Free Invitation to Love by Groovy Lee

him
and the girls; Taryn chose to sit in silence. The path that lied ahead was
taking the shape of reality more and more the closer they were getting to the
house. Now and then, their eyes would meet, and they’d exchange brief smiles.
She lowered her window just a crack so the air could cool her forehead. (Oh,
God)
    They
finally rolled into a long driveway that curved to the front of a two-story
gray brick. Palm and eucalyptus trees stood solid among the blue-green
landscape. Taryn’s nerves were now a unsettled mass in the deepest depths of
her stomach, bubbling viciously. Her reality has now come full force, and it’s
time to face it, deal with it, and live it.
    “Wow,”
Remi’s face glued to the passenger window. “Is this your house, Michael?”
    “It’s
our house now.”
    “Are
we really going to live here?” Rachel couldn’t believe her eyes.
    “You
sure are.”
    The
chauffeur opened their door, and the girls jumped out followed by Michael.
    “Welcome
home, Taryn,” he held his hand out for her to take as she emerged from the
interior.
    Her
new dwelling stood big and proud, all ready for inspection. She knew he lived
comfortably, but never expected anything as remarkable as the ultra-modern
structure encompassed by spherical hedges, and flowers vaunting every color of
the rainbow. “It’s beautiful, Michael.”
    “Can
we go inside, Michael?” Remi called from atop the brick porch.
    “Wait
for us,” he replied, then held Taryn by the elbow and guided her toward the
entrance.
    The
front door, made of scrolled iron and glass, opened to a circular foyer with a
dark-blue, marbled floor glazed to a high shine; A classic flight of stairs
arched to the next landing.
    “Wow,”
now it was Rachel’s turn, her hands held to her face in disbelief. “This looks
just like a princess’ castle.”
    “Let
me give you a tour,” he ushered them along.  “You can all see the dining room
here,” he indicated to the left.
    Taryn
got an impressive view of the black and speckled red color theme before he
called their attention to the living room to the other side of the foyer.
Spacious walls of pale-blue with tiny dots complimented the checkered-blue sofa
with matching pillows. Two over-stuffed chairs flanked by palm plants sat
across from it. And the biggest flat screen TV Taryn has ever seen
practically engulfed an entire corner. She hadn’t realized he was holding her
hand until she was led down a wide hallway, their shoes clicking against the
polished floor, to the back of the house.
    He
pointed to the library to their left, mentioning that’s where he works at
times. Walls of books surrounded an enormous oak desk cluttered with paperwork.
He released her hand and pointed to the room of stainless steel appliances
complimented by soft yellow and gray granite countertops, and a Spanish tiled
floor to the other side.
    “This
is where we’ll be eating some of our meals,” he said as he led the way in.
    “Mummie,
look at this big yard,” Rachel’s forehead was mashed against the patio doors
leading outside. “And, there’s a giant pool.”
    “I
see it, honey.”
    “Are
you ready to see upstairs? I’m eager for you to see your rooms.”
    Everyone
fell in line and followed him back to the front of the house and up the stairs.
Michael paused when they came to the first door on the right.
    “This
is your room, Remi,” he opened it for her.
    “It
is?” She edged her way in, gasped, then turned a full circle to admire the
lavender walls and matching carpet. The comforter and pillows on her full-size
bed were covered with her favorite anime character, Sailor Moon. “I love it.”
    “Come
along,” he signaled for them to follow him out to the room directly across
hers. “Ready?” he asked an eager Rachel.
    Taryn
couldn’t believe her eyes when they stepped into a world of powder pink walls,
and white furniture trimmed in gold.
    Sheer batiste hung from the
curtains and bedspread. To Taryn, their old