Lost and Found

Chapter 23 | Uncertainly certain

Trigger warning: sexually transgressive behaviour

A/N 06/04/2024: Some parts of this chapter have been edited to comply with the new content guidelines

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Julia stands in front of Ash's enormous brick house. If this was a TV-show, this would be the mayor's home. It even has those big pillars by the double front door. Her mother had to drive through a gate and a few metres of the driveway to drop Julia off. The grass is greener than the other houses and surrounded by well-maintained flower beds. Either the Mill family has great green fingers, or they hired an excellent gardener. Something–like the bush cut into a stag's shape–tells her it's the latter.

Her nerves stir in her stomach. Wiping her sweaty hands on her dress, she fights the urge to run away. "Okay, Julia. You got this." The question is, is she going to use the boring bell or the interesting-looking stag's head door knocker?

Both sound good.

She knocks the door knocker against the door and rings the doorbell at the same time. Her hands shake at her side when the door opens. Dressed in a black dress with a white apron, an older woman with a friendly round face and grey hair greets her.

"Uh, hello. I'm here for Ash." Yay, no shaking voice.

"Goodday, Julia," the woman says.

Oh my goodness, she knows my name.

"Come in. I'll call mister Ash." The woman opens the door and gestures to come inside. So official. Definitely not Ash's mom, though. Unless his mother is into role-playing as a maid or something. To each their own. Julia doesn't judge.

Julia steps inside and tries not to gasp at all the things she sees. Her eyes dart from the weird painting of a child to a strange statue. What is the statue even supposed to be?

The Victorian furniture looks like the pieces she saw when visiting an old mansion in England. Even the floor looks expensive and too shiny to walk on. Her stepmom's voice, telling her not to touch anything, rings in her ears.

She folds her hands behind her back, just like she did in the old mansion. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name."

"Oh, how polite. I'm mrs Polly. But don't mind me."

"Nice to meet you." She smiles.

Polly walks over to a phone hanging on the wall. "Mister Ash, your visitor is here." Hanging up the phone, Polly turns to her. "If you could wait here, dear?" Julia nods, and Polly walks away.

Every fibre in her body wants to explore the house, but she should listen to Polly. Julia rocks back and forward on her feet as her eyes wander around the hallway. Inching closer to the painting, she leans forward. The gold plate under it has some French-sounding name engraved on it.

She moves on to the vase with pink roses and baby's-breath. A sweet scent reaches her nose.

Hmm, where's Ash? Should she call him? Just as she reaches for her phone to call Ash–who's taking his sweet time–Ash walks down the marble stairs.

"Hi," she greets him, walking to him for a hug—or even a kiss. His house is private enough to make her feel comfortable kissing him. She kind of missed his affection, even if it was a bit too much for her.

But no kiss or hug. Ash dashes straight past her, further down the hallway. "Give me a minute," he says as he disappears behind a door. Maybe he had to pee really badly? Or Ash is angry at her again? She can't remember if she did anything wrong.

The front door flies open. Jake and Mason stumble in, talking and laughing with each other. They both wear shorts and a tank top. Little drops of sweat glitter on their faces.