We Met At A Lake House | Greg Feder |

07

Bean woke up confused, his little hand lifting up to rub at his tired eyes – attempting to get the sleep out of them. He turned to his side with a deep breath through his nose, his eyes catching the pacifier on the bedside table before he grabbed it and shoved it in his mouth.

He laid still in the bed for a few minutes, blinking slowly, then he sat up pouting – his stomach rumbling loudly. The toddler studied the room, not immediately recognising his surroundings, the closed curtains making it harder to see.

He looked to his side after hearing deep breathing, finally noticing Ada laying beside him. Bean laid back down beside her, staring for a moment as he contemplated I'd she should wake her up or not. He made his decision, shaking her shoulders for awhile until he started calling her name quietly – "Ada? Sissy wake up, I'm hungry!" He whined.

Adhara groaned tiredly. Pulling the little boy closer to her, hugging him lightly, "What's up?" She whispered.

"Hungry."

The female breathed out tiredly, peaking her eyes open to check over at the curtains; it was still dark. She flopped back down, her eyes closing again with every intention of going back to sleep if it weren't for the squirming boy next to her. "Ada! Hungry!"

"Okay! Okay! One minute... just give me a minute." The teen frowned, wondering briefly why she always got herself in situations like this. She sat up abruptly, scooting to the edge while she ran her hands down her face in exhaustion before speaking again while reaching her arms out for the little boy. "Come on then. Let's go get food."

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The temperature had skyrocketed overnight, having gone from two degrees the previous day to an average of sixteen to twenty degrees today. The entire street was loud with children's screams of joy and the splashing water of outdoor pools – Sally had made the conclusion that Bean had gotten sick last night due to the weathers rapid overnight change; his littler body being more sensitive to the rising pressure in the air.

Eric and Sally hadn't gotten a pool, never having needed one before because their summers were usually spent with the cold weather or abroad, which meant for an extremely hot day inside with a constantly complaining Donna and a whining Bean. This had prompted Eric to eventually crack and instruct his family to get ready to make a trip to the public pool, his plan was to send the four of to the swimming baths and he would be making his way to buy an above ground pool for his garden – ready for tomorrow.

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Adhara Lamonsoff watched as her family mucked about in the water filled circle, Donna's loud laughter and Bean's quiet giggles bringing a melancholic smile to her lips. Eric was splashing around, lightly pushing around his youngest – who floated with his armbands and life vest – and shoving large amounts of water up at his second born, each one hitting her square in the face and causing her to glare as she wiped it out of her eyes.

The fifteen year old had refused the offer to join them, preferring to instead sit in the shade and read a book she'd saved on her phone. She'd lathered herself in sun cream just in case she did catch the suns blinding gaze; Ada was quite a tanned person but it all came naturally – despite the shade of her skin and the colour of her hair, she burnt like a pale redhead.

Sally had opted to stay indoors with the excuse of finally having the free time to clean the house and it's 'dusty corners'. Ada thought she'd gone mad with the heat. The Lamonsoff's home was spic and fucking span with only the occasional cluttered corners, which was excusable considering the four, now five, occupants of the house; three being children.

"Ada?" Said girl jumped as a hand landed on her bare shoulder, her focus changing to the woman standing behind her. She gasped, staring open mouthed before she leaped up and wrapped the older in a hug. She hadn't changed much since Adhara had last seen her, despite her older age; she still had hardly any wrinkles, hardly any greying hair, her eyes were still as bright and her embrace still as loving.

"Granny!" She scoffed joyfully. A brighter smile than any of the Lamonsoff's had seen so far displayed itself, the other woman mirrored her expression while laughing lightly. Marie, Eric's mother, hadn't seen Adhara since she was eight and a half due to Ada's dwindling visits; not that that was the girls fault.

"Mommy!"

Adhara flinched back, a shocked/disturbed look on her face as she spun around to the face the source of sound. Eric Lamonsoff was moving quicker than any of his kids had ever seen him as he all but jumped over the side of the pool, running barefoot to his birth giver with open arms. His entire being was lit up with childish joy as he crushed the ageing women into a tight hug.

How the fuck did his voice do that? She shivered, What. The. Fuck did I just witness?

The mans wife had rushed out the back door at the racket, her husbands change in pitch making her think he'd been severely injured before she suddenly stopped, an annoyed understanding in her eyes.

So this is normal then? What the fuck, how often did that happen? She frowned, disturbed.

"Are you staying for dinner? Please. We're having pasta salad, it'll save you having to cook and it'll be cold so you it might cool you down." The father ranted, clearly trying to persuade her to stay.

Again, what the fuck.

"I can't tonight,. I just came to see my oldest grand baby, I've missed her. And to ask her if she'd like to go out with me tomorrow?" She threw out the question with a wide hopeful grin towards the wide eyed girl. Eric's face dropped, turning to look at the still teenager with a small upset pout. Adhara stared between the two, flashing a quick look to Sally – as if to ask if she was seeing what she was seeing, she got a look back; it happened often, before answering.

"Sure."

Fuck sake that happens all the time? That's disturbing. Poor Sally. She thought as she bent down to pick up her dropped phone.

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| This one feels a little lazed but ya' know, enjoy! Ada made me piss laughing with her internal commentary, literally me except mine is certainly not internal. I'm starting to think she's lightly based of myself, fuck. Poor girl :')

We'll be meeting the Feder's, McKenzie's, Hilliard's and Higgins in like the next two chapters. I know, I've dragged it out but if you've made it this far I must be doing something right. Honestly, still don't if anyones even reading this; hopefully you are, lmao :)

Just talking to myself at this point aren't I. The thought literally makes me wheeze. |

(I have yet to read this through and correct any mistakes but I hope you enjoy anyway.)

1,067 Words.