Isabelle started to laugh as she slipped free of his arm. "It's for our house," she reminded him.
"Does that mean you're going to help?" he inquired.
"Yeah, right," she replied.
She laughed as she skipped away with Ethan muttering behind her.
Chapter Two
Isabelle handed out bottles of water to Ethan, Aiden, Ian, and Jack. They eagerly accepted them, twisting the tops off as they tossed their tools aside. She glanced around the large frame structure they were building. The house would be two stories, with four bedrooms, a finished basement, dining room, living room, kitchen, three full baths, and a half bath; but for now, it was just an empty skeleton. When completed, it would be mostly hers and Ethan's, but when Aiden and Ian came home from school, they would also stay here.
"It's coming along nicely," she said.
"If you would help, it would come along even faster," Ethan said.
"She'd have us cleaning up the sawdust as we went," Jack retorted.
Isabelle made a face at him as she surveyed the mess surrounding her. Power tools, sawhorses, and pieces of wood littered the ground. Extension cords ran in a hundred directions, and tarps were spread everywhere. She stood in what would be the dining room, but right now it was completely unrecognizable. The basement was the only thing done, but she knew it wouldn't take them long to finish everything else.
A little bubble of happiness rose inside her. She couldn't wait until it was done and they could move in. For the first time in her life, she would have some semblance of privacy. Plus, her mother helped her pick out most of the counters, flooring, rugs, tiles, and paint, and she couldn't wait to start decorating.
"Where are David, Mike, and Doug?" she asked, holding up the three unclaimed water bottles.
"They got smart and took off early to get a shower," Ethan muttered, taking another bottle from her. He dumped most of it over his head before squirting the rest into his mouth to wet his throat. Shaking out his wet hair, he sent droplets of water cascading over all of them.
"Gross," Isabelle protested.
He grinned at her and tossed the bottle into the trashcan nearby. "That's the closest I'm going to get to a shower for at least an hour, so leave me be."
She smiled back as Ian and Jack grabbed the remaining bottles. "I guess I get left out again," Aiden mumbled as he rubbed his arm across his dirt and sawdust-streaked face. He looked amazingly like her father and Ethan, with his black hair and bright green eyes, but Aiden was taller and leaner, his nose a little larger, and his hair curly instead of straight.
"Move faster next time," Ian retorted, smiling happily. Sawdust, sweat, and dirt caked his golden hair. Grime smeared his elegant face, and the goggles covering his blue eyes made them look even bigger. He was the most solidly built and tallest of them all at six four.
"Where did your dad go?" Jack asked.
"Mom," they all answered in unison.
Jack shook his head, throwing water everywhere. "I can't wait to get this done," he mumbled.
"Neither can I," Ethan agreed.
"Bathrooms," Aiden said longingly.
"Well, are you guys coming in, or are you staying out here all night?" she asked impatiently.
"I'll come with you guys, maybe a shower's open," Jack said hopefully.
"Doubtful," Ethan muttered.
They raced across the open field and up the back steps of the porch. Willow was standing on the porch; she watched them until they made it to the top. "What are you doing out here?" Isabelle inquired.
"Vicky and Abby are driving me crazy," she muttered. "And if you're hoping for a shower, forget it. They've been in the bathroom for over an hour bickering over who has better hair."
"They're identical!" Jack muttered.
"No, really?" Willow retorted sarcastically.
Jack folded his arms over his chest as he gave her a stern look. "No need to be a wiseass."
"I learned from the best," she retorted. Jack tugged on her hair as he strode past, struggling to hide his smile from her.
Ethan opened the glass doors and stepped into the kitchen, everyone filing in behind him. Willow darted into the adjoining room and slid the wooden doors shut behind her. Almost immediately, Isabelle could hear her squabbling with Julian. The TV in the basement was blaring, and over the noise, she could hear Kyle and Cassidy fighting over what they wanted to watch. Above it all, she could hear Vicky and Abby arguing over the hairdryer.
"There are two hairdryers!"
Isabelle grinned as her father's voice boomed through the house. She leaned against the counter, folding her arms over her chest as Aiden, Ian, and Jack tiredly slid into the kitchen chairs. Ethan leaned against the counter beside her; he crossed his long legs before him as Isabelle’s mother and father strolled into the room.
"Hi, guys," her mom greeted happily. "You're a mess."
"And it doesn't look like we're getting a shower here either," Jack grumbled.
"I'll get them out of there," her father told him.
He turned and strode back down the hall, yelling for Vicky and Abby to get out of the bathroom. He came back into the kitchen to the accompaniment of pounding footsteps. "Dad!" they yelled as they burst into the kitchen. "We're not done!"
"Get ready in your bedroom then," he told them, not deterred by their pouting.
"But—"
"No buts," he said firmly.
They both stared at him with pleading green eyes as they lifted damp, light blonde hair and held it out. "The light isn't as good," Vicky protested.
"Victoria, other people need the bathroom. Go ahead, Jack," Isabelle's mother said.
"Hey, shouldn't your kids go first!" Ian protested instantly. "We're filthy too!"
Jack was gone in a blur of motion before Ian could finish his sentence.
"I have to learn how to do that," Aiden said in awe. Isabelle flashed past him, pulling his hair as she moved. "Ow! You witch! Not fair!"
Isabelle laughed as she returned to her spot on the counter. She finally managed to master
