Chapter six

“Ok, let’s go upstairs. I’m sure you want to see your room.” Jon looked at Kris. She just nodded.

“It’s the last door here on the left “ Dot explained. “I thought you would like to have your own bathroom.” Kris looked at her surprised.

“Th…Th…Thank you.” She stuttered overwhelmed.

Maybe it wasn’t bad to live in a big house. When she entered her new room, she was stunned. The whole apartment her mother and she lived in would fit in here. Well, ok… maybe not the whole, but most of it. Actually this room was more a little apartment itself. It had a comfortable looking armchair with a TV in one corner and a desk with some boards close to the window. The bed was huge as well and there was not only her own bathroom, but a small walk-in closet.

“Wow. That’s great.” Kris was still stunned. Dot smiled.

“Great you like it!” She put the bag on the bed.

“Are these all your clothes?” she asked, looking over at Jon who just leaned the guitar carefully against the wall. She needs a stand for it, he thought. He found Dot’s eyes and nodded yes.

“Well, that means we have to go shopping in the next days.” Dot said with a huge smile on her face. Kris, who was still going around in the room, suddenly snapped her head around.

“That’s not necessary. I don’t need anything.” She said demanding.

Jon and Dot exchanged a surprised look. That could get difficult, if she doesn’t want things I can give her…. Maybe it’ll be different in a couple days. She needs to get used to everything first, Jon thought

“If you want to change anything here in the room, Kris….” Kris turned around again. “…that’s no problem, we can do it.” Jon said. She just nodded.

“I think we should leave you alone now, get yourself settled, unpack your stuff….you can put the box down in the basement…I’ll show you around later, ok?” Dot said shooing the kids and Jon out of the room

“We have dinner at 6 pm, because the kids need to be in bed early. I hope you like pasta?” Dot added.

Kris smiled. “Yeah, that’s fine.” She actually loved pasta. Dot nodded and closed the door.

“Whew!” Kris let herself fall on the couch.

They are nice, no question about it, but she was not used to have so many people around her. She was always on her own, barely had friends…it just wasn’t possible, they could have figured out the things about her mother.

I will probably don’t have a problem with Dot and the kids. They are really cute. She smiled about Steph enthusiastic babbling when they were walking upstairs. But Jon? Shaking her head she sighed deeply. What was that with the hug? No one ever did that, not even people she knew all her life and she just met him and he’s doing that….she shook her head again and started unpacking her stuff.

The few clothes she had were put in the closet very fast. Actually you didn’t even see them in there. She put her toiletries and the bit of make up she owned in the bathroom. Unbelievable…She really had her own bathroom with a huge shower and a bathtub.

She walked over to the window. What a great view. You could see the whole backyard; there even was a river and a pool. I can go swimming in the morning.

She could see three other buildings from her room. Didn’t she read that he has his own studio and pub on his property? Yeah…and the other building is probably a guesthouse or something.

She still couldn’t believe it…over all these years, she had to fight for every single meal and he was sitting here in such a house…but did he know? She will have to talk with him, that’s for sure…but she wasn’t able to do it now. She wanted to watch him a little longer before that talk. Who knows whether he really wanted her here? He said it, but she learned a lot of years ago that people often say things they don’t mean. She needed to live with him a while, before she could trust him. Just don’t let him come too close to you.

There was a slight knock on the door.

“Come on in.” Kris said. Steph slowly opened the door and sat down next to her on the bed.

“Is that your mommy?” she asked, pointing at the framed picture Kris was holding in her hands.

“Yes, that’s her.” Kris smiled lightly.

“Who’s that little girl?” Steph asked confused.

“That’s me when I was three years old.” Kris replied, preparing herself for the question that would automatically follow.

“Why didn’t you have a picture with her from now?” There it was. The same question the women from the Department of Children and Families Service asked.

“Well, we never took the time to get a new picture.” She lied, she didn’t want to, but she couldn’t tell that little girl the truth, it would be too hard for her.

“You miss her, right?” Steph whispered. Kris nodded, that was actually not a lie. She really missed that woman on the picture.

Steph put her arms around Kris’ neck. Hugging seems common in this family. “We share our mommy with you, I’m sure Jesse is fine with it.” Steph said.

“Thanks.” Kris answered, fighting her tears now. STOP IT, she was telling herself and regained control.

The girls didn’t see Jon standing in the door frame, watching Kris and Steph and realizing by the look on her face that she wasn’t saying the truth. What happened with Susi, he suddenly asked himself? I don’t even know how she died? He shook his head in disbelieve, but I can’t asked her…not yet.

“Steph, didn’t mom tell you to leave Kris alone for a while.” He asked his younger daughter…oh, I really need to differentiate now.

“Uhm…” Steph stuttered. Her father’s eyebrows rose, he wasn’t angry at all, he could barely hide his smile about how desperately Steph tried to find an excuse.

“….uhm, I thought she is already ready with packing her stuff away.” She finally answered.

“And you were right, I’m finished.” Kris said, before Jon could even reply.

He had to smile, nice one. Not even here for two hours and already helping her little sister out. This could get very interesting.

“Ok, then how about we show you the house, before Dot calls us down for dinner?” Before Kris could even say something, he yelled “Jesse boy, come here…let’s show Kris the house!”

In the next second Jesse ran into the room, Dot right on his toes.

“Do you have to yell like that?” she asked her hands on her hips. Jon just smiled at her and gave her a small kiss.

“I’m sorry, darling. It won’t happen again.” Dot sighed. “You say that everytime.” Shaking her head, she left the room and the rest of the family started their tour.