Chapter 725: Leighton
Monday, March 20th, Afternoon
This was the last stop before heading to the airport. As the limo pulled in front of the house, she couldn't wait for the driver and got out as the limo was coming to a stop. She looked up at the native stone facade of the Georgian Antebellum house and felt comfortable. This had been her official residence for about four years now, but the last year it had been closed up.
Taking a deep breath, Representative Isabella "Izzy" Scott, D-NC, couldn't wait anymore and practically ran in through the front door. Izzy found herself standing in the front hall and looked up the stairs. Izzy sighed, looked into the living room as the furniture was uncovered, and looked ready to move in. Izzy walked into the living room and looked at the mantle; picking up a picture, she looked it over. It was of her and Keith on the beach in the Outer Banks. Izzy sighed and replaced the photo on the mantle.
Izzy left the living room and looked into the parlor. This was Peyton's art studio; it was still packed up and had been for six years now. There hasn't been any activity in this room for that long. Izzy sighed; they were going to have to decide what to do with all this stuff; it was about time.
Shaking her head, Izzy walked to the library, which was next door. The books were dusted and neatly arranged. Izzy walked over to one of the shelves and looked at the spines, several of which were classics in leather-bound editions. Izzy smiled as she ran her fingers over the spine of Melville's Moby Dick. With a nod, she walked into the back part of the main house.
Izzy looked over the Trophy room and nodded. Many of the Scott family awards were kept here, like most old trophies long since forgotten. Izzy shrugged and peeked into the dining room. The place was open and ready to go. The furniture had finally been fully moved back in. Izzy didn't anticipate using the dining room until the summer when they were fully back in residence at Leighton. Izzy couldn't wait, but they agreed not to upset the kids' schooling, so on the weekends, the children would come back here and slowly be eased back into life at Leighton.
Izzy went up the backstairs and ended up by the two bedrooms over the kitchen. One was once Uncle Lucas's office, which was once and will be Izzy's again once they return to Leighton. The other room has always been weirdly unused.
Next, Izzy went down a few steps back into the main house. The baby room was to her right, the smallest bedroom in the main house and the closest to the Main Bedroom. This was once Sawyer's bedroom. Izzy shrugged and went to the Main Bedroom.
This room is now Keith and Izzy's room and had their furniture in it. Keith's parent's stuff had been moved out, and Izzy had no clue where their bedroom set went. Izzy smiled and couldn't wait to return here and have Keith beside her, holding her, for her to have him. Izzy had a sly grin and turned away from the Main Bedroom.
She started to walk down the hall towards the front of the house. The older Scott kids lived in these four bedrooms in these four bedrooms until Keith moved to the attic to give Candi his room. Kay, Ellie, Candi, and Angela's rooms were maintained for them until Keith and Izzy took over Leighton. Angela had her mom's old house by then, and Candi, Kay, and Ellie were moved to the Carriage House Apartments. At the same time, Izzy's kids were given two of the rooms.
Izzy wanted to have a large family, but she was advised not to get pregnant again after her last pregnancy. Pregnancy had never agreed with Izzy and had been hard on her, all of them. Izzy wanted a large family but understood and had the surgery. So, three bedrooms sat empty, empty as in no ownership. But Izzy did love her children.
As she walked towards the front bedrooms, Izzy was daydreaming. She was shaken out of it when she saw a tall, heavily muscled man standing before her. The tone of his skin and several other features showed his heritage.
"Che, you scared me," Izzy said.
"Sorry, Izzy," Cherokee "Che," Horn said; he was a few years younger than Izzy, having graduated with Izzy's sister Trin. Izzy also remembered he played football. Also, didn't he have a girlfriend in high school, a blonde bitch girl?
"What are you doing here?" Izzy asked, her hand resting on her heart.
"Mister Scott said they found some issues, and he wanted me to fix them and look for more," Che said.
"Oh, okay," Izzy said.
Che nodded, "So, Keith will be back soon?" he asked.
"Yes, soon, very soon," Izzy said, "How do you know?"
"I'm fixing up Leighton," Che said and laughed.
"Oh, yeah, I can't wait to see him again," Izzy said.
"I bet," Che said, "Are the kids excited?"
"They don't know yet," Izzy said.
"Oh, okay, a surprise, well, that's cool," Che said.
"So, what are some of the issues?" Izzy asked.
Che shrugged, "Just some general maintenance stuff, some trim, and this and that. I'm also overseeing the electrician and plumber checking out the house," he said.
"Okay, anything else?" Izzy asked.
"I think Miss Nomi's room is due to be repainted," Che said.
"Show me," Izzy said.
"Sure, follow me," Che said.
They entered the front left bedroom. Izzy sighed as she looked at her daughter's room. The pictures, posters, and stuffed animals were all missing. Che showed Izzy the worn and peeling in some places paint. The room hadn't been repainted since Ellie lived in it.
"It seems it needs to be scrapped down and redone," Che said, running a big hand over the wall.
"What did Uncle Lucas say?" Izzy asked.
"He wants it repainted," Che said, "My granddaughter can't have bad paint on her bedroom walls." Che imitated Lucas's voice and chuckled.
Izzy nodded, "Can you have it done before Saturday?" she asked.
"Once I know the color, I can try, but I need to know the color by Wednesday," Che said.
"Okay, I'll have Uncle Lucas ask Nomi about the color she wants her room to be," Izzy said.
"Okay, I just have to know by Wednesday, so I can have it done for Saturday," Che said.
"Of course," Izzy said.
"Anything else, Izzy?" Che asked.
Izzy checked her watch, "No, I have to catch my plane," she said.
"That's kind of hard; they go so high and fast," Che said.
"Funny, Che," Izzy said.
"I try," Che said.
"I have to get to the airport," Izzy said.
"Okay, remember, by Wednesday," Che said.
"I will," Izzy said and left the bedroom. She went down the front stairs and out the front door. Izzy got into the back of the limo. The limo pulled away as soon as the door closed, leaving Leighton.
Izzt got on her phone and left a voicemail for Lucas with what Che told her. Once finished, she put her smartphone away and leaned back. Izzy looked across the back to her assistant Skye Gregory.
"Are you excited?" Skye asked.
Izzy nodded, "Yes, I am; I feel like a bride on her wedding night," she said.
"Well, try and keep it together until Saturday," Skye said.
Izzy smiled as the limo drove towards the airport.