Chapter 11

Being able to go home on Monday was great. Especially because she would finally see Daniel's new home. He didn't tell her a single detail. Claimed he wanted her honest reaction. She tried to get the address, neighbour hood, architectural style out of him. But he was a sealed book. It was impossible. She was so nervous. She knew that she was probably going to spend a lot of time there and hoped that it was nothing like his cold bachelor apartment. She trusted him and in the end it was his decision. He's going to live there. Although she couldn't help to think further down the line. They are in a relationship. At one point they would live together, right? And she really hopes that that would be sooner rather than later. But she doesn't want for him to move again so soon, for whatever reason. A knock on the door interrupts her thoughts.

'Hey, you ready to go home?', Daniel walks over to her, snaking his arms around her waist and kissing her deep on the lips. She gets lost in the moment for a few seconds before breaking the contact. Big dreamy smile stretching over her face.

'I can't wait', she looks one last time through the cabinets. 'I think, I have everything. Could you take my bag?'

'Sure', he takes her bag and opens the door for her.

'Thank you', she gets up on her tiptoes for a second to kiss him before stepping through the door and for the second time in the past few weeks into an uncertain future. Full of physical therapy, workouts, gymnastics and medication.

They don't really talk on the drive over to Daniel's house. Betty was to excited. Her knees bopping up and down. She tries to find any kind of hint from the direction they drive in, or the neighbour hoods they're driving through. But nothing. She has no idea where they are. She was never in this part of town. Well, that would definitely change. And to be honest, she liked the changes she sees in the houses they pass. They started to look more and more homey. Less showing off more family friendly. And when they slow down and drive up a short pathway she is pleasantly surprised. The house is small. It reminds her on Hilda and Bobby's house. The size seems so reasonable.

She wasn't really sure what she expected, but definitely not this. It was an off-white brick house with a dark grey shingled a-line roofing. The bricks looked rough to the touch, as if they already spent a lifetime worth of keeping a small family safe. It looked romantic, especially with the small greenery growing up one side of the house. The dark grey window framing gave it a more modern look. She loved it. It was exactly what she would've picked. At least from the outside. When her passenger door was opened she woke out of her daze. A hand reached inside the car, she took it gratefully and let Daniel help her out.

The pathway leading up to the house and garage used almost the same bricks. She struggled a little to walk over the stones. They were so uneven. She should've brought her crutch with her. But she thought that she would only go to the hospital, had surgery and would be directly back at home. Taking a short break, one arm appeared around her back and one in the crook of her knees, she hadn't enough time to react, she was so fast in his arms bridal style. Her left arm snakes around his neck instantly. Pushing herself closer into his body.

'Are you sure? I'm not exactly a lightweight', she panics a little.

'Oh please, you insult us both. You are tiny and light. And I do think I'm somewhat decently trained. Though I have noticed that you lost weight, Betty. Why's that?', he says, not even out of breath. Carrying her up the small front porch.

'A nice side effect of so much physical training and a lost appetite, I guess', she says sheepishly.

'You lost your appetite?', he looks worried now. Way to go, Betty.

'Whenever I think of you, I have so many butterflies in my stomach, that I can't eat. And then when I thought I was loosing you, I was too depressed to eat. Which is not like me at all. Before I always pigged out on junk food', she admits.

'So, I need to feed you better. I'll keep that in mind', he says matter-of-factly and more to himself.

'It's ok, I'm not mad about it. It's not like I couldn't afford to loose them anyway'

'Don't ever say that again', he says firm. Putting her carefully down he fumbles for the keys in his pocket. 'I hate when you're so down on yourself. You have no reason to'

'I'm not down on myself. I know that I have wonderful qualities. Being thin and having a perfect body is just not one of them', Betty says and takes a step to the side, let's her left hand slowly glide over the brick wall. Examines the stones. They look like they carry a ton of memories. One could only imagine what these stones witnessed, she muses.

'We definitely need to work on that, you're so sexy the way you are. You don't need to loose weight. You are real and have curves and I love it', he says, finally fishing the keys out of his pocket and opening the front door.

'Hey, you ready to go inside?', Daniel asks gentle from the front door, holds it open for her. She nods, and lets her hand glide over the brick wall while making her way over to him.

'I love you too', she places a quick kiss to his cheek before walking into the house.

The inside was even more beautiful. If that was even possible. The dark real-wood flooring had a rich warm chocolate colour, the walls still white. The open floor plan made it seem so spacious. The kitchen were simple white counters with rich grey marble as a countertop. The kitchen island effectively parted the room. The dining and living room area big enough to fit a table for at least six people and a big enough comfortable couch to lounge on, on movie nights or cuddling sessions. She could envision this so well. Stepping further into the living room she saw that there was an office space through a wide double door. It has windows on almost every wall and looked bright and inviting and cozy. She saw that they used some of the brick even in the insides as an accent wall here and there. It looked warm and cozy and she could already imagine it. Imagine spending her time here. Working, cooking, and hopefully soon something else entirely. The small guest bathroom was modern in grey and white tiles and fitted perfectly to the rest of the house. Climbing up the stairs she found herself standing in a small corridor with build-in-shelves. She couldn't believe her eyes.

'Oh my god, pinch me', she huffs out enthusiastically.

' Why?', he asks confused, but does it nonetheless.

'Ow'

'Sorry?'

'Don't be, I thought I'm imagining things. But they are still here', she says in awe. And walks over to the shelves with a little build in seating area and plops down.

'Oh the shelves, yeah, I wasn't sure about them. The estate agent said they I could be easily closed up or ripped out. I'm not sure what to do', he explains, really thinking about it. He was never a huge fan of those. But the shine in Betty's eyes will most definitely change his mind.

'Are you crazy? These are the most beautiful shelves I've ever seen. I love build-in-shelves. I've always dreamed of having one in my room. What a wonderful display for all your books', she gushes, looking them up and down, her hand gently touching one of the boards.

'What books, Betty?', he chuckles. She looked so beautiful. Sitting there in her little soft cream summer dress. The sun shining through the window, creating the perfect spotlight for her. She fit right in.

'Oh, right, I forgot for a second who I was talking to', she snickers. 'But seriously, Daniel, why would you want to get rid of them? You could use them for so many different things. I'm not saying you have to keep them, but think about it. Give it a little time. Maybe they grow on you', she looks over to where Daniel was standing, giving him a small smile. 'What?'

'What?', he asks confused.

'What were you just thinking about? You had a funny look on your face', she smiles.

'You. And how beautiful you look', he whispers.

'Oh', she says smiling, looking down while biting her lower lip. A soft pink blush tinting her cheeks.

'You look so gorgeous, Betty', Daniel sighs.

'You look very handsome too, Daniel', she smiles up at him, a brilliant glint in her eyes. Stretching her hand out to him she asks, 'Why don't you show me the rest?'

He takes her hand and walks her over to a decent sized empty room. 'This is the guest room with a little en-suite bathroom through that door'

It was the same style as the little bathroom downstairs. And walking down the corridor and through beautiful double doors they stand in a huge room and on the softest cream coloured carpet Betty's ever seen. She took of her sneakers and relished the feeling of the smooth fabric.

'This is my bedroom. Well, it will be. Through there is a walk-in-closet and there is an en-suit as well', she can feel his eyes on her. Following her every move. She examines every little detail. Walks through the closet and bathroom. All three rooms attached to one another. She could walk in a perfect circle. When she's back in his bedroom she searches his eyes. He's nervous, she can see that. His hands thrust in his pockets, his demeanour tense. He fears he made the wrong decision.

'This is a wonderful house. I can see why you bought it. It's not just a place you stay at. It's a home, Daniel. And I'm definitely jealous off the shelves', she says soft, making her way over to him. She sees him releasing a breath he must've hold in. She snakes her arm around his neck and pulls him down to her, bumping her nose to his. 'Stop questioning your decisions. You always do that. Be more confident in yourself. You see what happens when you do something on your own? You found the most beautiful house I've ever seen', she whispers against his mouth before pushing up on tiptoes and brushing her lips softly over his.

His arms snake around her waist, crushing her against his body. Face dropping down to meet her lips for a deep kiss.

They sit with take out on the floor in the living room, leaning against the wall.

'It's a shame that you don't know what to do with a kitchen like that', Betty jokes.

'I know, I was thinking of taking lessons', he tells her, struggling with his chopsticks. 'Damn it, I should've told them to bring a fork'

'Four years and you still can't eat with chopsticks. It's unbelievable how much you can change your personality but still struggle with something so simple', she shakes her head at him, amused smile on her face. 'Come on, give me your chopsticks, I'll show you a trick', she holds out her hand.

'I'll have you know that I can actually eat sushi and shrimps with chopsticks. It's just the slippery noodles and rice I fail at', he says defending himself while handing her his chopsticks.

'Of course', she nods, takes his chopsticks in her right hand before taking the hair tie out of her ponytail. And binding it around the ends of his sticks. 'See? This way it's easier', she shows him the chopsticks.

'Why didn't you show me that four years ago? It would've been useful knowledge', he asks mock-insulted.

'Why? What would you have done? Always carry a hair tie around?', she jokes, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

'Maybe? I'm secure enough in my manhood to do something like that', he comments easy.

'Good to know', she says serious.

'Huh? Did I miss something?'

'No, it's just handy information', she grins.

'For what? I don't get it', he's beyond confused.

'It's alright. You'll probably get it sooner then later', she says mischievously.

'I don't like when your so cryptic, makes me feel dumb', he grunts.

'I'm not cryptic, just happy', she beams.

'Your both. Just promise to tell me one day what this was about?'

'Sure', she says lightly, before changing the topic. 'So have you thought about furniture? Wall colour?'

'I have and you will hate it', he grins.

'Ay, what is that supposed to mean?'

'That it doesn't entail yellow or purple walls?', he chuckles, she hits him on the shoulder with no strength behind it.

'You may not believe it, but I can have impeccable taste in interior design. It's all a matter of what kind of estate your working with. And just because I decided to have yellow walls, doesn't mean I would do it again. You can bring colour into your life through so much more different things then a wall colour. And by the way. Orange? That's not better, Daniel', she rants.

'Orange? Oh right, you mean at MODE. It's different when it's a workplace, don't you think so, Betty? But you made me curious. Please enlighten me. How would you furnish this house', he chuckles.

'Okay, challenge accepted. I would match the wall colour to the colour of the bricks. A soft off-white almost cream. That way you don't take away the attention of the beautiful brick work. But I would definitely chose a dark chocolate brown wood for the dining and side tables. Like the floorboards - rich and warm. And because of the grey details of the windows and the countertops of the kitchen, you could either go for a grey couch and chairs or stay with the cream and bring in grey details through pillows, rugs and blankets, you know?', she explains simple. Has this sort of far away look, as if she can see it in front of her inner eye. And Daniel is stunned. Who would've thought that this ray of sunshine that prefers all the colours of the rainbow over any plain white, black, grey or brown would choose such an interior design? He is almost speechless. Almost.

'Who are you and what have you done with my Betty? Maybe the accident did cause some brain damage. We should get you checked out again, babe', Daniel says amazed.

'Its a shame I have nothing to throw at you', she says dark.

'Come on, I'm joking. But that was not what I thought you would say. And it's not what I imagined for this place. And I never thought I would say this, but I like your vision. More than my own. Why don't you help me. It could give you something to do, besides physical therapy and looking absolutely gorgeous. Maybe that way you feel more productive', he proposed.

'And we could spend more time together', she smiles dreamily.

'A glorious added bonus if you ask me', he smiles, grazes his finger softly over the rose coloured blush on Betty's cheek.

'Yes, glorious', she sighs happily.