Aarmau: Remember Me, Remember Us, Just Remember

Chapter 125

Hyria leads them to a cobblestone staircase that leads them up into the cottage. The top step brings them out into a small kitchen maybe half the size of the one at home.

Aph glances around the room and to say the appliances and fixtures are antique would be an understatement. Memories of Lord Aphmau's time here flicker through her mind and she quickly notices nothing has changed since she was alive.

The refrigerator is no more than a thick wooden insulated box, the stove and oven are both wood-burning and the sink has an old-fashioned pump where a faucet would be. There's a small table and chairs off to one side with a wood-burning fireplace next to it, a sideboard along one wall just below a window looking toward the back of the cottage, and a door that leads them out to a small porch overlooking the garden.

Aph turns toward one of the arches beside the root cellar door and heads for the living room on the other side. Lord Aphmau's memories flicker through once again and she's relieved that the furniture is now more modern and at the very least comfortable.

The couch in front of yet another fireplace looks very plush and she can imagine snuggling with Aaron in front of a nice warm fire. One of the bay windows she saw from the front of the house has a window seat built into it with thick padding fixed to the wood to provide a soft reading nook.

Other than a few small accent tables, throw rugs, and some potted plants there isn't much more to the room but Aph isn't disappointed. Glancing to the left of the front door, she notices a small door next to the staircase that leads up to what she knows is a large loft, that isn't in her memories and carefully opens it.

The new room runs the length of the cottage and holds four twin-sized beds and four dressers. The second bay window has an identical window seat built-in and instead of just having the padded seat it also contains children's toys and stuffed animals.

Aph's head whips back toward the beds and as she passes each one she runs her hand over a name etched on each footboard. Tears spill over her lashes as she calls out each one, "Malachi, Levin, Lilith, and Alina."

Hyria crosses over to the window seat and as she sits she pulls a stuffed bunny into her lap. "They visited quite a bit. It was only right to give them a room here. They were like my grandchildren."

Aph nods quickly as she wipes the tears off her cheeks. They weren't really her children so she shouldn't feel so upset. She knows it's only because Lord Aphmau missed out on so much of their lives and it was her greatest regret.

Releasing a deep breath Aph follows Aaron and Hyria out of the room and gently closes the door behind her. They climb the stairs and when they get to the top she glances around the large loft and smiles.

There's a large king-sized bed centered between the two dormer windows that look out toward the front of the house, a large armoire to the left of the bed, and an extension of the living room fireplace to the right of the bed.

Looking to the right of the staircase is a wall that doesn't show up in her memories and for some reason, she feels a little irritated that it's there. She opens the door centered in the middle of the wall and steps into a large bathroom roughly the same size as the kitchen.

To the left is an extension of the fireplace from the kitchen, in front of her is a large clawfoot tub and to the right is a pull chain toilet and a small sink with a faucet identical to the one in the kitchen. Her irritation quickly melts away and is replaced by relief when she realizes they have indoor plumbing.

Turning back to Hyria she smiles and nods. "This place is perfect. Lord Aphmau would approve of the changes. If it's alright, Halloween is this weekend and I want to be home to decorate. Can we come here on the 1st?"

Hyria chuckles, "I'm glad and the 1st is fine. This will be your first Halloween since before Starlight so I know you're looking forward to it. I might come by and help decorate. It'll give me time to spend with Lucinda. She's too much like her sister was."

Aph shivers and offers Hyria a sympathetic smile, "So you know?"

Hyria nods, "Irene told me a long time ago. I've tried hard to make up for past mistakes but her reincarnation isn't any easier than the original. I'm just grateful I was given a second chance."