Right Where You Left Me | s.r

4.

I got out of the dark sedan, my gaze was drawn to the massive mansion that stood beyond the curb. I've lived here for half my life and it still intimates me. The house was kept enclosed by oddly twisted fencing, which was surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges. The roof was slanted down at an angle and peaked. There were columns and arched windows that looked 100 feet tall. The beach laid just beyond the backyard, grass forming into the sand, bushes, and hedges turning into sand dunes. I walked towards the front door, down the little stone path to the black double door.

I pushed the doorbell, which glowed with a yellow light surrounding the white button. Hearing a faint 'ding dong' waiting for someone to come to the door. It was, moments later, opened by a lady wearing a white and black suit, her hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail.

Which I assume is my mother's assistant, it's hard to keep up, my mother fires them like clockwork because there "incompetent" as she likes to say.

"Who are you?" The woman says in a rude tone. My mother sure does know how to pick them.

"Cecilia's daughter, who are you?" I narrow my eyes. The realization kicks in and she immediately apologizes.

She juggles the files of papers in her arms as she opens the door wider. "I am so sorry, Mrs. Cordova has me running around doing her errands for the banquet"

I mentally curse myself for coming home, while my mothers holding one of her banquets, "Is she here?"

"No she's out, would you like me to tell her you're here-" I cut her off.

"No!" I throw hands in front of her, "I'll just wait for her here"

She nods and goes back to whatever she was doing. I shut the door behind me and stand in the foyer that's large enough to fit a Serengeti plant. I walk up the steps of the large curving staircase as I carry my small luggage.

I walk to the end of the hallway where my childhood bedroom resides and turn to the other side where my brother's room is. I take a quick peak expecting it to look the same as before, but instead, it is entirely different. I do a double-take making sure I'm in the right room. I am.

I walk in and sit on the bed that's foreign to me. Everything is different I couldn't even recognize it. The walls were a different color and the furniture was different, uglier. All his sports medals were gone. This fills me with rage, how could my mother do this? Get rid of everything just like that, as if he was never here.

I swiftly exit his room and go into mine.

I set my luggage down and walk around my room looking at the memorabilia that aligns my walls. A specific photo sticks out, it's a picture of me and my brother on our 14th birthday. I remove the picture carefully from its frame and put it in my purse.

I head back downstairs and hear a distinct voice in the kitchen, "Jessie?!" I rush over to him and wrap my arms around him. "Holy shit, what are you doing here?"

"Visiting my mom, what are you still doing in the Hampton's? I thought you were getting out of here once we graduated" I jokingly punch his shoulder.

"Your dad offered me a job at the company" I raise my brows at the statement.

"He did?"

"Yeah!"

"Wow that's... that's great Jess" I hide my disappointment with a smile. That job was supposed to be mine, but after I graduated my father said I didn't have what it takes to be a businesswoman. But of course, the lazy frat boy is exactly what my father was looking for. No offense to Jess he's great.

"Oh my goodness Y/n, this is such a lovely surprise!" My mother walks in carrying a copious amount of shopping bags. She drops the bags and walks over to me pulling me into an awkward hug that I don't reciprocate.

"You look a bit skinny though, have you been eating?" She said sweetly as if she had no intention of it being a rude comment. But I saw through her act.

"I've been eating just fine, mom can I talk to you for a sec" my face remains stoic.

"Dont frown y/n you'll get wrinkles"

I grab her forearm and pull her to the side "Why did get rid of Chrises room" I argued.

"I don't want to talk about this right now y/n" She snatches back her arm.

"Well, I do. How could you do that, without asking me?"

"He was my son" she retorts.

"He was my brother!" I shout back.

I shake my head in disbelief, "Did even keep anything at all?"

She doesn't respond, she only stares back at me. I scoff, "Great!" I storm out of the room, in hopes of getting away from her. Clearly, she doesn't get the memo.

"Did you bring a dress for the banquet?" She inquires.

"No, I'm not goi-"

"Yes you are, this is important to me"

"Fine"

-

The dress code for the banquet was formal which meant fancy expensive dresses, which I am not a big fan of.

I enter my cramped dressing room holding three dresses I'd picked out. The first one was a maroon stain dress that had a long slit on knee that was just a little below the knee. The second one was a black  tight-fitting, floor-length, one-shoulder dress with a long slit. The third dress was just a plain black ruched dress with a straight neckline and then straps.

I couldn't decide which one to choose so I did anything a rational person would do and texted Penelope.

Me: Hey Pen, I need your help!!

Penny: I'm at your service:)!!

Me: I need help picking a dress for my mother's party. These are the options

Penny: Ooo definitely the second one, your gonna look beautiful. Have fun!!

Me: Thank you P, Ily.

Penny: love you more!!

Once I finished paying for my dress, I left the boutique and walked around for a bit admiring the view. I'd been gone for so long I forgot what the Hamptons even looked like. It was beautiful, but this place was filled with such bad memories. I can't help but wonder if there were any good.