Page 120 of Calamity Rayne Knocked Up

“Idon’t understand.” My mother said as I handed her the key. “You rented a place for me to stay? I thought I was staying with you to help out.”

“No, Mom, we didn’t rent it. We bought it.”

“You’re moving? This seems like an inopportune time, Rayne. Shouldn’t you have waited until after the baby’s born?”

Oh, my Gosh. I mentally counted to ten.

Maybe I was saying it wrong.

“We bought you a house, Mom. It’s yours. To live in.”

She just stared at me. “You… You bought me a house?”

“Yes!”

Hale cleared his throat. “Rayne wanted to do something special for you, Penny, since you’ve done so much for her. We also liked the idea of having you close by so you could see your grandchildren more often.

“You… But… I don’t…” She blinked rapidly and looked up at the large, ornate door. “You bought me a house?”

“Yes, Mom.” I opened the door and waved her inside. “Go in and check it out.”

“But…I have a house.”

I rolled my eyes and nudged her over the threshold. “This one’s nicer. And you can sell the other house and live off the money. You can retire.”

“Oh, would you look at those moldings?” She crossed the foyer and peeked at the furnished living room. She gaped at the dressed dining room, her hand rushing to her mouth. “This is all mine?”

“All yours.”

She laughed as if she couldn’t believe it. “I never imagined anything like it. Will you look at the size of that kitchen!”

“And she’s off.” Hale chuckled.

We followed her throughout the house as sheoohedandahhedat everylittle fixture and detail. By the time she toured the entire property, she was flabbergasted.

I plopped into an overstuffed chair in the living room, and she sat on the edge of the couch. “Who’s furniture is this?”

“It’s yours, Mom. It’s all yours.”

“Oh, Mylanta.” She reached for the tissue box. “I don’t know what to say. I’m touched and overwhelmed and…well, shocked!” She laughed through tears and blew her nose. “I can’t believe I own a house like this.”

She thought we were the ones who gave her something, but her joy at owning such a property was the greatest gift of all. I could never articulate how much I loved her for putting me first all those years. She never once complained of loneliness or bitched that the man who fathered me had also broken her heart and let her down. She just handled everything stoically, like any good mom would.

“I love you, Mom. I’m glad you like it.”

“Oh, sweetie, I love you too. Both of you. And I don’t like it—Iloveit!” She pulled Hale into a hug then bent to hug me because I was stuck in the chair. “Thank you.”

When we drove home, I smiled at Hale. “Thank you for letting me do that for her.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Rayne. I’m glad Penny’s going to be close by. I was happy to help you do it for her.”

“Our lives are so different now.”

“In a good way, I hope.”

“In a great way. My mother never dreamed of owning a home like that. And me—ha—I never even dreamed of owning a decent car. But it’s not just the money. Look at me. I’m a mom and I’m about to have a baby.”

He took my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing my fingers. “You changed my life for the better, too.”

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