Chapter Fifty-Three

Moving In?

I own nothing except Melissa, Kate, and any other OCs I mention.

It was now eight more days until the vacation with Will. Kate could hardly wait! She hadn't been this excited about anything in a while. She had already thought about what to bring. She hadn't packed anything yet, though, seeing as she didn't want to appear that eager. She didn't even know what she was going to buy this weekend! Maybe a dress? A short, casual one, not a long, classy one.

Kate was in her backyard, a phone in her hand. She was about to dial Melissa's number, but a call of her name interrupted her.

"Oh, Kate!" Mrs. Flowers chirped from her deck.

Kate sighed and hit the off button on the phone and walked to the gate. "Yes, Mrs. Flowers?" she asked.

"When are you putting on your little play?" Mrs. Flowers asked.

Play? What play? What was she talking about?

"The one with those two boys. They were practicing their sword fight, and you were shouting something about wobbly-legged, rum-soaked pirates. Do you remember that, dear? You said it was a play for the community college?"

That was three weeks ago! How could Mrs. Flowers remember something like that when Kate could hardly remember what she had for dinner last night?

"Oh, that!" Kate said.

"Well, since you're in it, I'd love to have a ticket to go see it."

"Oh, um...we're all sold out already!" she said. "Sorry!"

"Alright, dear. Don't worry about it. No wonder it's sold out, it's fascinating!"

If only you knew, Kate thought.

"Thank you, Mrs. Flowers," she said, dialing Melissa's work number.

The phone rang twice. Melissa answered in her same professional voice that she had used yesterday.

"Just me, again," Kate said. "Are we still on for this weekend?"

"This weekend? Oh, the shopping! Yeah, we are. Although Jack, being the man that he is, detests going."

Kate laughed. "I would expect nothing less." She walked up the deck and leaned on the railing. "Any ideas where you want to go for the mall this weekend?"

"Well, we haven't been to the Galleria in years."

"Galleria? Isn't that in Edina?"

"Yeah. So?"

"So, that's kind of far away. Do you want to try something closer maybe, like Ridgedale or Northtown?"

"I would, but those have a Victoria's Secret."

Kate bit her lip to keep from laughing. "So Jack discovered lingerie, I take it?"

"Yes, yes, he did."

"Um...May I inquire as to how?"

"No, you may not."

Did Melissa finally do It? Wasn't she going to wait?

"Mel, you didn't, uh..."

"No, I did not! He was looking in a magazine at work when he saw an ad."

"And so then he asked you if you had any that he could see?"

"I think going to Galleria would be fine!" Melissa said, desperately trying to change the subject. Kate knew not to push it with her. She knew that, deep down, buried under her good-girl complexion, there was an evil girl ready to break out. Fortunately, Kate had never seen it, nor did she want to.

Could Melissa even get, not angry, but furious? She made a note to ask Jack to tell her when that would indeed happen.

"Alright, fine," Kate said, surrendering. "Galleria it is. I'll be at your house at 10:30."

She thought she could hear Melissa breathing a sigh of relief, but she wasn't sure if she hadn't mistaken that for the wind beginning to blow. She went in through the sliding glass door and sat down on the couch.

"Why aren't you taking Will?" Melissa asked. "I'm sure he'd love to see a mall."

"He's going out to lunch with my dad. They're going to TGI Fridays."

"So they made up?"

"I guess. Or my dad is just trying to keep in mind that someone loves his little girl." She paused. "What excuse did you use when he and your parents first met?"

"Well, he's a vet at Elm Creek here, and remember that storm three weeks ago? Well, he decided to come over to my house to keep me company, just in case the storms got severe. We look at his house the next morning, and, what do you know, it was flooded."

"Flooded? Doesn't your dad think that something's up by now?"

"He doesn't care. Jack hardly makes a sound. Maybe he's forgotten that he's still here, who knows."

"Have you ever thought of moving in with him?"

"What do you mean? He's living with me right now, at my house."

"Right, I know that, but a house. Together. Without your parents."

"Kate, I've known the guy for less than a month."

"Yeah, but he's going to need to move out sooner or later. You two could buy a house together."

Melissa paused. "I've never thought about that before."

"Maybe you could talk to Jack about it."

"Maybe." She paused. "What excuse did you give your parents?"

"His parents kicked him out after graduation."

Melissa laughed. "And you knew him before hand?"

"Yes, we were friends senior year, so I decided to have him use the guest bedroom for the week. Apparently he was nothing but a perfect gentleman."

"I have to say, your's is a little more believable than mine."

"Well, you never lie to your parents, so they probably believe you."

There was a silence, then Melissa said, "I need to go back to work. I'll talk to you later."

"Okay, bye."

Kate hung up the phone and sighed. Eight more days!

Melissa had never entertained the idea of living with a boyfriend before. Then again, she was in high school when she did have her previous boyfriends. Now she was free to do what she wanted. She could go and buy a house with Jack right now if she wanted to. Of course, it would have to be an apartment or a townhouse, since she was working only at the front desk at a vet's office and going to be going through school. Her parents were paying mostly for her college, though. Her dad had started a college fund the Friday after she was born – true story.

Plus, it would be nice to have it quiet while she was studying. Even though she was an only child, she remembered that the TV would always be too loud or someone was banging around in the pots and pans while trying to make dinner while Melissa was doing homework. And she could live with Jack -- just the two of them.

But it was a big financial investment. It would take thirty years to pay it off. Melissa wasn't sure if she had that kind of money. And what if her and Jack broke up again? Who would get the house? And Jack hadn't even said that he loved her yet! What was she thinking about, moving in with him? They hadn't even been together for a month!

And her parents? How would they react with her moving in with someone who apparently was just a friend from work? How would she explain that she was in love with a guy thirteen years older than her and, oh, by the way, she wanted to move in with him?

Right. That idea would be shot down quicker than a pheasant by a hunter.

"Jack?" Melissa asked.

"Hmm?" Jack asked, an arm draped around her shoulder. She cuddled closer to him out of habit.

"Would you ever want to by a house together?"

There. It was out there. She had asked if he would ever want to, not do you want to. Nothing was permanent, it was just a casual thought that crossed her mind. Yeah, that's it!

"A 'ouse," Jack repeated. "Like this?"

"Well, something like this would be out of our price range. For now, at least. Like, when I'm done with college and I'm a vet and we wait a year after that, then something like this could be manageable. It'd be a home for a family."

Did she really just say the word "family" with Jack? Was she going crazy? Jack would never marry or have kids!

"What 'bout somethin' right now?" Jack murmured, putting a hand on her knee.

Melissa's heart sped up. Was he serious?

"R-Right now?" she asked. "You mean...you and me...getting a house together? Now?"

"Ya sound like I'm th' one that proposed us livin' together 'n' this is a surprise fer ya."

Stay calm, Melissa! she thought. Don't lose it! Not now!

"I just didn't expect you to want to now."

"I entertained th' idea, I don't think I'm signin' my name 'n' gettin' th' deed."

"Wait – I'm confused. Would you move in with me right now? That's what I'm asking."

"That depends: would ya want a separate bedroom?"

"No, but I wouldn't be your entertainment for the night."

He paused. "Yes. I would."

She smiled. He would move in with her! That meant that he had to love her, right?

"We're not moving in together yet, though."

"Then what was th' point o' this 'ere talk?"

"Curiosity," she said.

"Then, eh...any idea when exactly ya want t' do said movin' in?"

"We'll see after our one month anniverary. Just so you know, I do believe that is Monday, Jack."

"Yer point, love?"

Had Jack never gone a month with the same girl, or was he joking? She wasn't sure if she wanted to know the answer.

"You're supposed to get me something."

She prayed that she didn't sound like the whiney girlfriend that no one wanted.

"Right! 'N' a gift ya shall get!"

Silence.

"Guess what Friday is!" Jack said happily.

"The weekend?"

"Better – paycheck day!"

Melissa rolled her eyes. "You're not going to spend all of that on rum are you, my pirate?"

"No, course not! Not all o' it..."

"What made you think of buying rum, Jack?"

"Uh...nothin'!"

Kate's Blog Entry

Eight days! And on Saturday we're going shopping! Yay!

XOXO,

Kate

Melissa's Blog Entry

Why do I want to move in with Jack so suddenly? Ever since I talked to Kate I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. And Jack seems to like the idea. I am never this impulsive! What is it with me lately?! It feels like I've known him for so much longer, though...

I can't believe he's going to buy me rum for our one month anniversary. I'm eighteen!

Love,
Melissa Rose