“There are five bedrooms upstairs,” Lauren said, sounding a bit like a real-estate broker. “Obviously, that’s four more than we actually need, but you’d be surprised at how you just expand to fill whatever space is available. Our bedroom is on the other end of the floor, but I figured you’d all like to be close to one another and far away from us for privacy, so I decided that the two on this end would be best. I hope, Jacob, that you like a room with bunk beds. I know a lot of boys like to climb the ladder.”

My son’s face lit up. Bunk beds were about as exciting a proposition as he could imagine.

All of the doors were closed. Lauren pushed one open. Inside was a tranquil blue room with white bunk beds occupying one wall and a twin bed opposite it. The rug was a beige sisal.

“This is the room that children normally stay in,” Lauren explained. “And Jacob, I’m going to tell you a secret. Are you ready?”

He nodded to indicate that he was.

“Okay. When we decided how to decorate this room, we wanted it to feel like you were at the bottom of the ocean. So the carpet is supposed to be like sand. When you take off your shoes and socks, you’ll find out that it feels a little rough on your feet. We painted the walls blue, like the ocean. And you see here?” She pointed at a chest that was consistent with the nautical theme, looking a bit like what a pirate might bury treasure in. “That’s where you can put your clothes, if you want. And here . . . this clamshell has some toys and stuff you might want to play with.”

Jacob made a beeline for the toys and immediately pulled out a truck. He looked to me for permission.

“Why don’t you change into your swimsuit, Jacob? Then you can take the truck outside,” Stuart said.

“That sounds like a great idea,” Lauren said. Then she added, “The grown-ups should follow me.”

Stuart and I entered the room next door. It reminded me of a bed-and-breakfast in Maine we once stayed in. Four-poster bed, colorful needlepoint quilt, a claw-foot tub in the bathroom.

“Here you guys are,” Lauren said. “I’m sorry, no toys in your room—although you do have an en suite bath.”

Lauren left us alone to change, at which time Stuart said, “Not too shabby.”