Jared + Ivy

Chapter 5

Buzz Buzz

    I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. I didn’t even bother to see who it was. Who calls this early on a Sunday morning. 

    “Hello?” My voice horse with sleep.

    “Good morning, gorgeous!” 

    “Jared!” I cleared the sleep from my throat. “What’s going on?”

    “Sorry to wake you, love, but I need you to get ready. I’ll be there to pick you up in about an hour. Text me your address.”

    “An hour? It’s Sunday morning. Don’t you sleep in?

    “No time for sleeping in when there’s a world to conquer.”

    “Touché.” Joy. A perky morning person. “Ok, how should I dress?”

    “Comfy casual should do it.”

    “Ok, see you in an hour.”

    I hung up the phone and texted him my address. Then quickly hopped in the shower, threw on a cute summer dress, did my hair and put on a little eye makeup. 

    “Where are you going so early on a Sunday?” My mom grumbled over her coffee, as I walked into the kitchen.

    “Well..” I stammered, shoving a bit of muffin in my mouth. I hadn’t even thought about what I was going to tell my parents. They hated the idea of us dating. It was really a rough topic around here. I swallowed. “I’m going out with a friend.” 

    Mom eye me suspiciously. “Fine. Make sure you have your phone on you and that you’re home in time for dinner.” 

    “What if we decide to go out for dinner?” 

    “Dinner is at 6, sharp.” 

    “Fine.” 

    I checked the time, Jared should be here any minute. Just then I got a text saying he was here and to quickly come out so we can avoid being held up with a meet-the-parents session. I smirked at his aversion to meeting my parents. I slipped on some flats and headed out the door. 

    Jared was parked at the road, leaning against his car. A very sleek, black, Thunderbird. He had the t-top open and I wasn’t sure if he complimented the car or the car complimented him, more. All I know is they were looking yummy together. 

    “Good morning.” He said as I got to the car. He kissed my cheek and opened the door for me. I slid in to the black leather interior. He shut the door and walked to the other side and hopped in. “Ready?”

    “As I’ll ever be.” I chuckled. “May I ask where we are going?” 

    “It’s a surprise. Well, we have two appts and then lunch, then another appt. I’ll tell you that much.” He smirked.

    “My mom said I have to be home at 6 for dinner.”

    “So you shall be.” He reached over and grabbed my hand.

    We sat in comfortable silence for a bit. Something about being around him was so grounding and comforting. I felt so safe around him. 

    “Jared?"

    “Yes, love?” 

    “Are you going to tell me how you have the means to care for a family? Actually, why do you want a family right now? You seem to be in a desperate rush? I mean, you don’t even know me and you assume that I want to start a family right now and how do you know if I’ll be a good mother? I’ve never even…” I started word vomiting.

    “Ivy, take a deep breath. Listen, there are some things that need to be kept confidential for the time being. What I can tell you is that I have been in business with my Father for several years now. We bring in a large profit and I’ve been saving. I’ve been waiting for the right women to come along. When I saw you, I knew you were the one. I understand if you aren’t interested in starting a family right now, but I would appreciate it if you’d at least consider the idea.” He squeezed my hand.

    “But why me? I mean, you’re gorgeous and could literally have any women you wanted.” I paused. “I’m just, average.” 

    “Pretty, fancy or what ever women you are referring too, generally don’t make good wives or mothers. Plus, you aren’t just average. I think you are gorgeous. You have natural beauty that doesn’t need to be painted on. And you’re all mine.” He winked at me. 

    “All yours?” 

    “I’m not into sharing my women.” His smiled faded. 

    “Well, I’m not interested in sharing either. I thought that was a given in a relationship?” 

    He sighed. “You’d be surprised at how many people are completely fine with sharing their significant others.”

    “I consider that cheating.” 

    “Good. Me too.” He smiled. “We’re here.” 

    We pulled into the driveway of a modern looking two-story house. The outside was perfectly manicured, much like his parents’ house. 

    “Were are we?”

    “House #1.” He said as he got out. He came around and opened my door. He put his hand out for me to take. I grabbed it and we walked up to the front door, hand in hand.

    “We’re going house hunting?”

    “Yes, I thought if we were going to start a family, we shouldn’t be living with our parents.” 

    Alright, this guy had lost his damn mind. All I could do was laugh. 

    The front door swung open and an older women greeted us. She said her name is Hannah and she’d be showing us the houses today. She seemed nice enough. 

    We walked around. This house was very large. It had 4 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms upstairs. On the main level it had a living room, kitchen, dinning room and another full bathroom. Downstairs had an open floor plan, with a furnace room and another full bathroom. The entire house was done in white, with light wood trim. Even the carpets were white. It was gorgeous, just not my style. 

    “Well, what do you think of this one?” Jared asked.

    “Um, it’s beautiful, but I don’t think it’s my style. It’s too big and doesn’t have a homey vibe to it.”

    “Ok, then let’s head to the next one.”

    “Wait, what about your thoughts?” I figured if we were going to live together, he should have a say as well.

    “Ivy, I want you to be happy. If you don’t love the house, then I don’t love the house either.” He smiled and kissed my forehead. “On to the next one.”

    We got in the car and followed Hannah to the next house. 

    House #2 was similar to house #1, except it was a bit smaller and the outside was plain. It had more yard. It still didn’t feel homey either. 

    Afterwards, Hannah allowed us to take her out out to lunch. It was a cozy little dine-in and the food was delicious. We mostly talked about what we wanted in a home and Hannah pulled up a few more options that she thought we might be interested in. After our meal, we headed to house #3. It was on the other side of town, out in the country a bit. 

    When we pulled in the driveway, I instantly got butterflies in my stomach. Outside, the front of the house was fenced in with a white picket fence and there were tons of flower beds everywhere. It wasn’t professional, by any means. Simply someone that loved flowers. The house itself was yellow and had fancy white decorative trim around the edges and soffits. It was much smaller then the other two homes, but it had a cute little garage and a shed out back. The neighbors where close, but far enough away for privacy. 

    Hannah unlocked the side door, from the driveway and we walked into a little foyer. A few stairs lead up, and a flight lead down. We walked upstairs first. There was a beautiful little kitchen, with updated appliances. The backsplash tiles had various different types of flowers printed on them. The cabinets where white, but had hand painted vines and flowers. The ceiling was vaulted in the house, so floor plan was open. A small dinning room was sat just beyond the kitchen and the rest of the room was a living room space. We headed down a hallway where there was a small full bathroom, a bedroom and a master bedroom with a bathroom. All the of the rooms were cozy, bright and cheerful. We headed downstairs and there were several more storage rooms, and a living room area. We walked upstairs and headed back outside to see the backyard.

    There was a small vegetable garden area, fenced in and so many flower gardens. Lots of cute little weeping cherry tress and paths all over the yard. In the back was a small little chicken coop that matched the house, shed and garage. 

    “Because this house was so unique and cute, I did a little digging from the sellers.” Hannah said. “It turns out an elderly women livid here. She was into herbalism and the majority of these flowers and herbs are medicinal. It was very interesting, all the things they had to say. She’d raised her babies in this house.”

    “You love it, don’t you Ivy!” Jared asked.

    “It’s absolutely adorable. It’s so cozy and I love the flowers! I think this house would make a wonderful home for our babies.” Jared beamed with happiness at my confession. 

    “We’ll take it!” Jared said to Hannah. 

    “Fantastic.” She replied. “Since you are paying cash, I had all the paperwork drawn for you to sign today. We’ll have everything submitted tomorrow after you drop off the check, you guys should be able to move in by next weekend.”

    “N..next weekend?” I stuttered. 

    “Yes, love. I didn’t want us to waste another second apart.” He pulled me into his strong chest and kissed the top of my forehead. 

    We walked back into the house so Jared could sign the papers. To my surprise Jared had listed me as the beneficiary of the house. That way, if something were to happened to him, the house would be mine. I literally couldn’t believe it. This man I just met yesterday, bought me a house! 

    After the papers were signed, we thanked Hannah and got back in the car. 

    “Well, love, we have 4 hours before you need to be home. Shall we go shopping?”

    “Shopping for what? Geeze Jared, you just bought me a house, what more does a girl need?” I giggled. 

    “How about furniture?” He laughed.

    “Oh, that would be helpful, wouldn’t it.” I laughed at my absentmindedness. Duh. 

    We headed to the furniture store in town and got a bedroom set, a comfy mattress, a desk for Jared’s office. A dining set and a living room set. Jared paid for everything and set the delivery up for Saturday, at our new house. I couldn’t believe this was actually happening. I actually felt like an adult. Jared said he’d use the spare room as an office, until we got pregnant. Then we’d turn it into a nursery and he’d move his office downstairs. 

    After we got back in the car, Jared gave me his sss account information and told me to buy anything I wanted for our new house. Just wait until Wednesday or Thursday to actually order it. That way, most things would get delivered on Friday and Saturday. 

    Since the house was in such nice condition, there really wasn’t much that needed to be done. Jared was going to have a professional cleaning team come in to clean the house and have the air ducts cleaned out. 

    We stopped at the lumber store and picked up moving boxes for the things that we were going to take with us. Mostly clothes and smaller personal items. 

    We arrive back at the house at 5:45. Jared insisted on coming in and meeting my parents. He knew next weekend was going to be hard on them and put a strain on my relationship with them. He assured me that he’d be there for me, whatever happens. We ultimately decided to wait until Sat morning to tell them. That way they couldn’t really do anything to keep me trapped there. 

    I opened up the door, announcing my presence. 

    “In the kitchen.” Mom hollered. 

    We headed back there. “Mom, I’d like you to meet Jared.” I gestured towards him.

    Mom looked at him suspiciously. “Didn’t we met yesterday? Your Bob’s son, aren’t you!” 

    “Yes, Ma’am. Though, I don’t think we officially met.” Jared stuck his had out towards my mom. She hesitantly took it. 

    “Are you a charmer like your dad?” She smirked, as she turned back to her sauce. 

    “I assured you Ma’am, I am nothing like my Father.” 

    “Well, that’s good to hear. Ivy, your dad might give him a chance.” She chuckled. “Would you like to stay for dinner, Jared?” 

    Jared side eyed me and I shrugged my shoulders. “That would be nice.” He seemed a bit hesitant after the remark mom mad about dad.

    “Why don’t you kids go wash up and dinner will be ready in 10.” Mom said.

    I grabbed Jared’s hand and we walked upstairs to my room. 

    “Oh man, I am sorry. My dad is probably going to freak.” I mumbled, sitting down on the edge of my small bed. 

    “Don’t worry about it.” Jared said sitting down next to me. 

    “Ya know, I’ve never had a boy in room before.” I smiled. 

    “I believe that.” He said looking around. 

    My room was pretty plain. There wasn’t really much to make it look like someone with any sort of interest lived in it. I love purple, so mostly everything was different shades of purple. There was a small desk, dresser and a small closet. 

    “I take it you like purple?” 

    “It’s my favorite color. What’s yours?” 

    “Blue.”

    I smiled at him. “Well, I’ll make sure to get lots of blue and purple things.” 

    “Ivy, if you need anything else, personal items, clothes, makeup, whatever, I want you to get it. Ok?”

    “I have these things, we aren’t dirt poor. There’s just not a lot of room for a lot of items, so I keep things conservative.”

    “I understand, I just want you to be happy and have the things you need.” He pulled me into his chest again. 

    I could hear his heart beating. He smelled so good and I felt so safe in his big strong arms. I looked up and pushed my face into his neck. He smelled so good, I honestly couldn’t help myself and took a tasteful kiss to his neck. 

    “Save that for next weekend.” He whispered in a deep, seductive voice. 

    He grabbed the side of my face and leaned down, kissing me. His lips were warm and smooth, sending pleasure to my core. 

    “Kids, dinner!” Mom hollered up the stairs. 

    I jerked and pulled away, then stood up. Jared stood up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. 

    “Soon enough and we won’t have any interruptions.”

    I blushed at this thought. What freedom we’d have. But also, I guess I’d need to learn how to cook more. 

    We headed downstairs and sat at the table. Josie was already there and didn’t say one word. She was angry with me. Just then, Dad walked into the room. 

    “Who the hell are you?” He asked Jared. 

    “Dad, this is Jared.” Jared stood to shake his hand. Dad rudely sat down and ignored the gesture. 

    “Now honey, is that anyway to treat your bosses son?” Mom said as she brought the sauce in. 

    “What!” Dad roared. 

    “Sir, if I may, I’m completely aware that my dad is a d**k. I assure you I am nothing like him.” Jared inserted. 

    “Is that anyway to talk about your father?” 

    “If the shoe fits.” 

    Dad smirked at Jared’s comment. “So, Jared, tell us about yourself. Your father was bragging about Harvard?” Dad asked, while mom served us. 

    “With all do respect sir, my father has a bad habit of forcing his wants into my life. I have already decided that I will not be attending Harvard.”

    “Who turns down Harvard?” Dad looked confused.

    “I said the same thing yesterday.” Josie interjected. 

    “Honestly, I don’t need to go.” Jared replied.

    Dad’s laughter irrupted throughout the dining room. “I like this kid. He’s funny.” 

    Mom, Josie, Jared and I all looked at each other with confusion. 

    “Well, is it ok if I date him?” I asked. 

    “Sure.” Dad said between bouts of laughter. 

    “Thank you, Sir.” Jared said.

    The rest of dinner went well, to our complete shock. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that the universe was playing a joke on me.