Page 7 of Loving Violet
Adrian's face lights up with excitement when he comes in to view getting closer to us. “Really, Auntie Josy? Can we get one?”
Before Josy can reply, I interject. “No, Adrian. We had a deal. We’ll get a puppy when we have our own house, not before,” I say, giving him a stern look.
Josy looks at me with a smile. “Well, if you already have a deal with your mom, you better stick to it, bruh. But when that time comes, I’ll be the first to help you pick out the perfect puppy.”
“Also, my evil plan was to bring you both here and make you stay with me so I can stop feeling lonely in this house,” Josy says playfully. “You know what? Instead of staying in the guest house, why don’t y’all stay here with me? I have the space,” Josy says as she turns to look around her big house.
“Thanks for your offer, but I refuse to bother you here. We are okay staying in the guest house,” I say, leaning over and lowering my voice so Adrian can’t hear me. “Besides, I don't want to be here in case you bring one of your friends to spend the night.”
Josy laughs, nodding in understanding. “Fair enough. The guest house it is, then.”
I smile and say, “So, are you going to show us the guest house?”
“Yes. Let’s go!” Josy exclaimed.
Adrian comes running from somewhere in the house and tries to hug me and kiss me. Instead of hugging, he puts all his weight on my shoulders, making me stumble.
“Adrian! Don’t do that, you’re going to make me fall, and you’re too heavy,” I complain.
He dislodges himself from me and says, “Sorry, I just felt like hugging you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go and see our temporary home,” I mumbled.
We follow Josy outside her house and walk the fifty feet to the garage.
“This is the private entrance to the guest house. You can also enter through the garage,” Josy explains.
The garage is spotless. Josy’s SUV is parked there, and there’s plenty of space for my own. As we walk, I see a white door that leads to the stairs. Josy goes up first, followed by Adrian, and then I head up after. When I enter the door, I’m shocked. The apartment is the same size as the garage and has an open concept.
To the right, I see a small kitchen and dining room. The living room is next to the dining area, cozy and inviting. To the left, there are three doors, one leading to a full bathroom, and the other two are bedrooms.
The kitchen is modern with sleek countertops and stainless steel appliances. The dining table, though small, is perfect for our needs. The living room has a comfortable couch, a coffee table, and a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. It’s a perfect space for us to relax and unwind after a long day.
The bedrooms are a good size, with plenty of natural light filtering through the windows. One room has a queen-sized bed, while the other has a twin bed, perfect for Adrian. Both of them have enough closet space for our belongings.
“Wow, this is amazing,” I say, turning to Josy. “You’ve really outdone yourself.”
“I wanted you to feel at home. I’m so glad you like it,” Josy says with a big smile.
Adrian runs into his room, excitedly exploring every corner. “This is so cool, Mom! I love it here!”
I smile, feeling relieved. “I think we’re going to be very happy here until we can find a house to buy,” I say to Josy.
“Me too,” Josy replies. “Welcome home.”
I smile brightly. “Tomorrow, I’ll enroll Adrian in school and buy all his supplies. I still can’t believe my baby is going to middle school.”
“It’s not a big deal, Mom. Just another grade,” Adrian says nonchalantly.
“If you say so…” I tease.
“And Monday is also going to be your first day at the coffee shop. I’m so excited to have you work with me,” Josy chimes in.
“About that, are you sure you want me in your coffee shop? I haven’t worked in almost twelve years,” I remind her.
“I really, really want you there. Don’t worry about anything. I’ll teach you everything you need to know this weekend. Now let’s go have dinner, and afterward, I’ll show you around town,” Josy responds.
“That sounds perfect,” I say with a grateful smile.
