"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Denier International Airport. Local time is 11:45 in the afternoon and the temperature is 31 degrees Celsius. For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your belt fastened until the captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate and that it is safe for you to move about." The attendant said which made me remove my eye mask from my eyes and glance out the window of the plane. The beautiful sky greeted me which made me smile and turn my gaze onto the sit next to me.
"We are back father," I said happily holding onto his hand but the man simply smiled at me, and right then, he faded away like smoke. That is just when, I have come to realize, Father is not with me any longer and there was no one in the seat but my bag.
"Are you alright, Mam?" One of the attendants approached me which made me take a glimpse at her.
"Yes, I'm alright," I replied and flashed a smile as if I didn't do anything stupid because I know from their point of view, they might have thought that I was acting crazy or something.
"Then, call us if you need anything, Mam." The woman said and finally walked away. I sighed, leaning onto the seat. I thought that I was with him all along. I still miss him even if months have already passed away since he left me.
"Oh! Lia… please get a grip on yourself." I whispered and once again looked through the windows as we began to descend.
"Please check around your seat for any personal belongings you may have brought on board with you and please use caution when opening the overhead bins, as the heavy articles may have shifted around during the flight."
"If you require deplaning assistance, please remain in your seat until all other passengers have deplaned. One of our crew members will then be pleased to assist you."
"On behalf of Ravenous Airlines and the entire crew, I'd like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forwards to seeing you onboard again in the near future. Have a nice stay!" The attendant said and so, we began to stand up from our seats the moment the captain finally turned off the fasten seat belt sign.
I had gotten off the plane without encountering any problem so, I went hurriedly to the exit to get a cab since I am beginning to get tired from the long flight. Once I manages to find the exit, I got a cab immediately. The driver insisted to put my luggage in the back while I went inside because my head is already pounding.
"To the Chesterfield town, Sir," I said to the driver when I saw him finally head inside the car.
"That is far Miss, are you willing to pay double?" The man asked looking at the rearview mirror and I just simply smiled at the man as I put my bag next to me.
"Yes." I simply replied and right then, the cab drove off to the town after that.
It took an hour or so before I finally got to arrive at the town. I paid the man and quickly got out of the car. The driver helped me once again with my luggage and after that, he left by saying thank you. Right then, I noticed that everyone was looking at me as soon I stepped out of the car. I was not entirely new in the town but since I was still little when I left Chesterfield and it has been years since I returned, it is inevitable for this to happen. I started to wander my gaze and looked for the place where I will be staying but… I think that I won't be able to find it without anyone's help.
"Are you new in this town?" Someone suddenly approached me which made me turn to face him. It was a man who was riding a bicycle and had stopped to ask. He doesn't look like he has some ill will so, I nodded in return.
"Are you looking for something?" He now asked in return. I decided to give him a piece of paper on which the address was written because I completely forgot the road which I will take just to get to our house.
"Oh… You live here?" He asked in disbelief and I nodded in return.
"I can take you there but… you need to rent a bike to get there. There's no taxi in this town so, sometimes everyone walks on foot or rides a bike. Some privileged one has their own cars so, who are you among them?" He asked now. I simply chuckled at the man.
"I can rent a bike but... my luggage," I said and the man went down on his bike.
"Your luggage can ride with me since I will be taking you to your destination." He said as he started to carry my luggage and put it at the back of his back, then tied it with a rope. My luggage isn't that big since I know that I won't be staying here for long. Besides, I can just buy some of the things that I will be needing later on in this town, in case I lack something.
"Thank you," I said and the man decided to accompany me to rent a bike at some kind of store which was not far from where we were. It was just a few walks away. So, I had no problems walking on foot. After I manage to rent a bike, we started our little trip towards the destination of our house in this town. Then, a little while later, the man stopped in front of a massive gate.
"You must be the daughter of the professor?" He asked as I parked my bike next to the gates. This house was owned by a kind and known professor in Canada, my father to be exact. So, I simply nodded in return.
"It has already been years since this house has been occupied. It is great news that there is someone that will start to live here now." He said as he started to put down my luggage on the ground next to me.
"Thank you. Can I know your name?" I asked shyly and the man offered his hand.
"Kayden… Kayden Carter." He replied.
"Lia… Lia Chavez." I then answered and accepted his hand.
"It was nice meeting you. I will be going now. I need to deliver these letters throughout the town." The man then said and hold onto the handle. I have already noticed it a while ago but I didn't dare to ask what it was on his bag that was full of envelopes.
"Thank you. I must have wasted some of your time." I said guilty but the man shook his head.
"You didn't. See you when I see you!" He said and finally left me alone.
I, on the other hand, decided to shift my gaze toward the gate in front of me and looked through it. The house looked abandoned from where I was but it will not be from now on because I will be staying here from then on.
"Welcome home," I said to myself and by then, I opened the gates of the house by pushing it as I proceeded to walk inside.
Once, I managed to get a closer look at the house. I just then noticed that it wasn't that old compared to what I was anticipating. I decided to open the door and head inside. The house stood calmly, as though it had decided to live alone and that people were a luxury it could do without. Individual blocks had been carefully positioned and sanded to a flawless finish before varnish was applied with fine brushes to the highly polished parquet floors. The windows had sturdy, triple-glazed glass frames and stable walls.
All in all, it looked like a movie set, a place waiting for life to come. The smell and the dust were the only giveaways. Opening the doors and windows did nothing to alleviate the musty and dry atmosphere. So, a spring clean, some fresh flowers, perhaps the house would enjoy the luxury of my company.
"Finally…" I whispered and put my bag on the floor as I inhaled the air in the house.
"It's time for work," I added and began to clean the house on my own.