The house looked better to her though, with all the previous owners’ things out. She could now picture her own belongings filling up the spaces. The more she walked around the empty home, the better she was beginning to feel. She was actually excited to use the swimming pool. It wouldn’t be available for use until the next day, because Derek had brought people in to perform a special cleaning on it, though it had looked spotless to her before. He’d said he wanted to make sure, since his son would be swimming in it. She couldn’t argue with him.
It only took the movers a few hours to get the trucks unloaded and then they were in the huge place, alone for the first time. She headed straight for the kitchen, excited more for that room, than any other and started to unpack boxes.
Derek had tried to convince her to let the movers unpack but part of the excitement of moving was to find her treasures and place them where she wanted. She didn’t want the strangers to do it, besides she’d never be able to find anything.
“I’m going to pick up Jacob, we’ll be back soon,” he told her and she glanced at the clock. She had no idea it had gotten so late.
“I can go with you,” she offered reluctantly. She really didn’t want to stop what she was doing. By the smile on his face, he could tell.
“Go ahead and continue what you’re doing. It looks like you’re enjoying yourself,” he said and turned to head out.
“Oh look, there are Lazy Susan’s in all the corner cabinets,” she suddenly exclaimed. “They’re made of really nice wood, too,” she added like a child who’d just discovered a brand new toy.
Derek looked at her like she’d lost her mind. The woman wasn’t impressed with the ten million dollar mansion itself but was giddy when she discovered little turning shelves. He just couldn’t understand her. He walked out the door, as she continued to explore all the crevices of the kitchen. He was actually warmed by her love of the smaller things and was trying to fight the tugging on his heart.
He’d fallen so hard for her when he was a teenager, because even though she was the wealthiest kid in town, she’d never lorded it over anyone, unlike her father. She’d always preferred a pair of worn in jeans and a t-shirt over the latest styles. She’d seemed far more like him than the other snobby kids.
It seemed not much had changed, if he looked at her home, vehicle and possessions. She owned nice things but nothing screamed extravagance. As a matter of fact, her son had far more items in his small space than she did. It was very obvious she loved and spoiled Jacob. He knew how much salary she made as well and it was ridiculously low for what she did. Her own father hadn’t given her a raise the entire time she’d been there. He’d assumed that was all just on the books and her dad was supplementing her on the side but from the way she lived, he no longer believed that.
Maybe she wasn’t the cold person he’d thought her to be when she sent her dad to say her goodbyes. Maybe there was another reason the whole thing had happened. He was determined to find out what those reasons were, even if it broke the semi-truce they’d started to share together.
He reached the school and Jacob was out on the curb and jumped into the vehicle, barely before he had it stopped. He was talking a million miles a minute and couldn’t contain his excitement to go to the new house.
He was asking if all his things had arrived yet and if the pool was ready to swim in. He wanted to know if Derek had gotten him a basketball and if they could buy a new puppy. Derek answered every question he could but he didn’t know if Jacob even heard him, because he’d fire another one off before he’d even finished speaking.
He found himself grinning widely as he enjoyed the enthusiasm pouring out of his son. At least he had made one of the pair happy with his purchase. He had a feeling Jasmine was going to become just as attached to the home though, if her excitement over the kitchen was any indication.
He barely got parked in the garage, before Jacob jumped from the vehicle and ran through the door. He heard him yelling a greeting to his mother, before he heard his footsteps fading away as he ran up the stairs. It was amazing the kid remembered how to get around.
“I hope he doesn’t get lost,” Jasmine said with some concern, as she stared at the tornado of energy her son had just left behind.
“Well then we could play Marco polo,” Derek answered with a laugh. She looked at him for a moment and then caved in and let the amusement take over as she laughed with him. “I will make sure he found his room and then see what I can do to get the place straightened up,” he said as he disappeared. Jasmine didn’t see either of the boys for a couple hours, as they all got lost in their different projects.