The Story of Ms. Renfield (On Hold)

Chapter Eleven: Dream Home

Note: this is the house I had in mind when I was writing it. Literally looked up purple Victorian homes and found it. I love the look and grandeur of Victorian houses. Like, if I could, I would live in one. 

In this chapter, I wanted to show just how much Vlad is and has been in love with Jordan. And how much he will tolerate her cat.

Hours before the raid on the motel, after Jordan and Vlad packed a few bags and got C.P. in his carrier...

Jordan's jeep pulled up to a pristine Victorian house that sat on a nice green lawn with a variety of roses, sunflowers, and white Shanta daisy edging the bottom of the house. A rod iron fence surrounded the property with charming scroll work in the metal.

The paint of the body of the house was a lavender with the trim of the windows and eaves done it white. The porch railings matched to the white. Panels of lilac were about on the columns, giving the structure depth. Hints of black were in the scallop designs and the details in the space of the eaves. The black shingle roof was gable with a turret. A red brick chimney rose from the roof and a weathervane rotated in the wind.

Vlad climbed from the driver side and raced to the passenger before Jordan could open the door. Her eyes were glued at the grandeur of the house before her. She took everything, not really understanding what she was seeing. She knew the area, but she had not been there since she was in college. The reason...

"Wait." She blinked after she noticed the address. "This house...it was allotted to be destroyed fifteen years ago. It was condemned due to structural issues from a fire. How?" Jordan choked out looking at Vlad with questions and tears in her eyes.

"Fifteen years ago, you were drunk and came to my condo because you needed to feel safe." Vlad tucked a curl behind her ear that had escaped the twist. "Between telling me that you loved me, vomiting on my rug and shoes, and trying to kiss me, you talked about this house. How it was a dream of yours to live there since it was your favorite shades of purple. How you were so mad that you could not buy it to save the house from being torn down."

"You saved it?" Jordan asked, her bottom lip trembling. "For me?"

Vlad kissed her. "I saved your dream house with the plan to give it to you have an engagement or wedding present after you found the person that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with. Fixed it up to nearly original so you could grow your family here." A blood tear escape from his eyes. Jordan wiped her thumb across his cheek, clearing it away. She lifted up on her toes and kissed him.

A yowling from the backseat paused the sweet moment for the time being. Jordan got the cat carrier when Vlad unloading the two suitcases and duffel bag from the back hatch. Vlad guided her to the front porch where there was a solid wooden door with a floral wreath hanging there. He pulled out a set of keys and handed them to her.

Jordan's hands were shaking as she unlocked the door. She gasped as she walked into the foyer with warm pine wood wainscoting and warm cream walls. Stepping into the first room where a sitting area was set up with a flat screen T.V. mounted on the wall where there was a series of built in shelves below. Colored stained glass trimmed the windows. Pine hardwood floors ran all through the space. Sanded and sealed to preserve the natural look of the wood. The furniture was like what Jordan had at her own condo. The walls were bare of artwork and pictures.

"The original staircase was here, but I knew that you like opened spaces. And it was far to damage to save." Vlad motioned to the large case opening that walked into the kitchen with a circular breakfast nook. The appliances were stainless steel and top of the line. A large kitchen island with bar seating with matching marble tops on the counters with the color of the lower cabinets all the same. Like Jordan's kitchen. A stove hood that was ornate with purples and white was above the stove. There were no upper cabinets, just open shelving painted white. The floor flowed from the living room.

"Vlad." Jordan choked out, tears streaming from her eyes. Vlad smiled and kissed her head.

"You haven't seen the best part." Vlad led her to the staircase that was along the back of the wall. There was an odd little opening, just big enough for a cat to walk through. Pressing on a panel, a door opened to reveal a space under the stairs. Inside were short carpeted floating shelves that were arranged in a pattern to make a walkway to a cuddy hole with a fluffy cat bed inside. On the floor was another cat bed and a pile of brand-new cat toys.

"There is an automatic cat litter here." Vlad slid open another panel to show it. "C.P. can access it from in there, or you can keep this panel open." Vlad set the cat carrier down and opened the door. C.P. came out slowly, ears down and smelling the air. He sniffed at the litter box for a moment before jumping inside to relieve himself from the car ride.

"Let's give him some time." Vlad took Jordan's hand to led her up the stairs. Jordan stopped and gasp when she looked out to the backyard. Opening the door, she took it all in. The back porch was screen in with a porch swing covered in pillows that matched the house. There was a small table to set drinks on stationed in front of the swing. Plants in beautiful pots were dotted about, healthy and green with blooms.

Jordan opened the screen door. The back yard was completely fenced in. There was a shed that matched the colors of the house to store lawn tools and a mower. A casted iron rounded table and chairs with a closed umbrella that was purple too. The old oak tree shaded the yard.

Vlad flipped a switch on the porch and lights hanging from the branches illuminate. Jordan circled up the tree staring up in wonder.

"Wait, is that..." She turned to him who was already nodding his head with a smile on his face. Giggling like a child, Jordan rushed up the ladder that led to a customed cedarwood siding treehouse with a black shingle roof nestled in the limbs. Opening the hatch, Jordan crawled in. It was not tall enough for her to stand up straight. There were working windows to look out of. The walls were smooth and cream colored. The flooring matched the inside of the house. Jordan flipped a switch she found, realizing that it had a light inside.

"You even spoke about how you were always jealous of your friends who had treehouses." Vlad popped his head inside. Carefully climbing in, he sat on the floor with his knees up. "I hope it is not too childish."

"It's perfect. I can't..." Jordan was still overwhelmed.

"Jordan, you are a huge portion of my life. I wanted to give this to you to show how much I appreciate all you have done and do for me." Vlad pulled her close. Jordan climbed on his lap, getting a groan to escape his lips when she settled herself down.

"Even when I call you shit for brains." She smiled, biting her lip

"Especially when you call me shit for brains." Vlad leaned up, tenderly biting her bottom lip. "Now, let's go back inside so I can show you the rest of the house. There is so much more to come." He teased.

"Really, like what?" Jordan wrapped her arms about his neck, pressing her chest to his. He groaned as he could feel her heartbeat. It was beautiful to him. 

"A reading nook with a window seat." Vlad replied, getting her eyes to go wide. "A fully restored, functionally claw foot tub that I can even submerged completely in." That got Jordan scrambling off his lap and down the ladder quick. 

Quick note: Let's just pretend that it took him a long time to get the house in order. Permits and building code stuff. Fighting with the historical society to change the layout when he realized the front staircase was not salvageable. Weather problems, supply problems. Waiting for the perfect time to present Jordan with the house. Yea, it took that long. :)