Chapter 3: A New Beginning

Kaitlyn wakes up the next morning and finds a text on her phone from the cop.  Jon had asked what time he could pick her up tonight?  A bit presumptuous, but cute, so she tells him 7 pm would be good. 

It will give her enough time to get a shower this evening and dressed up.  She barely ever puts on make up, but this time she will add a splash of pink to her cheeks and some lip gloss.  That will make her look fresh.

After laying there for a few more minutes, she decides to get up and make breakfast.  Looking around her small but cheery kitchen, she wonders how rich people live.  Surely, they wouldn't be happy with her little home.  But then again, she is just renting. 

Maybe she could start looking for a bigger scale house.  Who knows?   Some day she might find someone who she wants to make a family with.

After breakfast, she sits down and contemplates whether she should look for a house first or go on a trip around the world.  The house won hands down, because she wants to have some place really comfy to come back to when she returns from her trip. 

Plus, she is kind of scared to go abroad all by herself.  Maybe she can persuade someone to go with her.  Of course, all expenses paid.

Another thing is that she is putting off calling her mom.  That conversation will be a bad one.  How does she confront her mom about the deceit?  Was it to protect her or herself? 

She could see if he had beat her mom or molested her at a very young age.  Then she wouldn't want her to have anything to do with him.  But what if she was just mean and didn't want him to know me.  I suppose she could have even been vengeful and wanted to hurt him. 

She has known of women who purposely ran off with the child, and then told the kid that the dad was dead to get back at the husband for some reason.  Either way, she must find out what happened. 

On that thought, she picks up her phone.  Starting to dial, she quickly puts it back down.  Not now she decides, it's house hunting time.

A couple hours later, she finds a handful of possibilities that she really likes.  She finds the realtor that seems to have them all in common and calls him up.  Looking at the name on the computer screen, Dan Stern, she laughs.  " It sounds like a principal’s name of an elementary school".  She murmurs.

He answers and they set up a time to view the houses in sequence.  Right away she likes him because his voice is low and sultry.   He sounds like a handsome man with plenty of self-esteem. 

While they are talking, she scrolls down on the computer to see his pic and "holy cow!" she spits out before she realizes it. 

He pauses and then asks.  "Are you ok Ms. Randall?" 

"Yes, yes I am.  I just saw something, and my name is Kaitlyn.  Please call me that."  She about dies right there.  

“As I was saying, please make sure you have all your loan documents ready for me."  His voice trails off. 

"Oh, actually I don't have a loan.  I am paying in cash.  Is that alright?"  She wonders just what he is thinking when she says that. 

Her eyes wander over the picture again as she starts to wonder if he is single.  Then she quickly remembers she is going to be going on a vacation.  A rather long one, so she shouldn't be starting romantic relations with anyone.  The cop excluded, because she gets the feeling that he would just quit his job if she told him what was going on and offered to take him to Europe.

"I beg your pardon.  In cash?  Did I hear you right?"  He sounds like he is having a hard time believing that she would have that much hard cash at my disposal. 

"Yes, is that fine?" She rolls her eyes as she thinks he's probably wondering what kind of prank this is. 

"Yes, but of course.  I just wanted to make sure I heard you right.  This is a rather large sum of money.  I will need documentation if you don't have the money with you currently."  

"No problem, I do have the documents from my lawyer.  I will give you a copy when we meet today."  She says and then tells him she will see him in a bit. 

“I will see you then, I have to grab a couple of things before I show up.”  She says to him just before she hangs up.  Once she gets everything together, she picks up her purse and pulls on her shoes before leaving.  

When she arrives at the first house, she notices one thing.  It looks so much bigger in person.  The house is really a mansion.  It is made of beautiful dark red brick, and ivy clinging to the sides, like she just walked into a dream.  Getting out of her car, she walks up the u driveway and it takes her breath away. 

There are birds eating from the feeders and she sees a gorgeous garden poking out of the backyard.  As she looks at the windows, Dan pulls up and walks over to her.  "I see you found the first house.  How do you like it so far?" 

"It feels like I just stepped into a dream actually.  It is so beautiful.  Why hasn't anyone bought it up as soon as it went for sale?  And why are the owners selling it?" She asks in anticipation.

Dan turns to her and smiles with that award winning face.  His perfect complexion, his well-maintained good looks.  His flawless hair, not having a strand out of place.  He must be about 6 foot with Dark brown hair, green eyes, and an olive skin tone.  His medium build and his muscles make his suit snug in all the right places.  

"First off, the owners are selling because they are older and no longer can keep up the place.  The Mrs. cleaned it herself, but they are both in their seventies now.  She doesn't want to hire anyone to take care of it for them.  Secondly, most people find it a bit out of their price range." He states.

He takes her hand and asks, "Shall we?"  He motions to go inside as he opens the door.   Inside, they go from room to room as she quickly discovers just how spacious the house is.  She loves the mahogany bookcases and the staircase that spirals to the upstairs.  Every little detail, she discovers in awe. 

Finally, they go outside and explore the gardens and the rest of the back yard.  He tells her "There is 5 acres of land and the house.  The nearest neighbor is about a mile away, because there is National Forest between them.  Plenty of personal space, and you won't have to worry if you want to skinny dip in your pool."

Ah yes, forgot to mention there is a pool.  She steps towards it and wants to stick her foot in but then decides it’s a bit too cool this morning for that.  She looks at him with a big smile and says, "Well you first."  Kaitlyn starts laughing as she suggests he take his clothes off and join her. 

"Hmmm.  I am afraid I would shrivel up in this weather.  Otherwise, I might have been up for it with a beautiful woman as yourself.  After all, you have such friendly eyes."  He steps forward and closes the space between the two of them.  Touching her hand, he starts to move in for a kiss, but she backs off.

"I'm sorry.  I was just joking.  I didn't mean it as a come on.  Please forgive me."  She starts to blush before he can say anything.

"It's me who should be asking for forgiveness.  I am sorry I made you feel bad by jumping to conclusions."  His hand rubs hers now. 

"Perhaps we should get going and look at the other houses, but I am pretty sure this is the one."  She starts to head for her car and looks back at him.  His eyes showing a glimmer in them of lust, as he watches her backside sway back and forth. 

For the rest of the morning and afternoon, they drive around looking at houses.  The only one that felt right to her was the very first one.  So, she decides and signs the papers. 

Later that afternoon, she hears the news that they will be closing in a couple days.  Good deal.  Now she can get right on the next plane, but first she has to find someone to take with her on a trip around the world.