A new face after the race
Chapter 62
Lucky pulled into a quiet, peaceful residential area that Emily recognized. Coming to work or taking the bus to school, she looked at all these nice houses, with the white picket fences and green yards, nice paved driveways.
They weren't much to other people when you have lived in one of those houses, but when you had a childhood like her, no real home, and no real safe shelter when there were storms, no one to protect you it looked magnificent.
There were barking dogs and happy children with very secure lives, something she never had. Lucky had something of a happy childhood, it wasn't this secure or anything, but it was certainly better than hers.
This street was in equal distance of Kelly's and Port Charles University and a few blocks from Harberview Towers. This neighborhood was what she had dreamed about being raised in since the day she was born. But when she realized it would never happen she wished to raise her own kids, if they ever happened, in something like this area. But she was getting ahead of herself.
She was surprised when Lucky pulled over and parallel parked in front of one of the houses. This particular house was a two-story white house with a garage to the side of it. There was no picket fence, but a nice green lawn and a front porch. It had black framed windows and had siding on it. It was a rather comfortable, but not overly overdone house like some on this block were.
"Lucky?" Emily looked over at him in the driver's seat "What are we doing here?" She asked him.
Lucky smiled at her encouragingly and knew she felt a little uncomfortable and a stranger in this area. "I know the person who lives here." He said and got out of the truck and Emily did the same. Lucky must know what he was doing.
Lucky went up the drive and Emily followed, noticing some of the kids had stopped playing and watched them and Emily even saw a few of them go back in the houses, probably telling their parents that two strangers went to their neighbor's house. Kids were like that, curious.
Noticing Emily hesitated, Lucky grabbed her hand and lead her to the front door. "Lucky who lives here in this house more specifically? I didn't know you knew anyone in this area." At least he didn't tell her that he did.
"Well…" Lucky started and unlocked the front door, letting her in and out of curious glares. "You know how I said I needed to move out of my parent's house and really gain some independence from them?" He asked her.
Emily looked around the living room. "Yeah, what about it?" She asked him.
Lucky opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out and thought better of speaking just yet. Glancing around, he took her hand and sat her down on the brown leather sofa in the living room.
"I looked at apartments, but they weren't exactly what I was thinking, so I was driving down here and found a 'for sale' sign up and so I checked it out." Lucky explained and Emily started to get it.
"You mean to tell me you live here?" Emily put her hands on her hips.
"Well, I placed a bid on it, talked with the real estate agent and the paperwork is being processed as we speak, but I do plan on living here eventually when everything is said and done." Lucky told her.
Emily got up from the couch and went to a bookcase behind it, Lucky twisting around to look at her. "Okay, why would you buy this house Lucky? I mean, its gorgeous and homey, and definitely a good area to move to, but there's so much room. Don't you think you would be better off starting small?" Emily supposed, turning around to face him.
Lucky went to meet her behind the sofa, taking her hands. "I started thinking that way, but then I thought of you and how you said you needed to eventually move out and go out on your own." Lucky replied to her question.
Emily's eyes narrowed. "Lucky, I was thinking after college, when I get a stable job." Emily responded, immediately suspicious of him.
Lucky cut to the chase. "Emily, move in with me. Share this home with me, be my roommate as much as my girlfriend." He offered her and Emily couldn't actually believe he asked.
Emily shook her head. "Are you crazy?" She asked Lucky and checked his forehead for a fever. "You don't feel hot, are you sure you're yourself?" She asked him, eyes still narrow.
Lucky grabbed Emily's hand. "I'm sane Emily. I want the world for us and what's not a great start than living together. Yes, I realize we haven't made love yet and yes that maybe an issue, but there's always the extra bedrooms. We can make this work." Lucky insisted.
Emily didn't know what to say. To say yes right away, finally live in her dream house…but it was a lot to think of and take in at the moment. So she tallied in deciding, she needed time so she suggested "Can I at least have the grand tour before I agree to anything?" She hinted she was interested, but couldn't promise anything.
"Of course, you just had to ask." Lucky responded, wiping his brow, she hasn't fully rejected his offer yet, so he took that as a good sign.
First he showed her the living room. It was a comfortable area, sofa, coffee table, two chairs and a small fireplace. There were also a few bookcases and a plant, but no details, just shells of furniture calling to be made a home. An interior decorator was badly needed, but that could be done.
Next he showed her the kitchen. It had an island and all the works: the oven, refrigerator, microwave, sink and plenty of storage space as well to cook. There were a couple windows that brought in light and a nice preview of the backyard.
Next he showed her the garage. It wasn't huge, but nor was it small. There was moderate storage area and with some empty shelves.
Then came the basement. It was spacious, full of space and a few rooms. The washer and dryer were there as well as the pantry for food and maybe a play room, an office maybe. It was as was the rest of the house in need of an interior decorator.
Finally, Lucky showed her the upstairs, which held the bedrooms and bathrooms. It was all grand; there were wooden floored halls and naked walls. The rooms themselves were small and quaint. There were three bedrooms, two guest rooms and the master.
The two guest rooms were comfortable, bed, dresser, and also wood floors, definitely in need of some sprucing up. The master bedroom was highly impressive with the connected bathroom. It had a huge king sized bed with four high posts, two night tables, large closet, full mirror and two dressers. The guest rooms would have to share the other bathroom that had all the necessities.
Then Lucky led her down the stairs again and quickly showed her the back area and gave her full view of the backyard. Green and wide, full of possibilities it was.
"So…what do you think?" He asked her, hoping for a good review.
"Lucky, it's wonderful, truly wonderful, but I can't afford rent with my paycheck, I don't even have that many savings." Emily had to think realistically.
"Who said you had to pay rent Emily? I was hoping you would let me take care of you, financial wise." Lucky added, explaining the situation some.
"You're asking me a lot here Lucky. To move in with you, to trust you to take care of me, which I know you will, but I always wish to have some kind of independence and this is just…." Emily searched for a word to explain this whole idea. "Overwhelming to say the least" Emily came up with, finishing her thought.
"I know it is and the last thing I want to do is pressure you, it's just, life has dealt you so much and the need to make it all better, its strong. It breaks my heart to see you hurt like earlier today; my worst fear is for you to lose it like Brenda did. I don't know what made her crack, but I don't want to take my chances when it comes to you. You mean so much to me, to lose you like that…" Lucky shook his head. "I just couldn't do it." He finished his persuasive speech.
"Lucky…" Emily truly didn't know what to say, Lucky sounded so sincere and serious at the same time. "It's just so hard to let my guard down, even with you. I love you with my whole heart, but no matter what, the psychological damage from my childhood, it just won't let me be happy and rely on people that easily." Emily confessed to Lucky even though he had figured that out long ago, but for Emily to actually say it aloud…it was a shock.
Lucky nodded and took her hand and pulled her to the dining room table that was in the kitchen. "Sit down." He ordered her as he plopped her into one of the wooden chairs that surrounded the table and left the room.
He came back moments later with a pen and a piece of paper. Emily looked at him warily. "What's that?" She asked him as he sat down next to her.
"Well, at the moment it's just a blank piece of paper, but that soon will change." Lucky reported and took the pen and started scribbling on it.
He did so for a few minutes and Emily still couldn't figure out what he was doing. "Lucky, what are you doing?" She asked him.
Lucky waited a few more moments before answering. "A contract, you just insinuated that you needed a back up plan just in case the worse happens." Lucky didn't have to say what that was. "So, here's your back up plan." He introduced it and pushed it towards Emily.
Emily took it curiously and read it over. Lucky wasn't much of a writer, he admitted it himself, but this wasn't bad she supposed. It mainly said that in case of a break up, that they would cease to be boyfriend and girlfriend but still great friends who shared all responsibility, on all belongings and possessions.
"Satisfied?" Lucky asked Emily as she put down the contract.
Emily couldn't say she wasn't. It had a few details missing, but minor ones, and it certainly satisfied her taste. It was legal enough. Emily nodded her consent. "It just needs our signatures. Who's going to sign first?" She asked Lucky.
Lucky smiled and took out a second pen. "No one, we're going to do it at the same time." He replied and he and Emily signed their signatures on the right places, making their change of location even and legal.
Then Lucky took it and placed it on the refrigerator. "There, it is said and done." He went and sat back down by her.
Emily shook her head. "I can't believe we just did that." She admitted to Lucky.
Lucky laughed and took her hands again and lifted her up from the chair, leading her into the living room. "Come, we have much to talk about." He told her and she followed him. Indeed they did.
Behind in Emily's mind she realized that moving in together wasn't just a big change, it was a new beginning, one that eventually meant more changes, marriage perhaps. But Emily shook it away, Lucky knew her feelings on the subject and knew he wasn't ready for that as much as she was ready for that. Moving in, fine, but marriage, weddings and all of that stuff, not in their future just yet and Lucky understood that. He wouldn't even be thinking about that. At least she thought so.