. Two candle holders with tall candles stood on each side of the vase as a small chandelier hang above it as well.

The whole area screamed elegance and formality as the walls were painted in ivory along with the resr of the house.

Nikka always wanted to have a formal dining room in a house. Now that it was here, she was really amazed how accurate it had all been.

"It still felt like a dream," she uttered in amazement.

She then walked towards the kitchen where an island made of granite countertop, and appliances that were stainless steel. Countertops were all made in granite and above were wooden cabinets newly polished that glistened from the light fixture above the island.

Nikka traced her finger on the countertop, slowly feeling every part of it. Though she was not a fan of cooking, remembering her dream to have it. She had wished to have something like this for her mom who loved to cook and she was nearly in tears upon remembering her.

Marcus hugged her as she wrapped he rhand around his waist.

"H-How did you know?" Nikka asked, as her tears slowly fell from her eyes.

Marcus pushed her slightly.

"Let's go upstairs. I need to show you something," and he took her hand. Soon, they were bounding up the steps towards the upstairs bedrooms.

There were three bedrooms upstairs. All three bedrooms were spread out evenly in the floor. On the farthest left from the stairs was the master's bedroom.

The far right from the stairs caught her attention. It was painted in pink and the bedsheet looked very familiar to her.

"Could it be..." she whispered and her eyes widened in surprise.

That was the bed sheet she used to have in her room at her parents' apartment before!

She looked around the bedroom, inspecting every part of that small room. The sheer pink curtains covered the white-framed windows, letting small beams of light enter the room. A long cushioned white seat was set beside the window with shelves underneath full of books. Some she recognized she used to have when she was a teen.

Her eyes turned to the bedside table where a wooden frame was placed on top of it. She stared at it in disbelief.

It was her childhood photo, where she was wearing her favorite cowboy outfit. It was her 7th birthday and her parents took her to a carnival. She was on a horse in a carousel, happily riding it. It was one of her happiest memories.

       She took it from the table as tears fell from her eyes. She had always wanted to ride horses. She once told her parents when she was a kid that someday she wanted to have a ranch of her own so she can learn to ride horses and play with them anytime she wants. She turned to Marcus and looked at him with questioning eyes.

       Marcus walked towards her and took the frame from her hand, then placed it back on the table. Reaching for her hand, they both sat on the bed.

     He took a deep breath before speaking.

     "I bought this ranch last year in the hopes to make it better. This was Christine's. She was actually planning to move to New York after she learned she had leukemia. This is the only property she had left after the divorce and her husband decided to let it go to her because he didn't want to do anything with horses. Then she got sick so she cannot manage it. So, she decided to sell it to me while we were in Chicago.

     "She passed away a year ago, months before mom did. But before she died, she told me to come back to you... to tell you how much I love you. I didn't think about it at first but then your dad called a few months later and told me about what happened between you and Philip. I was determined to win you back. The house was rundown and the ranch needs people to manage it. So I hired your dad to design it. He once told me how you love horses and so I told him to have one room dedicated just for you.... along with everything your dream house would be.

      "I asked my cousin, Jacob, to come and manage it for me as he used to work at dad's farm in Oklahoma when he was younger. So, everything you see here, is your father's design. I wanted you to feel at home.. to  let you remember them in every corner of this house. This is all yours, my love. Your own ranch just like you dream about when you were a little girl."

      She was crying when Marcus finished talking. She hugged him tightly. She couldn't believe her dad designed this. Everything is exactly what she wanted in a house. Cozy and just the warm feeling of being at home.... She is finally home.

      She let him go and held his face.

      "Thank you so much for this... for everything. I love you, Marcus."

      "I love you, too, Nikka."