Just a Positive Pregnancy Test - London Casey Page 0,48
I know it probably looks shitty right now. I wanted to show you when it was all done. But I figured maybe if you see what it looks like now… I mean, we can get some pictures and…”
Mila looked at me. “I love it.”
“You love it?”
“I fucking love it!” she yelled and jumped into my arms.
I openly sighed.
For a second there I thought she was going to tell me she hated the house and hated me.
I spun Mila around, put her back on her feet, and I touched her face. “Hey, I have to tell you something.”
“Okay…”
“Your mother was acting a little weird today,” I said.
“She was kind of mean to you.”
“Not just that. She apologized for that. It’s… Michael showed up while your mother was hugging me and it got tense. They were kind of arguing a little.”
“Why was my mother hugging you?”
“That’s not the point.”
“Maybe it is. Maybe Michael was jealous. Look at the effect you have on Anna.”
I smiled. “I’m trying to be serious. They were getting pissy with each other.”
“Everyone has their moments, Silas. Right now, I want mine. With you. And our house. Okay?”
“Okay,” I said.
I grabbed her hand and we hurried into the house.
Mila ran through the house, letting out yells, cheers, and laughs.
She went through the entire downstairs with a big smile on her face, she came charging back at me only to turn at the last second and go upstairs.
Tyler waited at the top of the steps.
“You okay, Mila?”
“He bought me a fucking house!” Mila cried out.
I heard the familiar gasp from Lucy.
Mila then went on an apology tour, not realizing Tyler brought Lucy with him.
I looked up the steps at Tyler. “How much does the f bomb cost for your chicken container?”
“It’s a rooster cookie jar,” Tyler said. “And a f bomb like that… easily five bucks.”
I reached into my pocket and took out a ten-dollar bill and placed it on the third step.
“There,” I said. “Keep the change so I’m owed one.”
Mila appeared at the top of the steps. “Silas, did you see how big the upstairs is?”
“Yes, darling, I have seen it,” I said.
“This is amazing!”
Seeing the smile on her face made everything perfect in my world.
“Knock, knock,” a voice said from behind me.
I turned and found Teddy Rohrick at the open front door.
My lip curled. “What do you want?”
“I’m here to let you know you have some visitors,” he said.
I walked to the front door and saw three men in suits.
“Who the hell is that?” I asked.
Teddy Rohrick chuckled. “Well, Silas, you might want to rethink about trying to settle here in Gardner.”
Tyler told me who it was.
The Lovor family.
John, Jefferson, and Judd.
John ran the bank. Jefferson was the mayor.
Judd was involved with money and politics.
Looking at these guys and their crooked smiles, I wanted to throw up.
It reminded me of when I sat in a conference room and signed my first record contract with guys in suits seeing nothing but dollars signs when they looked at me.
Only this time, it was different.
The way John, Jefferson, and Judd looked at me, they looked poised for an attack.
“What the hell is this, Teddy?” Tyler asked.
“They have every right to ask questions,” Teddy Rohrick said.
“Questions about what?” I asked loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Allow me to introduce myself,” Jefferson said first, walking up the porch steps, offering his hand.
“I’ve got the idea,” I said. “You’re the mayor. These are your brothers. I’m Silas. I own this place. I hired Tyler to fix it up. And we’re all caught up. You can leave now.”
“Just as short tempered as the rest of the Justa family,” John said.
“Watch yourself,” Tyler said to John.
“Easy now, gentlemen,” Teddy Rohrick said.
“Look, I’m all for sprucing things up,” Jefferson said. He had the brightest and whitest teeth I ever saw on a person. “The problem is… intention.”
“We need to review what’s happening here,” Judd said. “I don’t want to get into lawyers and courts and all that. We just want to see financials and permits and all that good stuff.”
“For what?” I asked.
“You bought this place with cash?” John asked.
I looked at him. “That’s my business and not yours.”
“I like to keep the integrity of this town intact,” Jefferson said. “You’re an outsider, Mr. Rhodes. This house can potentially change property values around here. For those who perhaps can’t afford any change.”
“Or maybe I’m here to make an offer,” John said with a laugh. “I must have missed this amazing property.”