A New Home (Part 2)

Read part one here

   After undressing and putting on her pajamas, she washed her face and pulled her raven black hair into a pony tail. It only fell just past her shoulders but she liked to have it off her face while she was bent over a book. Pulling the ivory colored comforter back and then the melon colored cotton sheets, she climbed into bed. The only light was the ivory and gold candle stick style lamp on her night stand.

   Her room had become her haven, her retreat, at the end of each day. Her father refused to pay for anything more than a serviceable blanket from Goodwill, and why in the world did it matter if her sheets matched? She just needed something to sleep on for crying out loud. She had purchased this bedding set herself from the money her grandparents had sent her for her seventeenth birthday eight months ago. Now she lovingly cared for the beautiful selections she had made. She had also chosen the lamp to go with the bedding. She did however find a treasure at that Goodwill her father took her to. It was an antique oak vanity. She fell in love with it’s charm and could imagine some gorgeous Hollywood actress sitting at it while preparing for a scene. She had no idea where the desk had come from but it was fun to imagine. She brought it home and put it across from her bed on an empty wall. It fit like it was built for the space. On it was an antique gold vanity set containing a hand mirror, brush, comb and two smaller combs used to pin up her hair. They had all been a gift that her Grandmother had gotten on her wedding and passed on the her. These too were treasured items.

   Lifting the book she had to read off the night stand, she settled back against the headboard and opened to where her bookmark was. She began reading about a young woman in Ireland who had to take care of her younger siblings and the home since both her parents had died in a tragic accident. She too was trying to finish her final year of high school. Oh how she could relate to this girls struggles, save for the fact that the main character’s parents didn’t choose to leave. Her mother had been a loving wife and giving mother who loved to do for her family and the father doted on her and her siblings.

   Every page she turned, she lost herself deeper into the story. When the girl in the story cried, she cried. When the girl received good news, she rejoiced with her. When the girl appeared to be finding love, her heart swooned with the girl’s heart. After completing the required chapters, she reluctantly placed the bookmark where she had left off and placed it back on the nightstand. She really would have preferred to read more but she knew she needed to get to sleep. Tomorrow would bring another day of school, chores and homework. Turning off the light and sliding down under the covers, she lay her head on the soft feather pillow and was asleep before she could have another thought.

   She awoke to sunlight streaming in her window and she blinked her eyes open. Sitting up she pushed the covers back and swung her feet onto the floor. Sleepily, she crossed to her closet and retrieved her robe. She paused while putting it around her shoulders. Was that coffee she smelled? Her father never started the coffee in the morning. Tying her robe shut she opened her bedroom door and went to the stairs. It was definitely coffee she smelled. Halfway down the steps, she peered over the railing into the living room. Her father had evidently slept in his own bed instead of the chair he almost always slept in. Blankets had been folded and the living room was tidy. She came the rest of the way down the stairs and slowly walked to the kitchen. Surely, he would be there to scold her for not getting up to make the coffee. Cautiously she rounded the doorway into the kitchen. There was a younger man standing at the sink doing dishes. What in the world… Everything was sparkling clean and there seemed to be a breakfast casserole on top of the stove waiting to be served. Clearing her throat and preparing to ask this man who he was, he turned at the sound of her. Oh…my… he was surely handsome. Flashing a gleaming white smile at her he said “Well good morning darlin’”. Taking a small step back, she began to speak but stammered a broken “Uh huh.” “I have breakfast all ready! Ya hungry?” he said moving towards the cabinet to remove a plate. Setting it on the counter next to the stove, he reached for her and encircled her in his arms. Giving her a gentle kiss he said “I didn’t want to wake you. Ya need your sleep right now with the changes your body will be going through.” She somehow felt that all this was right even though she was confused. “Changes?” she asked. ”Yeah. With that little life your carrying, rest is what you need,” he explained while dishing up the casserole.

   Her hand went to her stomach in utter shock. “Now you sit down and eat, I’ve got to get to work.” He told her ushering her to the table. Sitting her down then giving her a quick kiss, he said he’d see her tonight. Fork in hand she watched him walk out the back door and shut it with more force than she’d been expecting. Jolting to her senses, she opened her eyes and it was still dark. She heard her father’s car gun to life and knew he was angry and slammed the door when he left. It had been a dream. She had overslept a little and her dad would have had to stop and get his own coffee this morning. That never made him very happy and she always heard about it that night. Rolling over, she looked at the clock on her nightstand, 6:30, she should have been up a half an hour ago. Well her father was already gone so she leisurely got out of bed and went down stairs to make herself some coffee.

   Turning on the kitchen light, she went to the coffee maker and took the carafe to the sink and filled it with water. Within seconds fresh coffee aroma filled the kitchen. She got out a mug and poured her coffee then added just a touch of sugar and a splash of her favorite flavored cream. How she loved the mornings that her dad left early. She knew he would have words for her this evening but it was worth the quiet time she had right now. She sat at the table sipping from her mug and remembered the dream she had. It seemed so real. She wanted it to be real. She let her mind wander through that fantasy life for a few minutes before placing her empty mug in the sink and returning upstairs to shower and get ready for school. She did manage to have time to finish separating the laundry before she left so she wouldn’t have to do that part tonight. She left for school checking that all the lights were off and doors were locked. Her father had told her to be sure of those things before leaving the house and surely let her know if she forgot.

   When she got to school, she went straight to her locker not talking to anyone. She was still in a hazy cloud remembering her dream. She thought about it the whole way to school. Focusing on the combination lock, she nearly dropped her bag when she heard a young man say “Hi Felicity.” Her head snapped up at the sound of her name. “Um…Uh…” she stammered. “How are you this morning?” he continued. “F-fine.” She replied, positive she sounded like an idiot. “Do you know who I am?” he asked shyly. “Yeah, it’s Roger, right? You’re in my physics class.” She said proving she recognized him. “That’s right.” He said seeming to be surprised that she knew him. The first bell sounded and they had just a few minutes before the second one would ring. “Can… can I walk ya to class?” he said blushing a little. “um, well it’s just right here.” She explained gesturing directly across the hall. “Oh… right.” He said, looking down at his feet. She chuckled a little and said “Well, I guess I’ll see ya in physics.” “Yeah, yeah for sure.” He replied, trying to play it cool. Closing her locker, she swung her purse onto her shoulder and adjusted her books. Stepping away from him and towards the classroom door, with one last wave she entered the room and left him in the hall.

   Later in the day they met up again right in front of the physics classroom. She nearly ran him down as she really wasn’t looking where she was going. Jerking to a stop before she buried her face in his chest, she sputtered a “Hi.” “Hi again” he said in reply. Giving a little giggle she scooted in the room in front of him. She arranged her books on the desk after taking her seat and placed the extra items she had under the desk. Straightening herself, she noticed that he sort of disappeared. She turned around to continue her search and was met with a grin. “Oh! I didn’t know you sat behind me” she said with a start. “Yup, been here since school started” he explained then added “Well I mean I’ve gone home at night and returned here on school days” he told her with a smirk. She blinked once and relaxed her face a bit. With a bland smile and squint of her eyes she slowly turned back around as the teacher began to speak. It was a boring lecture, as usual, and after a million years, give or take, the class was finally over. Everyone began to file out and she lingered for a moment waiting for a clearing to get out. Roger had waited for her. “Hey Felicity, Um I’d love to walk ya home if you wouldn’t mind?” he said blushing. “Oh… Um well, I hardly know you and you hardly know me” she trailed. “Well this would be a great time to change that don’t ya think?” he offered. Pausing for only a couple seconds, she threw caution to the wind and said “OK sure”.

   On the way, they talked about school and how mind numbing physics was. They laughed and asked each other a few ordinary questions just to get to know each other a little better. As they made their way up her driveway, she noticed that her dad was home. She stopped and said “Uh well thanks for walking me home, see ya tomorrow,” and tried to escape his company before her father saw them, but it was too late. He banged open the back door, taking a step outside, and Felicity snapped her attention his direction. Seeing the fire in his eyes, she silently prayed.