The Desire for a Simple Life

SIX

SIX

Natalia

- Week until Christmas, 11:43 am -

"I really don't want to go to my father's place. I don't live at home anymore! I really don't want to go!" I complain.

We are about five minutes from his place. He called inviting me to Christmas last week, I said yes, planning to fake sick and skip it. But Grant looked at me with judging eyes when I told him my idea. So I knew I shouldn't do it. Since moving into my own home, my life has been fine, but I hate to say it's boring. At my father's place once a month there was a possibility of me dying. It was a thrill. Now the only thrill I get is out of books. A part of me hopes something will happen just because.

I know I shouldn't wish that, but sometimes I need some thrill!

Then, we pull into the driveway of the mansion and the maids are outside waiting for us. I get right out of the car and put my arms around Valleriy and Shay. "Hey guys! I've missed you!" I say with a smile.

When I pull back they don't look as radiant and happy as usually are. "We have missed you too Ms. Brewer." Shay says as if she read it from a script.

Ms. Brewer? No one has called me that for years. Something must be up. "Okay?" I laugh a little.

I was about to walk inside, but Grant sneaks up in front of me, putting his arm in front of my torso. He looks inside and after a few looks around he removes his hand and lets me in but still stays close behind.

My father is nowhere in sight. That might be a good thing! "Am I staying in my old room? Or a different one?" I ask Grant.

He looks at me and puts his hand on the small of my back and leads me to one of the guest rooms on the second floor. My old room was on the third. I walk into my new room to see it looks like a guest room, a bed, bathroom, tall dresser and desk. Pretty blank, but it's fine. It's great actually.

"Where is your room?" I ask Grant. We walk out of my room and he points to his across the hallway. "Okie dokie! If you have a nightmare and need me I am right here." I tease. As he turned around I think I saw a roll of his eyes. "Yea know, you can tell me if you are lonely. I am a good listener." I taunt.

He turns and looks me dead in the eyes. Whenever I look at him, I try to picture what he looks like under that mask. My bet is that he is very handsome, with a defined, sharp jawline. For some reason I picture the light stubble of a beard. Or maybe it's all really ugly, and gross and can't show it because it apauls people. I laugh at the thought.

Grant raises a brow. "Is that a 'questioning' look?" I laugh again. He rolls his eyes and begins to turn away. I grab his arm before he can go anywhere. "Oh come on. I'll stop teasing you for the rest of the day. How does that sound?" I offer. He nods. "Only if you make cookies with me tonight." At first I can tell he is considering it.

But he just shakes his head.

"Your loss, mystery man." I tease.

- 10:23 pm -

The staff was supposed to be here nearly two hours ago. What happened when I left? Cooking and baking with them was one of the only reasons I wanted to come. I stand here with my second cup of coco leaning against the steel table that my mom would roll her cookie cut outs on.

Why wouldn't anyone show? I thought they were my friends. I am really hoping something is up and they can't come. Instead of the thought in my head that they hate me and don't want to hang out with me. Before I know it tears blur my vision. But no matter what, I am going to make some cut out cookies tonight.

I gather my ingredients and put them on the large island in the middle of the kitchen and begin to mix all my ingredients into a mixer. Once the dough is mixed, I flour my mom's steel table and roll out the dough. Mom always cut the cookies from scratch, no stencil, and they were all beautiful. I won't be able to compete so I search through the cookie cutters and find a Christmas bell, star, a snowflake and an ornament.

When I finish cutting out the cookies, they go right into the oven and I begin on making the icing. I end up making the entire rainbow of colors. By the time I finish making the icing the cookies are out of the oven. I give them time to cool, and while they do I make another cup of coco. Once I am able to hold my finger down on the cookie for over ten seconds, I know they are ready to ice. That's a little trick my mom taught me.

As I put the blue on the snowflake, it reminds me of Grant's eyes. Like a lot actually. I wish my eyes were this pretty. I stifle a laugh. Part of me is happy he didn't come and make cookies with me. Now I can mess with him all I want. But then again I wish he was so I didn't have to do this alone.

After my mom died, all the maids, cooking and manual staff of the house became very close to me, they were close before, but they stepped in as my mom. Helping me dress for school, drama, and to just put a smile on my face. Now that they aren't here, no one is to put a smile on my face.

It was really hard without my mom. Days to weeks just all a blur for nearly eight months after her death. But people helped me, I gained friends. Now I don't know who to call a friend. Grant never talks to me, so I just talk to a wall all day every day. I should probably just leave tomorrow. I don't want to stay. Obviously people don't want to hang out with me.

Living in a mansion is fun. But it's not when no one is there with you.

After about an hour I finish all the cookies and put them out on a plate. I splash my face with water to wipe off the tears. Then I take a snowflake up to my room as I get up there. Just as I get to my door, Grant comes out of his room and his eyes are wide.

"Oh hey." I try to laugh. "You- you missed making cookies." I show him my half eaten cookie and stare at it trying not to cry. But the tears are too strong and they begin to stream down my face. "S-sorry."

I am about to turn and just go into my room, but instead I hang my head down and it hits Grant's chest and I then wrap my arms around his torso under his arms. I sob into his chest and it makes me feel better. But then to my surprise Grant's arm lifts and rests on my spine, rubbing it lightly.