Homecoming

Chapter 3

Damon's POV

The mansion was as breathtaking as ever but somehow it all felt kind of strange to me now.

I've been away for so long but I could not call my house my home anymore... I had to share it now with Jessica.

"Darling, this place is gorgeous!" She screamed, stepping into the mansion and admiring the rich designs.

"Thanks," I said. 

"But we would have to change some things around here soon, I don't like some of the designs," she announced.

"Hold on! I like everything just the way it is," I objected.

I tried to steal a glance at Vanessa who has been quiet since we stepped into the house. We picked out everything in this house together and it was perfect.

I knew she wouldn't like us changing anything here and I didn't want that either. We had so many awesome memories together in this place and I felt I was betraying it all by even just the mere thought of Jessica in this place.

Now she wants to redecorate?! Well that is something Jessica won't definitely have, no matter how much she whines about it. 

"But babe! I want something else," Jessica whined, looking at me with those puppy eyes, but I wasn't bulging a bit.

"No Jessica, it's perfect just like this," I concluded.

"Okay, okay, I guess I could manage it, come show me around sweetheart," she requested.

"Alright," I said, but she was already holding on to my arm. I looked behind at Vanny, telling her to wait a little bit for me. 

While I went in to show Jessica around, this brought back so many memories I had tried to suppress when I decided to give Jessica a ring, but now I could not hide it.

What exactly was I doing?! Taking care of my responsibilities that's what... but it all felt so overwhelming.

Seeing Vanessa again after so long was amazing. When I hugged her it felt so good. Gosh! I missed her in ways she could not imagine.

I wanted to ask her about the boyfriend she told me about and if they were still together. 

Last I heard they were having issues but since I got engaged to Jessica I couldn't bring myself to ask her about her relationship, because that would lead to her asking about mine and I could not tell her then.

It broke my heart to hear that she was in a potentially serious relationship but I couldn't really do anything about it. 

I wanted to scream "Vanny wait for me!" But I couldn't. I didn't want to lose her completely just because I wanted her all to myself.

Then Jessica came into my life and I thought it was an easy escape from my heart ache, little did I know she was a ticking time bomb. 

Jessica was possessive, whiny, extremely materialistic, vain to the core and full blown crazy!

I knew she was only with me because of my money and my looks, still I stayed with her until I couldn't anymore. Then I decided to break things up with her but after a while she came back with a surprise I could not ignore.

I was always about doing the right thing, even if it costs my happiness and oh how unhappy I was! 

The weight of it all was so overwhelming but somehow I carried it all with a straight face and a made up mind. There was certainly no going back from this.

We entered the theater room and it brought back memories of all the time I spent there with Vanessa. She was the movie lover between the two of us. 

I could never sit still to finish a movie but somehow she always made me stay and watch her favorite romantic movies with her.

Sometimes she even saw a movie more than once but I couldn't never bear that toture with her. Once was enough for me. I had so many options that I really could not bear re-watching a movie when I already knew what was going to happen.

But I did have my select few favorites though that I could watch with her mostly because of the characters in the movie or a particular actor in it.

This was our special place, I definitely could not share it with Jessica. Jessica was more of a reality show person and did not fancy movies, someone about it being scripted… well news flash Jessica, so are reality shows.

Sometimes I wonder what goes on in her pretty head because some of her ideas are nearly embarrassing. 

But I was with her for a while and we had fun…. Now I couldn't get out.

When we got to the swimming pool she insisted that she needed to go for a swim immediately, she loved the water, it was somehow disturbing how she could never stay away from it.

Plus she knew she looked gorgeous in a bikini and she loved to show it off. She begged me to join her in the pool but all I was thinking about was Vanessa waiting for me. 

"I'll be back Jessica, make yourself comfortable" I told her, before dashing away hoping Vanny hadn't lost all patience and left me to myself.

I saw her sitting down in the twin chair on the balcony. We usually came here to have a quiet time together. 

I knew she was trying to process it all, but I couldn't tell her what was going on, she would go full crazy on Jessica if she found out. She was that protective.

She looked so beautiful even though I knew she probably had not had her bath this morning. She always looked more beautiful without any makeup and without even making any effort. 

I eventually summoned up all courage I could and walked towards her. 

"Hey Vanny, sorry I kept you waiting for so long… just wanted to get her settled in," I said.

I couldn't look her straight in the face, I might slip up and say something I did not want to.

"Hey Damon, try explaining to me what's going on here?" She asked, going straight to the point.

I almost forgot how direct she could be sometimes.

"I'm engaged!" I said, trying to sound normal, when nothing was.

She looked straight at me but I fixed my gaze behind her. She kept quiet for a while and then finally said, 

"Welcome home Damon, I need to head out now," she sounded tired and frustrated.

As she was trying to go I held onto her arm and quietly pleaded,

"Please don't go Vanessa."

"I don't understand you right now Damon but you know where to find me when you are ready to talk," she said.

She removed my hand from her arm and quickly walked away and I couldn't stop her…. I wasn't ready to talk yet.