Florence, kicked Morticia out of her house calling her a prostitute. That night, Morticia had to Lodge in a Motel, where she stayed for a while, till she graduated. Of course her graduation was only days away. It pained Melinda who had not expected such loathsome word and harsh reaction from her sister, especially since Morticia is her Niece!
The Sanchez's had lost their eldest daughter and sister to a plane crash. The Second child and daughter of the Sanchez's based in Hentritch, another city in Cilevile. She maintained meager relationship with her family. She personally wasn't fond of her sisters and even more so her brother, who she never really considered a Sanchez. So she was out of Melinda's option.
Melinda couldn't consider the Hanks (her husband's family) because of her shaggy relationship with them. They disregarded and disrespected her always insinuating that she was a gold digger only after successful men to ruin them, especially the Hank sisters. So they were also out of the book. To Melinda, they were never an option. At least that was what Melinda mouthed to Morticia over the phone while she was temporarily staying at the motel.
The only option that was left for Melinda was Anika Miles, Joseph's sister. Melinda knew that Anika was the one she was most likely to fall back to at a time like this. Anika being a very endearing and considerate person would be the most convenient Miles to reach out to because she wouldn't want to let her dear niece wander aimlessly, without also bagging her dream Degree in petroleum engineering, right?
Anika was hesitant and even refused to give Melinda an Audience. But Melinda knew she needed to act fast because she was obviously the one who bagged the bills throughout Morticia's stay at the Motel. So Morticia was made to reach out to Anika and explain her ordeal which further increased Anika's disdain towards Melinda. Not as if she cared Morticia thought with a scoff.
Eventually, Morticia was welcomed into Anika's home after she had graduated from high school.
Anika was very warm towards her when she arrived, Morticia thought with an easy smile.
It was just like yesterday when Anika introduced Morticia to the family
" Morticia darling, how have you been? Welcome to Planora." Anika said with a smile on her face when she received Morticia from the bus station.
" Thanks Aunt Anika" Morticia replied choosing to ignore her first question because she didn't really have an answer to that and also feeling rather ambivalent about Anika's attitude towards her. It was almost as if Anika could see through Morticia so she wanted to assure her that she didn't feel bad about her nor did she regret taking her in.
" Morticia dear, I know you must be feeling weird since it's been a long time since we last saw each other. But you don't have to worry. Accepting you into our home is my choice and I do not regret it. If only I had known that your shameless mother ha... " Anika paused, realizing that she might have offended Morticia. But Morticia was quick to assure that she wasn't offended.
"It's okay Aunt. I understand" Morticia replied with a small chuckle.
The last thing she wanted was for things to get weird and for them to start on the wrong foot. Of course, regardless of how her mother treated her and literally ignored her, she still wouldn't want someone to call her names. Yes she was selfish, but, she wasn't totally a bad person. But then again, she wasn't mad at her aunt either.
" Morticia you know that I care about you. What I wanted saying was that if I had known that she didn't take you with her, I would've taken you in way before now. You are my blood and the only living testament of my late brother's existence, so of course I love and cherish you okay?" Anika said trying hard not to break into a sob
" Yes aunt. Thank you. I really do appreciate your love and I won't take it for granted" Morticia replied with tears in her eyes as she remembered her late Father.
" Okay let's go home now. The driver is waiting for us. Now cheer up, okay?. That's what Joseph would want too"
Morticia simply smiled at her aunt.
On their way to Anika's house, they engaged in different topics. Anika trying to keep Morticia up to speed with her family and also trying to catch up on all that had been happening in Morticia's live for the past few years so she did most of the talking and questioning too. For Morticia, it was a strange feeling because she didn't really talk much during her stay with Florence. The boundaries were set. Jake was the youngest and he was just eleven years old.
Florence never really got chatty with Morticia neither did Jeff and Mia. Since Morticia was greatly affected by the death of her father, she was still trying to process things when the separation from her mother hit her so it wasn't so hard for Morticia to be closed off.
When Anika noticed Morticia's unenthusiasm, she decided to halt, making a mental note to discuss Morticia's past with her some other time.
When the driver arrived Lamborth Street, a popular street in the city of Planora, Anika mouthed " we are home " enthusiastically to Morticia whose eyes didn't leave the building. It dawned on Morticia that it was where she would call home now. She only hoped and prayed for good luck. They came down from the car with the driver offering to help take her luggage inside.
Morticia then remembered a line she read in a book that talks about good luck.
'if you want good luck in a new environment, you should never forget to step into the premises with your right foot especially for the first time'.
It sounded stupid but little Miss Morticia couldn't take chances. She was engrossed in calculating her steps that she didn't notice a man approaching her. He was none other than Anika's husband, Wills Prescott.
Happy that she had stepped in with her right foot, she was about raising her head when... BAM! She collided with a rock. But who mounts a rock right in front of the g... AHHHHHHH!
" Mr Wills! I am so sorry sir. I didn't see you coming sir " So much for good luck at a new place, Morticia mused inwardly.
Wills and Anika who was behind Morticia couldn't help but chuckle.
" It's okay dear. Your aunt wanted to alert you but I signaled her not to. Your eyes were glued to the ground so I was curious to see what you were up to" Wills said grinning, not also wanting to interrogate her.
" Welcome home dear. Feel free to call me Wills."
" Thank you Sir" Morticia said feeling a lot less tense than before. At least from what she Could observe so far, it seems he's as free spirited as his wife, right?. She just hoped things would continue this way. She wanted to truly feel like a part of the family because it was starting to feel foreign to her. She couldn't wait to meet their children. That's right their children! what if they don't like her, what if they....
" Hello! Are you still there" Wills said playfully waving at Morticia who smiled back apologetically
"Sorry sir, I didn't get what you said earlier"
" There she goes again, I guess you'll have to take a bite from all the food in the house" Wills said. Morticia's eyes widened in shock, seeing how big and beautiful the house is, there should be a lot food right?
Anika chuckled seeing Morticia's reaction.
"It's okay dear, I was just joking. But you should consider it, especially since you look skinny. Let's go in now, shall we?" Wills said grinning while Morticia replied with a smile that reached her eyes.
She also couldn't wait to go in!