20th April- Los Angeles, United States
Potential House
Letty’s POV
I took a deep, calming breath and let it out. I wasn’t going to start anything, I was just here to have a look at the house. Dom and I could talk this out between us later.
“We’re just here to quickly look over the house. We have another appointment in twenty minutes.” Dom spoke as he continued to rub my back. I gave him a small smile before I met Michelle’s eyes. Her face said everything, she was shocked to see me alive but most of all she was shocked to see we had a child. Being only thirteen weeks pregnant I was still barely showing, so under my loose fitted top you couldn’t see the barely there baby bump.
“Of course. Come in.” She recovered as she stepped aside.
I screwed my nose up as I let my eyes take a sweep of the entry way. It looked nothing like the pictures. It needed work, a lot of work. New paint job, some plastering, the stairs definitely needed work. Some of those steps looked like a death trap.
Dom and I traded looks as we stood beside one another and I shook my head.
“I thought you were dead? How is it possible for you to be standing here right now?” Michelle asked suddenly. Dom’s hand in mine tensed and I stroked it gently before looking at Michelle.
“That’s a really long, long story.” I spoke up, blowing her question off.
“Can we see the rest of the house now?” Dom asked as politely as he could.
“Of course.” Michelle spoke as she led us through to the main dining room and living areas.
From the corner of my eye I could see Michelle looking between Dom, Ava and myself, clearly trying to figure out a time frame.
“Why does this house look nothing like the pictures?” Dom demanded from her as we looked around again at a renovators dream.
“We used old pictures.”
“Isn’t that false advertising?” I asked.
“In a market like todays we have to do everything we can to make a house sell.” She explained quietly.
“Let?” Dom asked quietly and I shook my head.
“We only have six months before the baby’s due, this is going to take longer than that.” I whispered back.
“While the house needs work, the foundation is in perfect condition. With an average builder and architect this house shouldn’t take more than six or seven months to complete. We all know moneys not a problem here.” Michelle spoke up again while Dom and I grit our teeth.
“You’re right, money’s not an issue it’s time we don’t have.” Dom snapped at her for interrupting.
“I have some contacts that are fast working and could have this place done in a shorter time period.” She offered, trying hard to seal a deal.
“Thanks but no thanks. Like I said time isn’t on our side.” Dom snapped as he shifted Ava.
Michelle chose to stay quiet after Dom’s outburst ad we took the time to wander around the first floor of the house. I wanted to see upstairs but Dom wasn’t having it after seeing the staircase.
“Not happening.” He whispered as he pulled me away and back into the kitchen.
“You haven’t seen upstairs yet, would you like me to show you?” Michelle asked as she headed for the stairs.
“No thank you, Letty shouldn’t be climbing something that dangerous.” Dom muttered.
“How old is she?” Michelle asked as we looked around. The kitchen was decent looking but it was still a no.
“A little over one.” I spoke while Dom kissed Ava on the cheek.
“She’s a miniature version of the two of you.”
“Have you just got her?” She questioned.
“We’re expecting again in six months.” Dom spoke up.
“I have one he’s five, turning six this year.” I froze and did the math in my head and I could see Dom’s ticking over as well. What was she trying to say? She had Dom’s kid? It had been almost six years since they’d been together.
“I know what you’re thinking but you can relax. He’s not Dom’s, I promise. I was furious with you and went on a bender. Two months later I found out, my parents were furious with me. They shipped me off to my grandparents and nine months later I had Ben. Now I’m twenty four, a single mum and working in real estate to pay the bills.”
Dom and I let out a relieved sigh, our relationship couldn’t withstand any more drama just yet.
“When did you all arrive back in town?” She asked curiously.
“Look we’re just here to look at the house Michelle, we’re not here to play catch ups.” Dom spoke clearly and she nodded sadly.
“Right. My apologies, I’ll in the entry way if you need me.”
“Has it really only been six years since all that happened?” I asked numbly.
“Yeah, it has. We’ve been through a lot in that time.”
“Yeah… most days I feel forty not twenty four.” I sighed.
“Well if you’re forty I must be nearing eighty, because I definitely don’t feel twenty eight.” He joked.
“She’s not who I wanted to see.” I whispered.
“I know, I’m sorry Let. We should have left.”
“No, I wanted to see the house.”
“Yeah about the house…”
“I think we can do better. Can we go?” I asked feeling exhausted all of a sudden.
“Of course.”
“Car?” Ava asked sleepily as she lifted her head from Dom’s shoulder. She had been so good but clearly she was ready for nap time.
“Yeah princess we’re going back to the car. Nap time when we get back to aunty Mia’s okay?” He spoke to her softly.
“Kiki.” She mumbled sleepily before her little eyes shut again.
“Come on, let’s get out of here before the ceiling collapses.” Dom muttered looking up as he led me out of the kitchen and back into the entry way.
“Are you sure you don’t want to look upstairs?” Michelle asked as we edged down the front steps.
“We’re sure. The house isn’t for us. Thanks for your time.” Dom spoke as we started our way towards the car.
“How do you feel?” I asked Dom as we righted ourselves in the car, Dom had already buckled Ava all in and she was sound asleep.
“A little achy but nothing major. What about you?” He asked worriedly.
“Exhausted.”
“We’ll rest when we get home too okay?” He offered and I nodded.
“Okay.”