Rose POV
I finished showering quickly not wanting anymore sudden surprises. I managed to keep my stitches dry this time and when I finished, I quickly got changed with the clothes Theresa had so kindly given me.
I almost didn't want to get out of my room since I was sure I was going to get lost. I took a deep breath before finally walking out. It took me a while but I somehow found my way to the staircase. I slowly walked down the steps finding myself in the large living room. Everything looked even grander than it did last night, I felt so out of place.
"Honey you have to eat your food." It was Theresa's voice.
I turned my body in the direction of her voice. Right in front of me was a hallway beneath the staircase. I followed it leading me to the kitchen.
The kitchen was huge just like the rest of the house. There was a kitchen island in which a little boy sat across Theresa who was leaning against the kitchen island handing the boy a glass of milk. I slowly approach them clearing my voice. Theresa's head turns and a smile crosses her face.
"You see I knew you were my size!" The smile on her face grew brighter as she walks towards me bringing me into another friendly hug.
"You know I've always wanted a daughter so I could dress her up, now I can finally have one since my husband tells me you'll be staying with us for a while." She smiles. I guess Richard finally told her what happened last night.
"Thank you, really I appreciate it...but it wasn't necessary" I tell her.
"Honey after what my son Vincent put you through, that's the least I can do."
The way she said my son reminded me of when Vincent harshly denied her of being his mother. Then again the more I look at her the more I see that there was absolutely no resemblance unlike his father. Or maybe he just took after his father?
"Listen Rose, my husband told me all about the whole thing and I can't tell you how embarrassed I am for Vincent's behavior last night." She says and I could see her trying to hide the disappointment in her voice.
"I can't say that he's more behaved than how he acted last night, but he is a working progress. Well, I'm really not one to talk about his life, me being his step mom and all, but I feel incredibly sorry for what happened to you. I can't apologize enough for my sons behavior."
Well, that explains why he so rudely rejected her as his mother. She's his stepmom. She wasn't the stereotypical stepmother, in fact she's so nice and kind and anything a boy would want for a mother! I can't imagine what could possibly make Vincent hate her.
I'd understand if she didn't approve of his stepson. After all he's rude, obnoxious and from what I gather, the most disrespectful person I know! Although I was curious about what she meant by 'working progress'. Not exactly the words I would have used to describe Vincent.
"Has he done something like this before?" I ask hearing the judgement in my voice.
"No, nothing like this. I know what he did to you is inexcusable, our fault really. My husband shouldn't have..." She trails off. I wait for her to continue but she shakes her head and smiles. "Well, never mind that."
I didn't want to push her into telling me so I changed the question instead.
"Will he be home often?" I ask. I know his father assured me he wouldn't be, but clearly he was wrong since this morning he...
"Vincent hasn't stepped foot in this house in years dear. Don't worry, he won't bother you anymore. I'm sure he feels horrible for what he's done." She smiles at me.
I sincerely doubted that. From what I saw, Vincent couldn't care less what happens to me. Theresa saw the look on my face and her smile grew.
"I know what you're thinking, that there's no way he feels bad. But trust me, he does. He's changed quite a lot" Theresa says.
"Changed?" I raised my eyebrows. What did she mean by that?
"Let's just say that he used to be much worse than he is now." She says.
If this was Vincent at his best, then I cringe to think what his worst is. "Anyways, come join us for breakfast and I'll take you myself to the station to get the remaining of your belongings." She says changing the subject quickly.
I nod my head smiling as she guides me to the counter where her other son was.
This boy had ashy blond hair,and blue eyes that almost matched Theresa's same blue eyes, but somehow, he looked nothing like her or even Richard.
"This is my stepson Jason. He was my sisters son, but she past away when he was only 4 months old, so we adopted him." She smiled running her hand over the boys hair.
The boy didn't acknowledge her hand on his hair. He just focused on eating his cereal. He seemed like a quite boy. He had a book that he was flipping through.
"How old is he now?" I asked Theresa.
"Oh he's 8 years old." She smiled at him. "He's very quite, but he's the smartest little guy I know." Theresa boasts pinching the little guy's cheek.
"Mom, stop!" The boy scowls at his mother. He glances at me smiling. "Hello"
I return his smile. "Hi there"
"My dad says you're going to live with us. Are you my sister?" Jason asks and I laugh surprised.
"No, but I will be living here for a while, so you can pretend I'm your sister if you want." I suggest.
"Join us for breakfast Rose. Afterwards I'll take you to the station to get your things." She smiles.
"Actually I was thinking maybe if I could go by myself if that's alright with you. I wanted to see how far it is from campus to here and I wanted to know how long it takes by bus." I tell her.
"Oh Rose you don't have to worry about that, you can borrow my car if you need to go to your classes, ones you're able to drive that is, but for the meantime I can drive you if you want. It's not a problem at all." She suggests.
She was so kind, I feel unworthy of her kindness. "No no thank you! Really it's fine, I don't want to cause trouble. I'm fine taking the bus I can manage, really" I assure her.
I always had Jacob to drive me around because we always had the same classes and he would happily drive me to my old job and pick me up every day around 6. Then we'd eat dinner together. There was no need for me to learn how to take the bus but now that he was gone I have to be independent.
I always depended on him and he spoiled me too much!
Theresa looked at me for a second but finally nods her head in agreement. "Alright, if that will make you comfortable. Just remember if you need anything I'm here." She smiles.
As I walk out the front door, I couldn't help but wonder what she meant about Vincent being a working progress. Was Vincent really much worse than he is now?
I shook my head at the thought, refusing to be interested in Vincent's life. He destroyed mine, so I want nothing to do with his, even though he seems to have the most perfect family and yet he acts like a total jerk!
I just want to be as far away as possible from him, and to do that I'm going to have to find myself a job so I could save up for an apartment of my own somewhere.
