Boswell, LaVenia (20 page)

            She’d always admired such things in magazines and a few catalogs her dad got every few years when he wanted to update their house, but rarely got around to it.  Money being the factor that kept their house old style.

            Every place here, almost every room, looked out at the ocean through glass walls that Jason made opaque and then darkened with the roll of a controller that was placed in a holder in each room by the light switches.     

            Jason revealed that even this house has a small elevator with a separate back-up generator too.  “It’s for those who might be disabled or for women who might be too far along in a pregnancy to safely climb the stairs.  I think it’s a great safety feature,” he’d added with a smile and a happy twinkle in his eyes. 

            She blushed with sudden joy at the thought of carrying this wonderful man’s baby.  She no longer dreaded such a thing.  Now she actually embraced the thought, for the first time in her life.  Even though she’d once decided never to have children, not liking to be around all the crying and whining.  Now, she looked forward to the opportunity, especially if it was her and Jason’s child.  The hair stood on her arms and she got goose bumps while she had to stifle a giggle at how weird she was feeing now.            

            Taking her by the hand Jason touched a panel on the wall and one of the rear glass walls retreated behind another and the beach was theirs, beyond the gorgeous blue pool with a splashing tall waterfall and Jacuzzi built in a corner.  The landscaping in the back was lush with tropical plants and flowers hanging from trees all around the rear yard, yet they kept the ocean view unobstructed.          

            Passing by one of the double loungers on the rear patio, Jason snagged it and hauled it out to where the sand began.  Sitting it down he pulled her onto his lap and said, “Our property, if we want this one, goes to that clump of sea oats out there.”      

            The view was positively spectacular.  People were walking up and down the beach, little children laughing and playing and a dog running off its leash barking angrily at sea gulls.  People waved as they walked by seeing the young couple on the lounger, waving back.      

            It was too much to imagine, Jennifer realized.  “Jason, sweetie pie, this place is beyond any of my day dreams.  I’ve never even dreamt anything near this extravagant.  Now really, don’t you think this might be asking for too much, so soon.  I don’t have any idea what kind of budget we’ll have, but to afford this, how much will we have to sacrifice besides food, clothes and gas money?” she inquired with a soft smile, not wanting to burst his bubble, but he had to get real.              

            “Answer me one thing and nothing else, okay?” he asked.                              “Sure.”  She nodded.             

            “Is there any possibility you might like a home someplace else, better than this?  Perhaps you’d prefer another place in
Ponte
Vedra
Beach
, or somewhere along the Intercostal?  How about a house on the
St. Johns River
? 
St. Augustine
,
Fernandina
Beach
,
Amelia
Island
, any other area in town or out, though not too far?”

            “Are you telling me that our whole region is available, for the asking?” she inquired, thinking he was joking, surely.    

            He nodded yes.  

            In about forty seconds she heard, “Breathe, Jen!”   

            “Jason, you are actually serious?  We aren’t just pretending this as a dream for some years in the future?”    

            “Tell me what you want my heart and I will do all in my power to get it for you,” he offered with a smile before kissing her tenderly but quickly.     

            “You.  All I want in this life is you,” she answered with all sincerity.     

            “You have me!  Come on, tell me.  Answer my first question,” he encouraged while grinning and waving at more people on the beach.     

            “I didn’t see a For Sale sign on the front lawn, and how do you have keys to every place we go?” she asked, skipping answering him.

            “Answer first, please.  You’re not getting me off subject, no matter how you bat those eyes at me,” he said with a laugh at her antics.    

            Shoving her up and off his lap he said, “We’ll take another look around first.” 

            They strolled through the rear garden and patio.  There was even an oversized built in barbeque with a five gallon electric boiler on the side for lobster or crab.  An outdoor bar was under a real teak roof with bar sink, full sink, half refrigerator and a cooler on wheels decked out like a grass skirt.            

            Inside they went again through all the many rooms, upstairs and down.  The downstairs master suite had a separate office and a separate library or crafting area for Jennifer.  She was picturing her art and beading supplies lined up in a row of storage bins against one of the wide walls and was thinking about just where her potter’s wheel would fit as they lingered in the doorway.     

            The nursery was obvious.  It was in a forest meets ocean theme.  The walls were muraled with forest creatures that ended at a beach with loads of sea animals wandering about.  It had a bedroom off to the side that puzzled Jennifer.     

            “It’s the nanny’s room,” Jason explained when he saw her questioning look.  “Some people let other people raise their children.”  Looking at Jenny he added, “A nurse to help out, not replace the parents for the first five or six years is fine, but after that a child needs their parents alone.”

            “Wow, a nurse to help?  Whooah, what about grandparents?” she asked, teasing.   

             “Oh, they’re a given.  But even they need time out.”  He shared how his parents were often babysitting for his siblings but at times his mom would say no, she was tired or had other things she wanted to do.      

            Locking the front door as they left the house, Jason turned to her and said quietly, “Jenny, I need to know, dear one.  You have to talk to me.  Yes or no about the house.”      

            “Can you, uh, can we afford it?” It seemed so impossible.   

            “Yup!  It’s a doer.  But only if you really like it.  If not we’ll search some more until we locate the best place for our home.”    

            “Oh, Jason, I love it!  You aren’t joking about this now, are you?  This is a real happening and I’m not asleep in my bed having this wonderful dream?” she asked with shock on her face.   

            He kissed her then and not lightly.  They both were a bit giddy when they un-entwined.   

            Jason now explained things to her.  Every property he’d shown her was investment property he or his family owned or they shared ownership.  He owned half of this house and now his dad and mom were giving their portion to them for a wedding present.  They had hoped she would choose the beach house.  It was a more permanent home in their eyes and they knew the kids, as they called them, had enjoyed the beach greatly growing up.  

            Besides, Jason assured her, he’d first wanted it because it was a wonderful investment.  Beach property was jumping skyward in price almost daily, since they were becoming rarer what with all the commercial hotels taking over a lot of beach areas around the country and especially here in
Florida
.

            Standing arm in arm in front of the house he took out his phone and took a new picture – this time it was of their home.     

            Heading back toward
Jacksonville
, Jennifer couldn’t stop talking about the house Jason noted with tremendous joy.  He felt excited that he’s managed to please her so much.  Now the next part might be a little tricky, he realized with trepidation.    

            “Jenny, we’re not through shopping.  Not just yet anyway,” Jason stated with a slightly nervous smile.  “We’re going to go buy you a dress.”    

            She jumped in her seat.  “My wedding dress?” she asked with even more excitement.          

            “Huh, no,” he quickly corrected.  “You and your mom will meet with mother next week for the designer to show you some sketches and get feedback from you as to exactly what you want.” 

            He paused and decided to go ahead and discuss something he’d been hesitant to talk about, fearing her response.  “About the wedding dress.  Uh, sweetheart, I’d really appreciated it if you make sure it has some sleeves and isn’t to low cut, you know, in front,” Jason stated, then decided he might better add, “or in the back.”    

            She quit bouncing, kept the smile on her face but looked at him rather strangely.  “What other dress is there Jason?”     

            Clearing his throat, he looked over at her and smiled his most winning smile, he hoped.  “For Mass, darlin’.  Since you’re going to church with us, and I’m so appreciative of that by the way.  I, uh, figured I’d surprise you with a few new dresses.  You know, kind’a start your trousseau for our honeymoon.  For Church and dinners and such.  You know, the made for church kind of dress.”  He swiftly began whistling some tune or another and looking ever so innocent and happy.    

            Dresses?  Huh, she snorted to herself.  She knew he thought he was being sneaky and ever so clever.  She saw him wink at her as he whistled away. 

            Only for Jason, she decided, only for him would she allow herself to be dressed in a dress and it not be a special occasion.  That made her consider something, “Do you and your family consider going to your Mass a special occasion, you know, like really, really special?” she asked, thinking there was no way it could be considered a really special occasion.    

            Jason smiled and nodded his head.  “Very much so.  We are attending the Lord’s Table and receiving Him, His Flesh and Blood.  Remember me explaining our beliefs about the Eucharist to you?  It’s also a love fest of the Lord’s love for us, and our’s for Him by receiving Him in the Eucharist.  It’s also called a Celebration.”

            “Oh.”  Jennifer sat quietly until they arrived at the
St. John’s
Town
Center
shopping plaza.    

            Jennifer browsed these stores before, but actually had bought in only a few stores a couple of the lesser expensive items.  When he pulled up and parked at one of the better dress shops she grew nervous again.     

            “Jason, sweetie, Ann Tray has really nice clothes, but they usually aren’t exactly my style.  They’re more tailored,” Jennifer stated when he opened her car door and she’d climbed out.    

            “Don’t you realize I know that?  It’s the shop across the street where I wanted to take you.”  He had a curious sparkle in his eyes.    

            “Oh.”  The shop he indicated was much more compatible to her slightly bohemian style.  She breathed a sigh of relief.    

            Once inside Jason encouraged her to pick out several outfits, all very modest but they did look awesome, she had to admit.   None of her cleavage could show or her shoulders and he really prefers sleeves to the elbow she soon discovered.  No swooping back either and all were below the knee.  She felt extra feminine in the even longer ones she quickly discovered to her surprise.      

            Jason admitted most others didn’t dress as traditionally conservative as his family.  That was part of why he mostly wore long pants and preferred long sleeves.  Not all his brothers dressed like him either, he shared.      

            Jenny assured him she adored how he dressed, and she didn’t care about the wherefores or whys, he was just too handsome like he was.