And now what?

9 The Move

It had been almost 4 weeks since that eventful morning with Aunt Bella and ten weeks since Annabelle's Dad had died.

She sat in her room packing up the last of her things into the large cardboard boxes her mother had given her.

Luke and Annabelle had been at school when the 'potential buyers' had, and there had been many, traipsed in and around the house. Finally one family really liked it, bargained down the price and insisted that if they were to buy the house they would have to move in right away. They lodged the payment with their lawyer to show they were serious and within a week they were packed and ready to move out.

The question was were to. Mum had started her new job on Monday, she had been very nervous as it had been so long since she had held a full time position, having to pack up the house, clean, tidy and look after us (as Fiona, our housekeeper had stopped coming) she was forever busy, but, Annabelle reflected, she did seem to be so much more in control.

They were going to put all their boxes into storage for the moment, just taking with them a few suitcases of things they would need for the next couple of weeks and they were going to move into a serviced apartment just up the road from the school. The apartment was quite small with only two bedrooms so she and Luke were going to have to share a room. Something Annabelle had been moaning about since she had found out. This part was going to be awful. She loved her brother to bits, but to have to share a room with him, come on! She was 12 and he was 7! Annabelle needed her own personal space.

Anyway, today was Friday and over the weekend her mother had promised them that they were going to view a few potential houses and the final move would be soon.

In a funny sort of way, Annabelle was looking forward to the move, this house had so many memories, happy, family memories, but even though the memories were happy in themselves, they also made her sad because they reminded her of her father and the realization that she would never see him again.

Luke stuck his head around the corner of the open door, 'I'm done' he announced, 'what now?'

'Now' replied Annabelle, 'We just wait for the removal men'

Almost on cue the door bell rang out and their mother called up, 'The removal men are here, are you all packed?'

After about an hour the van sped away with all their belongings, the three of them were standing in the hallway with their cases as if they were going on a holiday. The house was bare. Stripped of all their belongings and memories. Just an empty shell.

'OK', Mum broke the silence with stiff shrug of her shoulders, 'I'm going to go through the house and make sure we haven't left anything behind, you two look out for the taxi,' and with that she started to climb the stairs for the last time. Just as she turned from Annabelle and Luke, Annabelle could see tears forming in her eyes.

The taxi honked his horn as he pulled up outside the house, 'Ask him to come in and help with the cases!' Mum called out, 'I'm almost done..' her voice dropped a few octaves as she said the word done.

Annabelle went out to greet the taxi driver and asked him to help. The rather burly man happily got out the driver's seat and helped put the cases into the trunk and around the back seats. 'Too many cases, half of them will have to go around the back seats, you'll have to squash up with them I'm afraid!' he laughed as he shoved Annabelle's bright blue suitcase into the back.

Annabelle and Luke just glanced at each other but didn't comment. The taxi driver continued with the cases, 'Right then, all in.' He announced with a smile just as mother shut and locked the front door for the last time. Her hand slid down the door, tracing the designs on it with her fingers before turning away and walking towards the taxi.

That was the only house Luke and Annabelle had ever known.

Annabelle and Luke suqeezed into the back between two suitcases as their mother slipped into the front seat. The taxi driver closed his door and he began driving off. Away from their house for the last time.

The drive to the serviced apartment didn't take long, about fifteen minutes. The taxi driver made small talk with mother as they drove down the road.

'So why are you moving from such a pretty house to a serviced apartment like this one?' he asked and glanced briefly at mother.

Annabelle felt a flash of irritation. That was a personal question, the taxi driver shouldn't ask something like that!

Mother just sighed, 'Life takes unexpected turns sometimes.'

The taxi driver stopped at a traffic light and drummed his hands on the steering wheel. 'Yes,' he agreed, 'Life can be tough. May I ask what happened?'

Annabelle forced back a snort and muttered in her head, At least he asked.

Mum now avioded the taxi dirver's gaze and stared out of the window. 'Death.'

'Oh.' The taxi driver mumured just as the light went green again. After that, the ride was completely silent.

They reached the apartment and the taxi driver silently took out the cases and left them on curb next to us and drove off.

Mum looked at us and gave us a brave smile, 'Well here we are, home for the next few weeks!' she announced, trying to look happy. Annabelle knew that inside, however, her mother was cracking.

We picked up are cases and struggled into the foyer, the lifts looked quite small but we all managed to fit in along with the cases. 'What number?' asked Luke.

'We're on the sixth floor' answered mum. Luke pressed the button and up they went. As they came out of the left they entered a dimply lit hallway with six doors leading off it. Mum headed for the door directly opposite the lift. Once inside they, took in the apartment. It was quite bright with nice modern furnishings but very small, especially compared to their rather large house.

Basically there was one main room which comprised of a small kitchen area with breakfast bar, this ran through to a small sitting room with a TV which in turn had sliding doors leading onto a balcony. On the far side was one door which lead onto a small square hallway with three doors leading off it, one to a bathroom and two to the bedrooms.

After being used to having our own bedrooms, bathrooms and playrooms, two reception rooms, dining room, office, library and very large kitchen this small apartment is going to be a challenge to say the least, thought Annabelle. She looked at her mother's face and judging by the look on her face, for once, they were thinking the same thing.