Chapter 39
…
Kate was in the kitchen with Andrea, chopping up some tomatoes when she heard the car pulling up the driveway, she sat the knife down, wiping her hands on a towel before going through the to the hallway, looking out the window to see Red, Lizzie looking up at the house, Dembe helping the cab driver get the bags from the trunk.
"Andrea, dearie they're here."
Andrea put some sandwiches on to the plates before going out to join Kate, her arm around the older woman, who was smiling.
"Just in time, look at Lizzie…she looks like we did when we saw this place."
"It's a big house."
"Wait until she sees inside, come on."
Andrea took hold of Kate's hand as they made their way outside to greet their friends, just as the cab driver pulled away.
"Raymond, you made it."
Red looked up when he heard Kate's voice, a smile on his face as he held out his arms to hug her.
"Kate." He looked at her, kissing her cheek. "It's good to see you ladies made it okay."
"Oh Raymond, this house is just…wonderful."
"I'm glad you approve, so…I made the right choice when buying it then."
"Are you kidding, and more. I've never seen anything so huge." Andrea added as she made her way over to hug Lizzie.
"The driver found the house al-right?"
"She lives her so she had no trouble."
"She's offered to show us around any time." Liz smiled.
"That's very nice of her."
"Well I think she has an ulterior motive, she's taken a shine to Dembe." Lizzie joked.
"Why don't we go inside, Kate and I made some sandwiches and then you can have a look around."
As Red and Lizzie followed Andrea inside with the bags, Kate stayed back as Dembe approached her.
"You've made yourself a new friend already dearie?"
"It would seem so."
"Well I'm glad, is she nice?"
"For the half hour we were in the cab, yes…she seems very nice."
"Well good."
"Is this place really as big as Andrea says."
"And more, let's go inside and you can see for yourself."
"Kate?"
"Mm-mm."
"Do you feel better now…that you're finally here."
"I do dearie, even more so now that you're all here with me."
Dembe smiled as Kate took his hand and the pair headed inside.
…
After their sandwiches, Kate and Andrea showed them around the house, Lizzie immediately falling in love with the bedroom leading out to the swimming pool.
"Okay, this has to be our bedroom, please."
"It's yours, Kate and I have already fallen in love with our room."
"Which one?" Red asked.
"The one leading out on to the balcony, it's such a lovely view."
"Now Dembe, there is a small guest house at the back. So you can chose, you can either live in here with us or it you would like your own space, the guest house is yours if you want it, it's entirely up to you?" Red stated.
"Well if you wouldn't mind, I wouldn't mind the guest house. I do like my own space."
"Not at all, well ladies, go show him his new home."
"Come on Dembe, you're gonna love it." Andrea smiled as she and Kate guided him out.
Lizzie turned to Red who was smiling at her as she looked around in awe of the house. She came over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist as he leaned in and kissed her.
"So you approve then?"
"Red it's so beautiful, and Kate? Did you see how happy she was, you made the right decision with al of this, I am so proud of you, for what you did for her."
"Lizzie, there's nothing I wouldn't do for her. This is what she wanted and I was never going to stand in the way of that. I'm the reason she ended up how she did and if this is what it takes to make things right with her then that's what I'll do."
"I thought she told you to stop blaming yourself for what happened to her."
"I'll never stop blaming myself, it's not something I can shut off and it's not something I can make disappear for her, not that she wants it too. She wants that baby and I know what now, I don't think I've ever been as proud of her as I am right now."
"We're all gonna be just fine here."
"Even better when Agnes is here."
"One week, I can't wait, and did you see the kids play area in the sitting room and the slide and things in the garden?"
"It's almost as if they knew they were needed."
"I love you, thank you for doing this, all of it."
"A new life." He smiled.
"A new life." She replied.
…
Dembe followed Kate and Andrea as they showed him room after room, the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and en suite, living room and barbecue area in the garden.
"So, what do you think dearie."
"This is supposed to be the guest house?"
"Of course."
"Why do ask?" Andrea replied.
"I just expected it to be smaller."
Kate smiled as she walked up to Dembe, a warm hand on his arm.
"Dearie, Raymond wants you to feel just as at home as the rest of us, we're family. He would never stick you in a shoe box."
"No I know that, it's just….beautiful."
"Mm-mm, perfect for entertaining a certain cab driver in the future." Andrea smirked.
"Would you stop, I just met the woman."
"All in good time dearie, all in good time."
"We'll leave you to settle in, put your cases away. We're gonna set up the pool, come join us when your ready yeah?" Andrea said.
"Sure, thanks."
Dembe looked around as Kate and Andrea made their way back up to the house, happy with his new man pad.
…
To Be Continued…
