Chapter 67 - Moving Across the River

Delia and Vladimir got everything ready to go.  The new house was fully furnished so they didn’t have to pack much except for their clothing and Valerie’s crib, and of course, Delia’s basement.  She had done this more than once and it didn’t take her long.  Vladimir told her their new house had a hidden basement off the garage so they could store Delia’s things there.  They put what they could in her car and headed to their new home. 

It was dusk and snowing by the time they were finally able to leave and the drive through the city and across the bridge was beautiful and quiet.

 

As they pulled into the drive of their new home, Delia was overcome.  It was a modern split level home with tons of windows, built on the side of the cliffs; overlooking the city on one side and the river on the other.  It even had a security gate. She just stood outside in the snow for a few minutes taking it all in.   She never dreamed she would live in a place so beautiful and peaceful. 

They walked inside to begin the tour. When Vladimir saw the red baby grand piano he smiled to himself; he knew this was Elvira’s doings. She knew how much he missed the piano from his penthouse. She was probably trying to make up for the other night. The two of them definitely had a love/hate relationship. He went straight over and began to play while Delia just took in the great room. 

Delia placed Valerie in the playpen and told her to listen to the beautiful music her father was playing while she went to the bar and poured a glass of wine.  She walked back over to where Vladimir was playing the piano and stood there watching and listening.  He played beautifully.  She knew he must have given up his passion to live with her in her little cracker box house and felt a pang of guilt which was quickly replaced by an overwhelming feeling of love.  Everything was perfect.  

While Vladimir continued to play, and Valerie was content by his side, Delia decided to further explore the house.  She went outside and found a beautiful pool complete with a pool bar and hot tub.  She went over to the little table and sat down in the quiet snow and thought about where she had begun her life’s journey and how content she was now. It couldn’t be any better.     

Delia finished her wine and started to go back inside.  She stopped again, looking at the beautiful scenery trying to take in that this was now theirs.  Vladimir, noticing she was gone, went outside to find her. He saw her just standing there and as he approached said, “Penny for your thoughts?”  

She inhaled sharply at that statement. The last time someone asked her that question was on her wedding day and that simple statement brought the unwelcome memory of Goodwin rushing back. When Goodwin asked her that, she was thinking of her first husband, Francisco. This time, she was only thinking of the man that had spoken those words, and how much she loved him. She turned around, smiled and told him, “I was thinking I sure would like to check out the hot tub, but I have no idea where my swimsuit is packed.”  He laughed and said, “Who needs a swimsuit?” Delia grinned and said, “Last one in's a rotten egg!” and took off towards the steaming hot tub stripping off clothes as she went. 

The next morning Delia got up and had to pinch herself to make sure hadn’t dreamed everything.  She walked outside and the view was just as beautiful in the light of day as it was on the snowy night they moved in. 

Valerie was getting so big. She was almost four years old already and loved playing with the doll house that Vladimir got for her. She relished in biting the heads off the dolls.  Delia wondered if this was normal toddler behaviour or if she was 'pretend' feeding?  Delia worried about that a lot.

Every time Delia caught her doing it, she would scoop her up and hug her and tell her she mustn’t bite the dolls.  Valerie would wriggle to get down until Delia offered to rock her and tell her stories. Rocking soothed them both. Rocking has always been Delia’s go-to soother. 

Delia loved their daughter very much but wasn’t so sure she would know what to do if Valerie was a vampire like her father.  That thought brought back memories of her son Aiden.  Aiden was a witch fathered by a witch. He was only 17 when she left Hidden Springs so long ago and he demanded to stay with his sister and her family.  Tears welled up at the thought of having left her children.  But she knew they were better off that she did.  They did not need her baggage.  She finally had stopped all communication with them so they would think she had died.  She was thankful that she was not going to be in that situation again.  

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