"Veronica is ten by the way. She's one of the older girls here." Ms. Zoe's voice echoed in the hallway.
Veronica pretended to be busy working on her drawing like usual while occasionally stealing glances across the room where Ms. Zoe and the guests are.
They look nice...too nice. she thought before resuming drawing small scribbles on her paper.
"That's a beautiful picture you're drawing." Veronica's hand stopped and she almost drops the crayon on her hand. She totally didn't notice her walk over here.
The lady glanced at her drawing and she suddenly had the urge to cover it. Maybe noticing her reaction, the lady smiled at her and moved a little to give her space. She has a pretty smile.
"May I have a look?" she asked. She smells nice too, like flowers in summer.
Veronica tried to be cautious so she slowly nodded her head in reply and the lady beamed at her and proceeded to look at her drawing closely. "These flowers are pretty. What's your favorite?"
Veronica felt warm to her stomach. She stared at the lady with wide eyes before pointing at the red flower she took a lot more time to draw than the others. The lady grinned again, "That's what I like too. I guess we're the same then."
Ever since Veronica arrived at the orphanage a year ago, they finally saw her smile for the first time.
Veronica's trip down to memory lane ended when she heard Lucia call out to her, "Roni?"
Her eyes landed on the most important people in her life. They were clenching each other's hands while waiting for her reply.
She fought a grin upon seeing the worried look on their faces, "You're not holding me back. Why would you even think of that?" she said with a sigh.
She then saw her dad visibly relax a little but her mom still appears to be concerned.
"Roni, you're smart and great with what you do. Your career could do so much better if you'll work in the city again. Your dad and I-" she paused to look at her husband and he nodded his head as if telling her to go on, "-we can take care of ourselves just fine." she assured her.
Noticing that their daughter might not be so convinced, Ben chimed in to help his wife, "In fact, your mom and I have been planning to go on a long trip."
Lucia's eyes widen at her husband's as if she's hearing this for the first time but nodded her head enthusiastically anyway. "Yes, yes. We've been talking about this ever since your dad recovered."
Veronica eyed the two suspiciously. A part of her knows what they're trying to do. After Benjamin's sudden heart attack which forced him to retire a year earlier than planned, she decided to drop everything and go back to their family home to assist her mother in taking care of her dad while she helps him recuperate back to health. She's been working odd jobs for their town ever since.
Even if her childhood friend, April, didn't contact her a month ago to ask her to come back and work for her company, her parents would have tried to convince her sooner or later. After all, it's been 3 years already since she threw away the city life.
I guess it is time to come back.
Finally conceding defeat, Veronica let out another sigh. "Fine. I'll think about that offer again."
And the old couple were finally able to relax for real this time.
Breakfast soon passed and Veronica volunteered to clean up. A couple of plates later, she finally finished cleaning after wiping the last plate and loading it on the dish rack to let it dry. She checked on her parents and saw the two of them tending on their backyard vegetable patch.
She removed her cleaning apron and dried her hands using the kitchen towel to get ready and go outside to help.
Gardening was her mother's hobby. Besides being economical as she says, it turned out to be therapeutic to both of them. They can bond over vegetables and have a light outdoor exercise at the same time.
Once outside, her shoes immediately met with soil and dirt when she walked over to the small shed to get her gardening gloves and shovel. The chuck sound of a shovel thrusting into dirt then soon reached her ears as well as the tearing sound of a vegetable being pulled free of the earth.
The smell of damp earth and homegrown herbs hit her nose instantly as she crouched beside her mom who just finished harvesting and is now placing some dew-soaked lettuce leaves into her basket.
As per her usual task, she removed the weeds that needed pulling, raked the dead leaves that have piled up on the ground, or watered the baby plants that haven't been sprayed yet.
The vegetable patch is arranged inside a couple of wooden planter box that has carefully tilled rows of healthy plants in various sizes and shades of green. Frilly carrot tops, bright lettuce greens, and hilled potatoes were here favorite so Veronica made sure to take especially care of them today as well.
"About your trip-" she began and her parents almost froze on the spot, "-where do you plan on going anyway?" she continued while watering the plant bed in front of her.
The thrusting of the shovel stopped when Lucia's hand froze in place, "Uh..." she paused then looked at her husband for help. After all, this trip was his idea but the old man immediately averted his gaze.
"-We haven't decided yet," Lucia said without thinking trying to end the conversation as soon as possible.
Veronica's face scrunched in confusion, the crease above her brows formed into a thin line. "I thought you've been planning for this since dad recovered?"
Lucia forced a smile at her daughter, "Did we? Well, I guess Benjamin here already has a place in mind."
Veronica turned to look at her dad who seemed to be a bit distracted. "Dad?"
Benjamin let out a nervous chuckle, "U-up north, sweety."
"Up north? Isn't that a bit far?"
It was now Benjamin's turn to look at his wife and ask for help but she only smirked at him. She's mad at him. Shit. "It's not that far." he smiled at his daughter.
Refusing to back down, she asked again. "Who'll drive? Should I come with you guys?"
Benjamin waved his hand dismissively. "Your mom and I can take turns driving. We can handle it. Right, darling?"
If Veronica weren't with them, Lucia would have already rolled her eyes at her husband but she won't do something so childish in front of her daughter. "Thank you but we can get there on our own, Roni. You don't have to worry about it."
Finally convinced by her mother's words, she replied with a slight nod and went back to gardening.
_to be continued_