Chapter 7
“Ohhh I love this song!” Priya cranked up the volume, and the three friends began to belt out half-remembered lyrics, laughing and teasing each other as they sang. The further away from the metro area they drove, the more the landscape changed. After a couple hours on the road, undulating golden hills began to open up on either side of the highway. Alethea couldn’t remember the last time she had felt this good. Each mile they drove put more distance between her and Jackson, her and Susan, her and her old life. She rolled down the window and took a deep breath, the air so much cleaner here than compared to the city. The bright summer sun shone down on the expanse of grassy hills that seemed to stretch on forever into the distance. Covered in cascading yellow grass, they looked as soft as down but as bright as fire.
Soon the landscape became more heavily wooded, and the thick green vegetation looked jarringly lush compared to the concrete jungle Alethea was used to. She couldn’t stop staring out the window at the trees speeding by. As the three friends happily sped down the seemingly endless highway, they pointed out interesting looking bits of scenery to each other or poked fun at outdated billboards. Danica had plugged her phone into the dash of the Jeep so she could play the Roadtrip! playlist she had curated the night before. Singing, laughing, and just enjoying the view, Alethea could feel the tension she had been holding in her muscles easing.
By the time they were exiting the last highway, the sun had begun to sink low on the horizon. The light dappled the leaves of the trees lining the road as their branches danced lightly in the wind. They had to drive through a few small towns before reaching the Main Street where Alethea had grown up, and the gilded countryside began to glow all around them in the warmth of the soon-to-be setting sun. Older brick ranch style homes dotted the scenery, all lovingly maintained with flower beds or garden flags on the front lawn for decoration. As they crossed over the single-lane covered bridge and into Alethea’s hometown, a bubble of happiness replaced the usual knot of tension in her gut. She had spent the last two weeks ruminating over having to leave the city and had been dreading coming back home. How odd that now that she was finally here, she felt so elated. I guess I must’ve missed it after all, she admitted to herself.
“You never told us this place was so dang cute!” A surprised Danica jokingly chided her as they drove slowly down the quiet Main Street.
“Right?” Priya agreed. A group of kids pedaling furiously on their bikes waved as the Jeep drove by and she waved back, laughing.
Alethea shook her head in amusement. “I guess I never thought about it like that. To me, it was always just a tiny, boring town that I couldn’t wait to run away from.” It is actually pretty adorable, Alethea admitted to herself, surprised. Looking at the mom and pop shops and boutiques lining Main Street with a fresh perspective, the kind only distance can provide, she could see now why the residents had always called the town charming. Hanging from each of the old fashioned gas lamps that lined the street were flower baskets spilling over with violets and petunias. The little downtown had a quaint but tidy feel, the sidewalk dotted with intricately wrought iron benches and well-cared for planter boxes.
At the far end of Main Street just past the Corner Cafe, Priya turned left down the meandering side street that Alethea had pointed out. The winding lane was lined with large oak trees on both sides, creating the feel of driving through a tunnel, as the sky overhead grew orange from the setting sun. It was only a short distance before the Jeep pulled up in front of what looked like a giant dollhouse. The stunning Victorian stood atop a large hill, with a huge asymmetrical wraparound porch spilling out to the left of the stately gabled entryway. Flanking the other side of the front door, a round tower covered in light blue wooden shingles rose up three stories.
“Okay, back in the carrier with you,” Alethea instructed, gently picking up Dandelion as she turned to hand her cat to Danica in the back seat. But before the words were even out of her mouth, Dandelion leaped out of Alethea’s hands and out of the car door that Priya had just opened. Becoming no more than a black streak of fur, Dandelion flew up the stone steps that cut into the terraced hillside and led up to the house. Alethea jumped out of the car and raced after the escapee, calling out for Dandelion to wait as if her cat would actually listen. The pathway lighting was inset into the terracing and made the stairs easy to navigate, even in the twilight. Alethea kept her eyes peeled for Dandelion as she jogged up the steps and into the warm light pouring out of the front door of the house. My home, she thought before she could help herself. No, not my home for long, she corrected.
“Dandelion!” she called out, winded from taking the stairs two at a time.
“We”re in here, dear!” Aunt Scarlet’s voice answered back, seeming to sing with delight. “We’re in the parlor!”
“You know better than that, you could’ve been run over!” Alethea chastised her cat as she burst into the large sitting room, finding Dandelion unabashedly rolling around on her aunt’s lap, soaking up all of the affection she was receiving.
“And you, don’t encourage her,” teased Alethea, walking over to her aunt who was sitting in her favorite wingback chair. She bent down and wrapped the small woman wearing a flashy pink velour tracksuit in a giant hug. It had been a few years since Aunt Scarlet had visited the city last, and Alethea certainly hadn’t been back home since she left for college. Tensions between the two of them had been high right before Alethea had moved out. Her aunt had disapproved of her choice to go to school in the city, and Alethea supposed she hadn’t ever really forgiven her aunt for not being supportive. She had always thought of Aunt Scarlet as the stubborn one, but reflecting on it now, maybe it was more of a family trait than she had realized.
“Welcome home dear, it certainly is good to have you back.” Her aunt’s smile was warm, and Alethea could tell by the crinkles around her eyes that she meant it.
“It’s good to be home.” Alethea was caught off guard by these feelings and even more-so that she had just said them out loud. It did feel good to be back home, oddly enough. With Dandelion safe and sound on her aunt’s lap, Alethea went back outside to help the other two unload the Jeep.
“The house really is pretty incredible, Al.” Danica was still marveling as she took in the intricate gingerbread trim on the periwinkle blue and white Victorian.
“I’ll say.” Priya’s voice came from the back of the trailer where she was unloading one of her trunks. Despite her petite frame, she was surprisingly strong and had no issues carrying the first one nimbly up the stone staircase. Danica and Alethea loaded their arms with their own bags and followed her up to the house.
Aunt Scarlet was now standing in the doorway with a very content Dandelion in her arms, the pair backlit by the warm light streaming from antique lamps in the hallway. The wide, double doors of the entryway seemed almost like open arms beckoning them to enter. “Welcome!” she exclaimed to Alethea’s friends as they reached the front steps. “It’s so wonderful to see you both again!” Aunt Scarlet had made it a point to take the group of friends out to lunch whenever she had come to the city for the weekend to visit Alethea. She thought very highly of the friends Alethea had made at college and couldn’t be more delighted that they were going to be helping Alethea renovate Queenie.
“Is that chocolate chip cookies I smell?” asked Danica as she walked over the threshold, drawing in a deep breath and smiling. “It smells just like my Grannie’s house when I was a little girl.”
“No way.” Priya, following closely behind, was shaking her head and laughing. “Not even close! It’s moong dal cheela, I’d recognize that scent anywhere! It smells so delicious.”
Aunt Scarlet’s laughter was soft and musical. “Well, actually I made a pot pie earlier that is neither of those things but Queenie has a way of making sure everyone has a proper welcome. I figured you lot would be famished after spending all day on the road. Come on, you can put your things in the parlor for now and unload the rest in the morning. I’ll just pop the pie into the oven to heat it back up.”
Alethea took a deep inhale of the cedar and star anise spiciness that filled the air, the smell of home. She had forgotten how good the old house smelled but couldn’t understand how the other two were getting whiffs of baked goods and Indian food. It clearly smelled like the woods on a rainy autumn day, didn’t it?
The three women did as Aunt Scarlet had instructed and then made their way into the cozy kitchen. Unlike the modern kitchens with wall-to-wall built-in cabinetry that they were used to, Queenie’s kitchen was filled with freestanding pieces of antique furniture. Priya let out a squeal of excitement and spun around, taking in the vintage ambience. “I think I’ve died and gone to heaven!” she declared to Aunt Scarlet as she ran her hand over the seafoam green hand painted bread box and matching canister set that looked straight out of a 1950’s sitcom.
Aunt Scarlet got a kick out of Priya’s delight and motioned for the women to take a seat at the well-worn kitchen table. “Tea?” she asked the group, holding up a large porcelain teapot covered in colorful butterflies and delicately painted peonies.
“That sounds perfect, I’d love some Aunt Scarlet,” said Alethea gratefully, and her friends nodded in agreement as her aunt carefully poured the steaming orange chamomile tea into mismatched mugs, passing them around the table. They sipped on their teas while regaling Alethea’s aunt with all of the exciting news about Danica’s new online venture and Jake’s solo stint in France. By the time Aunt Scarlet served the monstrously-sized portions of steaming veggie pot pie, they were so famished that they seemed to inhale their food. Even Dandelion had scarfed down her small bowl of tuna, a special treat for her from Aunt Scarlet, in seconds.
After everyone had helped themselves to seconds and devoured those as well, Aunt Scarlet gently scooped up Dandelion from her lap as she stood up from the table and lovingly placed the sleepy cat on the floor. She cleared the plates and put away the rest of the pot pie despite the loud protests from the other three that they should be the ones cleaning up. Danica made a small noise as she looked at her Fitbit. “How the heck is it so late already?” She was clearly shocked at how quickly the time had passed catching up with Aunt Scarlet.
Alethea’s aunt let out a small, bittersweet sigh. “I really wish I didn’t have to leave so early for my flight in the morning and that I could have a proper visit with you three lovely ladies. And you too Dandelion, of course,” she added, looking down at the little black cat that had curled up into a ball on the floor. She turned her attention to Priya and Danica, smiling warmly. “At least I know I’m leaving Alethea and Queenie in great hands.”
Turning to Alethea, she began rattling off her final instructions. “All the extra keys are on the hook by the back door. Oh, and remember to jiggle the handle on the front door when you turn it or it will get stuck. The movers should be coming for my things around midday tomorrow. I’ll give you a call once I land in Orlando just to make sure you’re getting on alright.” Grabbing both of Alethea’s hands in hers, she spoke softly with affection in her voice. “It really is wonderful that you’re back home, dear.” Alethea thought she could see tears welling up in her aunt’s dark hazel eyes.
“It feels good to be back, Aunt Scarlet.” Alethea actually meant it. “Even if it is only for a short time.”
“Yes, well…,” her aunt trailed off as she turned to walk up the stairs. “Sweet dreams you three.” Dandelion stood up and enjoyed a deep stretch, unabashedly opening her mouth in a giant yawn. She looked toward Aunt Scarlet walking out of the kitchen and trotted behind her, following her up the stairs to her room. “Oh hi there Princess, you want to snuggle with your old auntie tonight? I guess we do have some catching up to do.” Alethea could hear Aunt Scarlet cooing to her fickle feline as they walked up the hand hewn oak staircase together.
“Traitor,” Alethea muttered and the three friends giggled.
Danica tried to stifle a yawn.“Guess we should probably turn in ourselves.”
Priya agreed, massaging the side of her stiff neck. “I’m still pretty amped but I could definitely use a soak in a hot bath to wind down after all that driving.”
Alethea got her friends settled into their temporary rooms for the evening and then showed Priya how to operate the old copper spigot on the clawfoot bathtub. “My god, I’ve never seen a tub so deep!” her friend squealed, marveling at the oversized porcelain beauty that could easily fit two people. Alethea was glad her friends had taken to the old house. She had been worried they hadn’t realized what they had signed up for. An antique Victorian was pretty much the antithesis of the modern concrete city her friends were used to. Now that they were actually here and her friends hadn’t run away screaming, Alethea felt a wave of relief.
Oddly, it really was good to be back home, even if it was hard for her to admit or even understand. The feel of the banister under her hand, the creaking floorboard at the top of the stairs, the faded wallpaper in the guest rooms. All of these familiarities felt surreal to her, like she had stumbled into a waking dream. Standing in front of her old room, she turned the faceted crystal doorknob and gently pushed open the door. Her heart seemed to stop beating for a second as she took it all in. From the looks of it, her aunt hadn’t touched a thing. Well, except to dust evidently because the room, like every room in the house, was immaculate. Come to think of it, how had her aunt always managed to keep a house this big so clean? Aunt Scarlet really did seem like Super Woman sometimes.
As she curled up on the soft twin bed, hot tears trickled down Alethea’s cheeks. She pulled the floral bedspread up over her head and sobbed into her pillows. It just wasn’t fair that she had lost her parents and her memories along with them. Juggling a demanding job and a busy social life, the hustle and bustle of the city had easily kept Alethea preoccupied, and she managed to rarely think about her past. But now being back home, she was confronted with reminders that she had no choice but to face.
Why was everything from her past still so fuzzy? One of the multiple counselors she had seen in high school had explained that her memories were repressed from the trauma of her parents’ deaths. Alethea relived in her mind how angry she had been with Aunt Scarlet when she had poo-pooed the counselor”s diagnosis. Her aunt could get under her skin and infuriate her like no one else could. She was always so sure she was right, and there could be no convincing her otherwise. Stubborn fool, Aletha thought but then immediately thought better. No, her aunt was no fool. She may be a lot of things, with stubborn certainly at the top of the list, but foolish had never been one of them. Her aunt was uncannily smart and perceptive. Alethea supposed that was what annoyed her the most. Not that her aunt always thought she was right, but that she actually was.
Sometime after midnight, Alethea’s racing mind finally relented and she fell into the kind of deep sleep that’s only brought on by exhaustion. Her muscles twitched as she ran through field after field of flowers in her dreams, searching for something, endlessly running.
Dandelion tiptoed softlydown the hallway, stopping just short of Alethea’s old bedroom door. She neatly tucked her paws beneath her and squatted down low, making herself as flat as she could. From this vantage point she could see the shimmering light glowing from under the door, undulating along with Alethea’s heavy breathing. It was much brighter now, the shimmer more intense, and Dandelion began to purr. What a perfect day, the contented cat thought to herself. She was finally back home.