Sam led Andy into a beautiful foyer lined with earthy ochre walls and dark, rich hardwood floors.
"Sam, this is beautiful!" Andy exclaimed as she entered his home, any trace of her pout left on the front steps. She spun around slowly, taking in the contrast between the rich surfaces in front of her and the crisp white trim, making her way forward and running her hand along the smoothly polished surface of the banister.
"You should have seen it when I bought the place. I ended up gutting it because of water and insect damage. It was almost a complete rebuild." Sam looked around him with satisfaction.
Andy looked at him, her surprise evident. "You did all this yourself?"
"What's the matter, McNally? You doubt my skills after Marie's bathroom?" Sam joked.
"We didn't even scratch the surface of Marie's bathroom, you dork. Now this…this is impressive. I thought the work I'd done at my place was good. This is outstanding. Show me more!" she demanded, looking at Sam expectantly.
If this was what it took to lift the veil of sadness from McNally's eyes, he was only too happy to accommodate her. Who knew that she was as much of a reno-junkie as he was?
"Don't worry, you'll get the tour…after we get dinner started. We're going to be eating by 9 o'clock as it is." Sam led her into the kitchen – his favourite room in the house. This was his baby. From the polished granite countertops to the rich, cherry cabinets and the stainless steel appliances – he chose all the surfaces. He built the island she was leaning on and laid every one of the slate tiles under her bare feet.
He made his way over to the fridge and pulled out a couple of beers, opening one and handing it to Andy. He grabbed some corn on the cob, and placed the steaks wrapped in brown butcher's paper on the counter to rest – the only way to grill a decent steak was to bring it to room temperature so it grilled evenly…and McNally deserved a decent steak. Sam got to work while Andy watched, admiring the way his body moved so efficiently through the domestic act of shucking corn.
"Do you mind grabbing those new potatoes from the pantry, there, McNally? You want to give them a wash and cut them in half? They'll cook faster." They worked in silent companionship for a few minutes.
Ten minutes later, the barbeque cleaned and at temperature, Sam added the foil packet of potatoes and closed the lid.
"So, do you want the tour, now?" he asked, now that they had some time before the corn and steaks had to go on.
"Definitely…lead the way." Andy followed Sam through the main level of his house.
The tour continued to the 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms upstairs. Sam was in the process of converting the attic to a bonus room – a bright, airy space he hoped to have finished in the next few months.
Sam's obvious care and attention to detail made Andy anxious to experience those talented hands running over her body, making it hard for her to concentrate on their conversation. Pay attention, McNally. He's expecting a verbal response - not to wipe a puddle of drool off of his immaculate hardwood floor. She must have asked a valid question, since Sam was responding and not looking at her like she should be hospitalized.
He was impressed by the thoughtful questions that McNally asked – it was obvious that she was knowledgeable about construction methods. He was intrigued by the work that she said that she'd done to her own place, and now had an open invitation to view her handiwork firsthand. Sam liked the sound of that – the double meaning wasn't lost on him.
When an opening in the drug squad became available, Sam had made the choice to build a suite in the basement so that there was always someone around to take care of his home.
It went against Sam's nature to trust a stranger to look after something so personal, but thankfully, it was the kid of one of the cops from 15 Division. Mike was a first year Industrial Engineering student at Ryerson. His school schedule was so crazy that he didn't want to deal with the extra hassle of commuting – definitely no time for partying or trashing the place. He was a good kid, clean and quiet, and practically tripped over himself to stay in Sam's good books.
Having that extra income enabled Sam to not have to compromise on the materials and finishes he wanted. Every inch of this place was as he originally envisioned it…that is, except for McNally. When he bought the place, she wasn't even a blip on his radar, but now that she was standing right next to him in his bedroom, the thought of her being anywhere else left him with a strange, hollow feeling in his belly. She had unknowingly wound her way into every aspect of his life without Sam even realizing it until it was too late.
They made their way back downstairs and threw the steaks and corn on the barbecue. Needing the fresh air to clear his head, Sam brought out the cushions for the 2 loungers on his deck, and he and Andy each stretched out with a fresh beer.
Dinner ready a few minutes later, they sat out on the deck and enjoyed the evening, together. There were no awkward moments, struggling to find things to talk about. They shared with each other stories of family and their childhood, what led them to enter the force, as well as their favourite TV shows – from the most important things in their life, to the most inane, insignificant. Nothing was off limits. Well…almost nothing. Neither of them wanted to upset the balance and ruin this new dynamic of their relationship. Dinner finished, they each lay back on their respective lounge chairs.
Andy couldn't remember the last time she'd allowed herself the luxury of relaxation. Funny how the one person who challenged and excited her – basically drove her crazy in both her professional and personal lives, could also have such a calming influence.
Soon, the conversation drifted off until they were both just looking at the star-filled sky. A quiet companionship had settled in, and they both embraced it.