The CEO’s Quadruplets

Chapter 5

            It was one week into Isabella’s pregnancy, and she already missed her morning coffee. However, her first week of classes were done, and she now had time to rest alone. Her student group was small, and interested in her class and hearing about her traveling and non-profit work in the past. The young men and women were all great, but so many personalities and new ventures working together made life have a bit more strain as Isabella still worked through the early stages of her pregnancy. The day off from the university after the first taste at the teaching lifestyle seemed like a well-won prize, but her well-meaning husband had other ideas.

Amory took the day off after Isabella’s suggestion. In honor of the not-so-special occasion, he had surprised her with his signature homemade berry waffles, but it ended up not just being a romantic gesture but bribery as well. There was an opportunity to view a home before it hit the market, and Amory really felt like the moment was serendipitous for them between the pregnancy and the place becoming available. The seller was a business acquaintance, and the place had not been staged yet. However, Amory Blake used his classic charm to get the perky and youthful realtor to agree to an early showing.

            It was Isabella’s day off, so it seemed perfect to take a drive in their fancy electric sport utility vehicle that Isabella still considered unreal to go see a home that lay between Beverly Hills and Hollywood Hills. They loved the neighborhood they had now, so not leaving Hollywood Hills made Isabella already fond of the place before they even reach their destination.

Driving towards the Laurel Canyon area on a perfect breezy morning in her favorite white shirtdress and panama hat, Isabella felt a bit like she was on holiday. Amory himself wore a modern Hawaiian-style shirt that he left just a bit open with classic black sunglasses adding a touch of mystery to his s*x appeal. Isabella was tempted to say screw the house showing, and drive up the coast to find a cute hotel room that they could ruin together. However, her practicality told her that this was important. S*x could wait… for now.

            When they arrived, it seemed that the house was a bit out of place. When they started heading toward the canyon, the Georgian-style mansion looked like the little sister to the White House in Washington, D.C. The front porch had a large white set of marble columns that were two stories high. The wide front doors felt grand and almost austere as they stood there waiting for the young realtor who was brokering any deal with this specific property. Isabella felt intimidated, but she could not deny the beauty of the home. It was almost a palace, and the idea of living there made Isabella feel like royalty.

            Finally, the realtor came, greeting them warmly with bright professional smile. The prim young woman unlocked the door, and Isabella stepped into the mansion. It looked like something off television from the outside, so it made sense why Amory had found it so appealing. The inside was another story. Needing updating, the carpet was an off color that reminded Isabella from another era. All the walls had been primed a crisp white, so as they walked down the hall Isabella began to imagine how she could make things more suited for the current century.

            “This home has been lovingly cared for by the same family for nearly three decades,” the agent chimed. “Underneath the carpeting is beautiful hardwood that can actually be seen in the parlor just ahead.”

Sure enough the light-toned floors and bright white walls of the open living room that flowed into the kitchen space made Isabella excited. She imagined sitting in the room on Christmas morning with her children in front of the large vintage fireplace. She could see the garden out the row of tall windows lining the far wall. She could see their artwork from their current house still fitting in at this place.

A phone rang, and the realtor jumped a bit in surprise before saying graciously, “Forgive me, I must take this. Feel free to go look at the darling eat-in kitchen!”

Before Isabella could respond, the woman disappeared. Amory stepped closer to Isabella to whisper in her ear. Lacing his fingers into her, she could tell that her husband was excited about this house.

“What do you think?” Amory asked with his eyebrows raised, and it looked to Isabella like he wanted her to like the home.

It was lucky for him that she actually did, but her trepidations were still there. She was always one to analyze every detail, and Amory thankfully loved her for it. She looked about the room, pretending to muse before finally responding.

“It would be a bit of work. Do we have time for it?”

“We have the money for it. I’ve already called some people. I have a contractor ready to make all the necessary changes in two weeks, but I wanted your approval first.”

Isabella laughed. “Well, the home is stunning. The bones are good, but is it too much?”

Amory raised his eyebrows as he joking asked, “We’re having four children, Bella. Is that a concern you really have?”

She shook her head, smiling. “No. I guess I’m just not used to this much house. I mean, I grew up in a military house in San Diego. It was practical, not palatial.”

Amory grinning, he led her into the aging kitchen as he replied, “I know, but it’s six bedrooms with an office in the main house. By the pool outside is a guest house with two smaller bedrooms, so your parents could stop by whenever they pleased.”

“Mom would like that.”

“I know. You should tell her that. She might like me more.”

Isabella playfully hit his arm as she made note of the kitchen’s layout in the back of her mind and saying, “She likes you well enough!”

“She’s still upset I never made an honest woman out of you in front of God.”

Isabella shrugged. “My family is extra Catholic. So what? Our wedding was enough.”

Amory leaned against the long breakfast bar as sunlight poured around him from the dining nook behind him. Isabella could now see the aqua blue kidney bean pool with a little slide and diving board just out the nook’s windows. However, Amory’s expression distracted her.