The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 6 - A Visit for Matt

            "We intend to have space for a sitting area off to one side along with a large bed," Greg explained. "I wanted there to be plenty of space so anyone using them would not feel cramped."

            "They shouldn't. This one is huge. They even have their own bathroom," Matt said and he joined Greg and Zack in inspecting the walls to see what had been done.

            Conduit now ran through the studs, and junction boxes were in place in the location of future light switches and electrical outlets. In one of the walls, insulation had been added and apparently that was what came next on the inside, because more was being added to the exterior walls as they watched.

            They inspected each of the three bedrooms and the bathrooms on the south side before coming to the first set of steps. The electrical wiring was in place in all of them, including the laundry room on the landing. They continued up to the kitchen and family room where the interior work was currently being done. The electrician was there, working on scaffolding, running conduit through the ceiling to the locations where various ceiling fixtures would eventually be.

            "This is the kitchen?" Matt asked.

            "It will be," Greg said as they looked in from the family room, doing their best to stay out of the way. "It looks different with windows and now that it's enclosed."

            "It's darker," Zackary said. "How can it be darker with so many windows in the room?"

            "Most of the windows face south and west. I imagine it will be brighter later on in the day," Greg said.

            "You've got a view of the ocean from here," Matt said as he went to the far end of the room away from the workers and stood at the window. "It's almost as good as the view from the top."

            "Almost," Greg agreed. "This second set of steps leads to the library. This is the room you could see from the cave."

            "Where the wood was?" Matt asked.

            "Yes. It comes into the house here," Greg explained as he led the way.

            The difference in levels was only four or five steps and they inspected the passageway between the house and the cave next. The floor was now smooth and even, and the connecting passage way had it's lights installed, though as of yet they didn't work.

            "This is coming out really good," Zackary said as he looked at it closely.

            "It is quite an improvement over last week," Greg agreed. "I like the fireplace in this room too."

            "Is the hall to the cave going to be open like this?" Matt asked.

            "No. Eventually it will be hidden by a built in casement bookcase on hinges. Sort of like a secret passageway," Greg said. "Our intent is that it won't be obvious that it's there."

            "That'll be cool," Matt said. "Does Mom know about this?"

            "No. Mom doesn't know anything about the cave," Zackary said. "It's a secret so we're not supposed to tell."

            "Your keeping secrets like this from Mom?" Matthew asked looking at Greg warily.

            "She knows Zackary and I are preparing a surprise in connection with the house. She doesn't know what it is," Greg explained.