We've been on the road for more than half a day and yet mom keeps saying "We're almost there". Giving us an unnecessary hope. Finally she turned down from the highway into a small road by the side as we kept on driving. I started taking a liking to the place because of the tall well arranged trees in the woods. It looked peaceful unlike the city that was bursting with car horns, train, smokes and loud music.
Just after a slight bend a billboard came into view boldly written on it "WELCOME TO WILLOW WOOD TOWN". We kept on driving as there was no single building insight only occasionally some cars drove past us. However, in few minutes we some buildings started appearing with people walking around and going about their daily life. Three more turns and more was pulling up on a driveway next to a small house with a window on its roof. " Welcome to Willow Wood girls. And that's our house" she said as she pointed at the small house with the window on the roof. Cassie being quick to her hill for room hunt had rushed out of the car before me as she sprang to the front door and unlocked the door and went in " I'm taking the second biggest room" was all she said as she stride into the living room. It was bigger than our previous house and it had a back door leading to a garden at the back of the house which of course looked unkept due to years of not being attended to.
I walked back into the house and down the hallway which had a door at the end. Once I opened it, a stairs was revealed leading to the roof of the house which I presumed to be the attic with the window I saw at the roof level.
Slowly I walked up with my flashlight in hand incase anything lived up here. But to my greatest surprise it was almost empty with only a bed and a bed stand adjacent to the window that I saw from the drive way. Another window to the bed as it was facing the garden and which I could see the beach too. There was also a cupboard and a desk with an in fixed chair attached to the window that could be seen from the drive way. " Alright girls, come and pick up your things and let's get cleaning. Your grandma won't be happy with me for leaving her garden unattended to" she said with a small smile as she started offloading the vehicle and we just carried everything inside the house.
This is where the main work begins, cleaning and unpacking is a difficult thing to do. However, we spent the next two hours cleaning the house leaving the front of the house and the garden for another day.
We had cereals for dinner as we all told jokes and laughed at mom's stories of the times she spent in this house with aunt Sonia and uncle Jeff. As a while, we retired to our rooms as i slept on my scattered bed feeling super exhausted and hoping that tomorrow will be nice.
Morning soon came, I was still feeling tired and sore from yesterday's work and the nightmare of seeing Mark's evil smile in my dream. "Lia, breakfast is ready. Come downstairs now" Cassie screamed from the door as I stretched my my arms and legs like a cat as a little moan escaped my lips from the feeling spreading round my body.
Quick rising on my feet, I rushed down and was welcomed by the aroma of omelette as it was served with yoghurt. And soon mom was done with hers " Now girls, I have to go into town for some business and I believe you two can manage especially you Cassie…" she said as she turned to Cassie who had her hands up in surrendering manner "What are you doing in town mom?" I asked while stuffing my mouth with some of the omelette "I used to own a store in town where I and your grandma usually work with my siblings. We used to bake there. But now I want to turn it into a cafe so I'm about entering town to change the store if you'll put it that way." She said with a bright smile as she put her dishes away in the sink and walked up to the dinning table "Cassie I want you to clear the garden and the front yard…" she said as Cassie trashed around in anger while murmuring, " And as for you Lia, you'll go into town and get us food stuffs. We don't have any at home. I've written it out for you and it's on my bed lamp with my debit card. After getting it come home straight and clean the visitor's room" she said with her arms crossed which always dignified that she's serious. "Why are I'm cleaning the room so soon?" I asked with a questioning look on my face "Just cleaning it, okay?" She said as she turned and walked away, heading out of the house.
I could hear her start the car ignition and drive out. "Let's finish up and go to the supermarket together" Cassie said with a wide smile on her lips like a smiling emoji "Mom said you should clean the gardens and the front yard and I know you haven't finished with your room" I stated as I watched her pout like a small child. "Alright fine, let's get everything done before going to the mart" I said as she she joyfully pug her dishes into the sink and washed both hers and mom's and when she was done, she walked out of the dinning and into the hallway.
Sometimes I wondered between the two of us who was the elderly one. I remembered fond memories of our childhood when our dad was still with us, how we played in the snow, such lovely memories. She always behaved like the little sister while we are at home and she becomes the big sister outside.
It took us the total of five hours to get everything done at home. "Cassie… Cassie…" I called as she came running out of her room in a yellow jumpsuit with sunflower designs adorned all over it while and a pair of white sandals with a white small bag and her hair was tied up in a pony tail with braided locks of hair at each side of her face with a touch up of little make up to go with everything. I on the other hand was on a simple high waist penciled jean trouser with a white canvas and a white half cut with a ripped jean jacket. I allowed my hair flow in its natural waves and with a little peach lipstick, I was good to go.
Our Uber driver was already waiting for us outside the house when we got out after carefully locking the doors and all the windows. The drive to the supermarket was short lived as it only took five minutes to get there.
It took us a while to gather everything mom had listed out and a few other lady things and now we were standing at the counter as the girl across from us was scanning the items and then she took the debit card from me and just like that we were done. We turned to leave and as we exited the building, something or someone bumped into me spilling everything I was carrying on the ground. Thankfully nothing really spilled and nothing broke. Before I could bend to pick them up, he was already doing that as he kept on apologizing to me without looking at me, while I kept swearing at him in my head. Just when he was done picking them up and he stood to his full height, I was dumbfounded at his looks. He was taller than I was with light skin with a lanky body frame and his face