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Chapter Fifty-three
A Love Worth the Effort
"Who is this that cometh... [to] the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?"
~ Song of Solomon 8:5 ~
 taring
at the bleak sight before him, Adam switched off the engine to their SUV. Villa Rosa
had little improved since the last time they had been here, and their trip to Alaska
hadn't improved his opinion of the rundown dump. Struggling to bite his tongue, Adam
tried to keep these grim observations to himself. He didn't want to extinguish Charlie's
youthful enthusiasm about turning this desolate set of ramshackle buildings into
a livable home. Sometimes, it was hard not to discourage her. But whenever Adam was
tempted to betray his feelings, all he had to do was look into Charlie's eager face,
and his reluctance would vanish. She was so excited, that even with the recent setback
of Thomas, it wasn't enough to dim her hopes of turning Villa Rosa into their house
of dreams. To Adam, that dream seemed even more impossible now that his experienced
brother-in-law was no longer on the job, but Charlie was remaining optimistic through
it all.
While Kevin helped Adam carry their luggage into the mobile home, Charlie walked
about the estate, looking at the little progress that Thomas had made while they
were in Alaska. Most of the weeds had been hauled away from the main building, and
several sections of the broken sandstone floor had been removed from the kitchen.
But aside from the temporary living accommodations that Thomas had set up, and the
high perimeter fence that surrounded their twenty acres of weeds and gopher holes,
Villa Rosa was still untouched from renovation. Even the row of bungalows behind
the mansion, had yet to see any attention or improvement. Gulping back a feeling
of trepidation, Charlie wondered if she had spent Adam's money for nothing. What
if Villa Rosa would never be more than what it was right now-- a dump?
Charlie had left Vera and Chuck in Twin Yucca, but only for a handful of days until
she could have another mobile home set up to accommodate them. Mrs. Jacobs had graciously
volunteered to check in on Vera and make sure that everything was all right, and
while Charlie had hated to presume on their neighbor, she had gratefully accepted
the offer.
The seventeen year old shaded her eyes from the blazing sun, and gazed at the barren
landscape that surrounded them. Scorched ground and miles of sagebrush seemed to
engulf them in what was beginning to feel like one big do-it-yourself disaster.
Charlie's eyes turned back to the air conditioned mobile home, where Adam was taking
the last of their belongings inside. At least, they had somewhere to escape from
this oppressive heat! With a discouraged heart, Charlie headed to their makeshift
home to collect her thoughts.
Sensing that Adam was struggling with similar doubts of his own, Charlie prepared
herself to hear his disappointing remarks as she stepped through the front door.
However, instead of a disapproving frown, she was greeted by Adam's wide grin. Sitting
in the middle of their living room, was the cause of his sudden transformation.
"It's here!" he exclaimed, quickly moving aside their luggage so he could
sit down at his piano. Adam happily ran his fingers over the black and white keys,
and a familiar melody filled the air. With a laugh, Adam looked up at Charlie. "It's
so good to be home!" he sighed contentedly.
Charlie couldn't help but smile at this sudden reversal in Adam's demeanor. His reference
to this place as "home," was a kindness that she felt it didn't deserve--
at least, not yet. Feeling her resolve return, Charlie thankfully kissed Adam and
left him to his beloved music while she picked up a telephone book and her satellite
phone. It was time to find a general contractor to take Thomas' place. Her family
needed a home, and she was determined to make one for them.
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