Chapter 13 #3
Soft, warm lights on the walls came on as she, Cotovatre and Emmet passed through the door.
They were in a modest entryway with what looked like a closet that was likely for coats and a pair of doors leading off.
The one to the side led to a small bathroom, the door opposite the front door opened into a living space which was one end of a long room.
The living end had a collection of comfortable-looking chairs and side tables, with a dining table and chairs at the other end, next to an open door that Hallie assumed led to the kitchen.
She was distracted by the windows in front of her, stretching along the long side of the room, and giving spectacular views across the city.
The windows faced out across midtown and in the distance, Hallie could see the port and the ocean.
She wanted to stand there and stare for a long time, but could feel an odd tension from Cotovatre.
Glancing at her ancestor, she saw the lady had her hands together in front of her and was holding herself still.
Waiting for Hallie to explore, as she’d suggested.
So Hallie turned away and kept on exploring.
She’d been right about the door leading off the dining area.
The kitchen would have made Rosalia dance with joy, and came complete with a coffee maker that made Hallie happy.
Behind the comfortable living area was another door that led to a short corridor with one door on each side, opening onto large bedrooms, each with its own walk-in closet and bathroom.
To Hallie’s surprise, the bedroom at the front, with its windows giving the same spectacular view over the city, had the bed already made, with some clothes in the wardrobe.
Hallie came back to the main living space to find Cotovatre and Emmet standing. Emmet had put her bag down on the floor next to the door leading to the bedrooms.
“What do you think?” Cotovatre asked. She sounded oddly nervous.
“It’s lovely, thank you,” Hallie said, trying to put as much sincerity into the words as she could.
It was true. Despite the large size of the rooms and the beautiful craftsmanship, it felt like someone’s home rather than a show piece.
The wall colour was a soft, neutral grey that felt warm rather than cold, and there were accents of colour here and there in the chairs in the living area and wall art around the dining table.
It felt like somewhere she could relax in after a long day.
“Oh, I’m so glad. There were a few apartments available, but this one just felt like you, somehow,” Cotovatre said.
“Now, Alys has been in and stocked the fridge and cupboards for you, and also made up one of the bedrooms and put some clothes in for you. You don’t have to use that room, of course, but we thought you would like the view. ”
“I do,” Hallie said, glancing at the long windows looking out over the city. “That was kind of you both.”
“Not at all. We wanted to make sure you would be comfortable here, after such a big change.” Cotovatre hesitated, and Hallie sharpened her focus.
The lady rarely seemed uncertain. “The more proper thing might have been to invite you into my own home to live there, but I had a feeling you would appreciate the independence of your own space a lot more.”
By way of an answer, responding as much to the hint of nervousness Cotovatre was showing as to her own reaction, Hallie crossed the room and gave her ancestor a brief, warm hug.
She didn’t think she’d ever hugged people as much as she had today.
Perhaps it was the jet lag, which was still weighing her down despite Cotovatre’s magic.
“I am really honoured that you went to so much trouble for me,” Hallie said, her voice low, trying to talk through a tightness in her throat. “I would have been happy to stay with you, but you are right. I am used to my own space. I think we both are.”
“Very true,” Cotovatre said, giving a little laugh. “Now, it is very late, and you are exhausted. If you have need of anything, please let me or Emmet know. Oh, and I will send Alys to you tomorrow evening to help you dress.”
Hallie was about to say she could manage to dress herself, when she glanced at Cotovatre’s formal attire and decided that, actually, she would love to have Alys’ help.
Once Emmet and Cotovatre had left, Hallie took her bag through to the bedroom and stood for a long moment, looking out at the city views, the sense of disconnection and displacement threatening to overwhelm her.
The ugly confrontation with her mother felt like half a lifetime ago, numbed not only by the tiredness weighing her body but by the quiet luxury around her.
It seemed impossible to believe that this was real, that this was her life now.
And yet, it was. She knew it was. Her truth sense told her so.
She was standing on soft carpet, warm and safe in a place her ancestor had chosen for her, looking out at a view of her city.
A great yawn took her unawares. However displaced she might feel, her body and her mind needed rest. She found the cord that would close the curtains and, with some reluctance, shut out the view, turning to the mundane and necessary need for rest.
To her surprise, despite the events of the day, she was asleep almost as soon as her head met the pillow, sleeping until the alarm on her phone woke her at her normal time.