Beautifully Broken (The Broken Series Book 2) (38 page)

*
* * * * *

I
met my real estate agent at the end of King Street the next morning. We walked
along the Potomac River Trail until we reached the brick townhouse she was
planning to show me. My jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe the townhouse
overlooked the Potomac River. I turned my back to the townhouse as I stared at
the river. I was instantly transported to the bank of another river in a very
different city an entire ocean away.

Pearl
gently touched my arm. “Kristine, are you okay?”

“Yes.
Yes,” I quickly mumbled. “It’s just… it’s on the river.”

She
smiled. “I thought you would like being near the water. You can walk or bike
the trail. It’s close to a lot of restaurants and just minutes away from
Arlington and DC.”

“This
has got to be out of my price range,” I protested.

“It
is, but I think we can make this work. Just humor me.” She reached for my elbow
and led me up the steps. “The first floor is actually the garage, which is
accessed from the street that runs in back.”

I
nodded absently, then turned back toward the river. A speed boat skipped over
the water despite the cold temperature. I turned back toward the house as Pearl
opened the door. I couldn’t help but gasp. A bronze chandelier with
intertwining vines and leaves dripped crystal rain drops in the two story
foyer. The entire first floor and the staircase boasted a gleaming dark stained
wood. The entryway was breathtaking.

Pearl
nudged me inside. The French doors to my right led to a library, which
contained a dark walnut desk and an entire wall of built in shelves that stretched
all the way to the ceiling. A sliding ladder ran on a track alongside the
shelves. The desk sat at the back of the room, facing a small sitting area that
was positioned directly in front of the windows.

The
formal living room was located across from the library, on the other side of
the foyer. Like the library, it had large windows overlooking the Potomac
River. The living room included dark brown leather furniture. A thick ivory rug
anchored the furniture in the room. My eyes widened when I noticed the framed painting
hanging over the gas fireplace. It was the Thames at Westminster.

“A
flat screen television is tucked behind the painting,” Pearl explained.

I
could have cared less. The painting was a Monet.

We
wandered past a powder room and a formal dining room before entering an open
concept kitchen and family room at the back of the house. The kitchen held dark
wood cabinets that matched the floor and black granite countertops flecked with
copper. Three brushed copper lights hung from the ceiling over the center island.
Wrought iron bar stools lined one side of the island. The six burner stove was
gas, and all of the appliances were stainless steel, including the wine
refrigerator.

French
doors sat along the back wall, just between the kitchen and family room. They
led to a large deck that had been converted into a sun room. The sun room was
brimming with flowers and herbs, which was rather remarkable considering it was
February. A wrought iron table with matching chairs sat nestled among the
flowers. Lavender was the first thing I smelled when Pearl opened the door.

“The
deck can be heated in the winter and cooled during the summer,” Pearl explained.
She pointed to the thermostat before handing me a remote that raised the glass
windows and screens surrounding the deck. The device also controlled a large fan,
which was spinning lazily over the table.

The
family room, which sat opposite of the kitchen, had a brown suede sectional
couch. Half of the couch faced the kitchen. The other half of the couch faced a
handsomely carved walnut cabinet with a television that lifted out of the back.
The cabinet was flanked by windows and matching leather chairs.

Pearl
and I gradually made our way upstairs. There were three large bedrooms on the
top floor, each with its own bathroom. The master bathroom had a spa tub and a
double shower in a soft white travertine tile. I sat on the bed in the master
bedroom as we finished the tour. I looked around the room, completely awestruck
by the warmth and beauty that surrounded me. My gaze finally landed on Pearl. I
shook my head. “This place is so far out of my price range, it isn’t funny. I
don’t even want to ask what it costs.”

She
smiled. “You don’t have to ask.”

My
skepticism quickly turned to confusion.

She
hurriedly continued. “The owner of this property is going to be living in
Switzerland for the next two years. His relocation was a bit unexpected. Evidently,
he has to fly out later this week. He approached me in search of someone he
could trust to rent the place… someone who wouldn’t mind if he left his things
behind… well, everything but his clothes, of course. He’s willing to rent the
place at a reasonable price, but only if I find someone who can be trusted to
take very good care of the place. I immediately thought of you.”

My
eyes widened. “It’s not for sale?”

“No.
He doesn’t want to sell. He’s offering to rent at a reasonable price because
you’d essentially be house sitting for him. You’d have to move out in two years,
when he returns from Switzerland.”

I
couldn’t get over it. The place was beautiful, breathtaking really. The office,
the Monet, the kitchen, the sun room with all of the flowers and lavender, the spa
tub, the double shower… The place had everything I could have possibly dreamed
of and more. “What kind of rent are we talking about?” I asked hesitantly.

Pearl
flipped through a couple of pages in her padfolio. “Two thousand dollars a
month, but that includes all utilities.”

I
swallowed nervously. “And the security?”

“Oh!
I totally forgot. That’s going to take some instruction. It’s a pretty
elaborate setup.”

I
sighed. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this place was too good to be true.
“I don’t know what to say, Pearl. I love everything about this place. It’s
perfect. I was planning to spend two thousand a month, but I thought I would be
buying a place. Still, I don’t see how I can pass up an opportunity to live in
a place like this.”

Pearl
nodded. “You are the first person I’ve shown this property to. I don’t want to
pressure you, but I have a number of other clients who would chew their left
arm off for this opportunity. I was really hoping you’d make a decision today.”

I
shook my head. Only a complete idiot would pass this place up. I met Pearl’s
eyes and smiled as I rose from the bed. “I’ll take it.”

Pearl
beamed as she linked her arm in mine. “Let’s celebrate over lunch at the
Carlyle Grand, shall we?”

I
wrote a check for the first and last month’s rent and signed the lease
agreement over mango martinis and Thai salad. I made arrangements to pick the
keys up on Friday, and just like that, I was another step closer to rebuilding
my life.

*
* * * * *

Mason’s
pinning on ceremony was at the Pentagon on Wednesday. Kadyn signed me in at the
main security desk. He offered a rather lengthy tour of the building before
escorting me to the conference room. The endless array of winding hallways was
mind-numbing and a little painful in heels. Still, I was grateful for the
opportunity to see the courtyard and the September 11
^th
Memorial.

All
of our friends were sitting in the conference room when we arrived. Cenia and
Roger saved us two seats just behind Gabi, who was sitting next to Mason’s
parents. I slid into the chair next to Cenia. Kadyn claimed the chair on the
other side of me. I had forgotten how handsome Kadyn looked in his uniform. It
was impossible not to be affected by him.

Mason’s
mother and Gabi pinned gold oak leaf pins on each of Mason’s shoulders during
the ceremony. Mason handed Gabi and his mother a bouquet of flowers, then told
comical stories about how the two women had kept him on the straight and narrow.
He thanked both women for encouraging and supporting him in his career. By the
time he was done, tears streamed down Gabi’s face, his mother’s face, and mine.
Cenia just shook her head and handed me a tissue.

When
the ceremony was over, each of us handed our cell phones to another Air Force officer
so we could have our pictures taken with Mason. Our group photo was my favorite
picture by far. Gabi and I laughed at how girlie we looked standing against the
sea of uniforms in our soft floral dresses and heels.

I
had to attend class from four to six, so Mason’s promotion party was in full
swing by the time I got there. Gabi reserved the community center at the Point
at Park Center, where Mason and Kadyn still lived. She pulled a fantastic party
together, complete with DJ and dance floor. Beer and wine ran freely. Her food
choices fit Mason to a tee. Buffalo wings, pigs-in-a-blanket, and little mini
pizzas were just a few of the options. Gabi had a special cake made with the
Air Force logo, which read “Congratulations Major Shaw.” Balloons in Air Force
blue, white, and silver were floating everywhere.

All
of the Air Force officers had changed out of their uniforms by the time I
arrived. The DJ played an eclectic mix of music. Hearing Shaggy’s “Angel” was
bittersweet for me. I thought of our vacation in the Bahamas as we made our way
out to the dance floor. I began dancing with Kadyn, but Matt eventually cut in.

The
party was a lot of fun. I was thrilled for Mason and happy to be there, but my
heart felt heavy at the end of the night. I couldn’t help but see how all of
the other relationships had progressed and just how much Kadyn and I had lost
in less than one year’s time.

*
* * * * *

Pearl
met me at the townhouse Friday afternoon to review the security and electronics
systems and to give me the garage door opener and house keys. I wandered the
house long after she left. I was still questioning how I managed to land such a
beautiful place. I sent up a small prayer of thanks before calling Kadyn to let
him know I’d be coming by the next morning to pick up my things. I took one
last look at the kitchen before heading off to class.

It
was overcast and gloomy Saturday morning, which I found fitting given my mood. As
excited as I was about the new townhouse, I was feeling depressed and more than
a little scared about living alone. My dog Cade had been my constant companion
after my divorce. Kadyn was practically living with me by the time Cade died. I
went from Kadyn, to Michael, to Lexie, to Cenia. I was now going to be living
alone for the first time in my life. No one would be there when I woke with a
bad dream. No one would miss me if I didn’t make it home from school. No one
would be there to protect me, and there was no way I could adopt another dog, since
none of the furniture in this house belonged to me.

The
entire time I was packing boxes at my old apartment, I thought about how
different things would be with Kadyn if Michael hadn’t forced me to go to
Paris. I felt conflicted. Even in hindsight, I wouldn’t have given up that time
with Michael. I wished things had worked out with Kadyn, and I wished things
had worked out with Michael. I knew that I couldn’t have it both ways. I
couldn’t even have it one way because both relationships had failed in the end.

Kadyn
interrupted my pity party. “So, how’s it coming along in here?”

I
popped my head out of the closet. “I boxed up all of my clothes. I just need to
pack the shoes.”

Kadyn
smiled as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. I had to groan
internally when I saw what that did to his biceps. “I’ve already taken all of your
artwork out to the jeep. Are you sure you don’t want to take any of the kitchen
stuff or the furniture?”

“I
just want the cedar table, the cedar chest, and the stained glass lamp that my
dad made. You can have all of the rest of the furniture and the kitchen
supplies. My new place is fully furnished. It has everything I could possibly
need and more. I could always donate those items to charity, but I don’t want
to leave you or Mason without furniture. If you prefer to have your own
furniture over here, then maybe you can swap it out for mine so Mason isn’t
left without furniture.”

Kadyn’s
eyes softened. “Thanks, Kri. I’ll see what Mason wants to do. He’s expecting a
new assignment, so it’s likely he’ll be moving soon.”

He
eyed my pile of boxes. “I don’t think all of this is going to fit inside your jeep,
especially if you’re going to try to get that chest and cedar table in the
back. Why don’t I take the boxes to my car, then I’ll bring your jeep around so
we can load the furniture?”

I
shoved the hair out of my face and crossed the bedroom to retrieve my keys. I
handed Kadyn the keys. “Thank you, Kadyn. That would be a huge help. I was
going to ask if you’d mind coming by the townhouse to give me your opinion on
the security system. What if I order takeout and feed you dinner to sweeten the
deal?”

Kadyn
smiled as he pushed off from the wall. “I was just trying to figure out a way to
snag an invitation to your new place.”

Thirty
minutes later, Kadyn and I pulled into the double garage located directly under
my new home. I unlocked the door that connected the garage to the staircase
that led to the kitchen so Kadyn and I could carry my cedar chest up the
stairs. Kadyn wiped the sweat off his forehead with the bottom of his t-shirt
when we got to the top of the stairs. I tried not to stare at the hard lines
that formed his abs, but I failed miserably.