Haylee snorted, her arms wrapped securely around his neck. “Maybe I just like my fiancé carrying me around.” When he twisted and set her down inside the barn next to Laurel, she stretched to regain her balance. “Hi.” She held out a white-fluffy-mitten-covered hand. “I’m Haylee, and I’m in charge of scheduling as well as outside landscaping.” She viewed the surrounding trees. “You could have a nice lawn with flowers in front of the barn. Native ones that will spread naturally.”

Jason looked at the kids. “You guys take measurements outside first and then come inside to do the same. Double check and do it twice.” He turned and looked inside. “Oh, this place is awesome.”

Laurel moved back to allow him inside. “Thank you.” She studied the young couple. “My uncle mentioned that you took over Mr. Brewerston’s business last year after he died?”

Jason nodded, moving along the wall and looking up to the rafters. “Yeah. I worked with Harvey for only a year before his heart gave out. Prior to that, I commuted from here and worked with Smith and Lertin out of Seattle, but I didn’t like the big city.” He kept moving, tapping the weathered boards as he moved. “I’ve only lived in Genesis Valley for three years, but I attended school in Minnesota, and we know snow there. And how to design a structure for this climate.” He glanced her way. “I can send you references if you like.”

“I would appreciate that,” Laurel said, listening to the kids argue about who got to take the first measurements outside. “It’s nice of you all to come out on a Sunday.”

Haylee rocked back on her slim boots. “We’re happy to be here. It’s been tough since Harvey passed on, and we’re in a rebuilding phase.” She giggled. “Pun intended.”

Jason snorted. “You are such a dork.”

“You love a dork,” she retorted, walking to the middle of the barn and looking around. “This is such a large space. Just think what you can do with it.” Her voice echoed softly in the area.

Jason drew a notebook from his backpack and strode to the middle. “What are you thinking?”

Laurel pictured the ideal layout in her head and spelled it out clearly, watching Jason quickly sketch on paper. He had talent. For drawing, anyway. Hopefully he’d be good at the architecture as well.

He nodded. “Space wise, what’s more important? The closet or the office?”

“The office.” There was no question on that one. “But I do want the three rooms upstairs to each have big windows with a view of the creek outside. For the bathroom, I’d like a claw foot tub against the window.”

Jason altered his sketch, scribbling out a line.

As Laurel described her thoughts for the office, something hit the outside of the barn.