REMINISCENT

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE: The Journey Back (EDITED)

Ashley's POV
it's the day before the anniversary. I successfully went through school but now I'm dreading the trip to our home town

Charlie and mom suggested we start the drive there early to avoid reaching there late. I'm glad they are being considerate about my fear but I'm nervous

"Ashley can you please hurry and take your bag to the car we're leaving in a few minutes!" Mom shouted from downstairs

I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Somehow hearing her say that made me even more nervous, I bounced my foot up and down while looking at my duffle bag on the floor

There was a knock "come in" I breathed out

Breath in "You okay?" Charlie leaned at my doorframe

Breath out. I shook me head somehow bouncing my leg faster. He sighed then walked the distance and sat next to me at the edge of my bed.

"Hey? You'll be fine just stop thinking about it. It can't happen again just because you visit the place"  he said calmly

I nodded reducing the pace of my heart and foot

"Just think of the things you once loved doing there and be excited you get to do them again" he smiled hitting our shoulders together

I smiled at him "thanks Charlie"

"Ashley we have to go" mom barged into my room "you okay?"

I nodded with a smile and grabbed my bag from the floor. "I call shotgun" Charlie ran passed me

"What?! Noo!!" I shouted running after him

"Can you two act like grownups this once" mom said from behind us

....
The trip was as eventful as it could be. We played road games, we talked about all the nice places to visit, the best restaurants, best food, we told stories, joked and laughed.

When we got into the city Josh had sent Charlie the location of the hotel they booked for their visitors coming from far and we headed there

Thank goodness we reached when it was still bright out, mom drove pretty fast.

"Wow this place is beautiful" mom said as we offloaded the luggage

Hotel? This is a resort. It's magnificent I've never seen it before maybe it's new

Josh came out to receive us "welcome please come in. Kairah and Aiden will be flying in later today so it's just me here oh well with Belinda and Alicia"

"Welcome everyone to Moon-side resort. Please come in" a woman dressed in a summer dress and bare foot with beads around her ankles greeted us at the entrance. Her black was combed out in an Afro with a blue flower on it. Why do gorgeous people always have to exist then there's us the average type

We walked in and let me just say it was gorgeous I can't even explain "This is a family owned five star resort that was built just a couple of years ago. I'd love to show you around but I'm sure you'd love it better if you explored it on your own. Please don't hesitate to ask around for anything. There's a spa, a lounge, a bar, a pool and many more things and everything is free. Enjoy your stay and don't forget tonight's dinner is on us" she smiled then excused herself

I was looking around in awe I didn't realize mom and Charlie had left me. I speed walked to their direction almost bumping into someone

"Sorry... Ashley?" Belinda gasped while balancing Alicia steadily on her hip "oh my you've grown. You look gorgeous"

I looked at her up and down she looked like she didn't age. Instead of her normal dull long grey colored dress with a white apron tied around her waist and black heeled pumps, she was in a beautiful long floral dress and sandals, her hair still remained up in a neat ponytail but she applied red lip stain unlike her normal nude pink lip.