Destined

Chapter 12

As expected, Crista arranged for the movers to come and get my stuff from my parents' house. I had tons of stuff to bring to the new one and I didn't mind packing all of them. As for my clothes, I left some of them here in case I felt like coming back home to visit my parents, brother and sister-in-law.

Speaking of sister-in-law, Tiffany was now my constant companion. She helped me in packing my stuff and even told me that she'd go with me to the new house to help me in arranging my stuff. Though she was pregnant, it didn't stop her from getting my things packed into boxes and even suitcases. This was indeed a tiring chore to do but with someone's company like Tiffany's it was a bright and fun to do.

She told me stories about her growing up. What she had to do to work and at the same time struggle to study in the university. She was a year older than me and after her father left them, her mother tried her best to make ends meet. Tiffany didn't disappoint her mother. She graduated salututorian of her batch in high school and got a scholarship in college but because of the lack of funds that they needed to survive daily, she was forced to wait tables as her part-time job in a club and that's where she met my brother.

I found her tale to be entertaining and I think that her being with Anthony was somehow a reward for all the hardships that she had to go through. My brother made sure that she had everything that she needed and that their child would need in the future. It wasn't so hard to miss how they were smitten with each other though Tiffany tends to have some reservations about showing her affection in public.

A couple of hours later, the movers arrived and started to laod everything in the truck. My Mom was there too to see if I needed anything. There wasn't much to do except to wait for all the boxes to be loaded and for me to lead the truck towards my new home. As the last box was loaded on the bus, I stood by the door talking to Rosie when my Mom stood beside me.

"Do you have everything you need?" she asked, looping her arms around mine. Her face was etched in worry and uncertainty.

"Yeah...I think I got everything, Mom." I shifted to face her and rested my head on her shoulder. "I'm going to miss you Mom but just in case I feel homesick, I'll come by to stay. I just have to figure out what to do with my life now. I don't want to stay cooped up here forever."

She gave me a hesitant nod and dragged me close for a hug. My Mom was quiet about most things but when it comes to us, she never fails to show how she felt. Though she tried to keep her sobs quiet, I knew it wasn't working. I eased away from her and wiped the tears that already ran down her face.

"Promise me that you'll come to my housewarming" I said as I held her hands. "I want you to cook for me and my guests there."

"I will. Do we have a room there? Can we stay for a night there?" she asked, her voice cracking.

"Of course. You can come by anytime you want. It has plenty of room there! I've already told Tiffany to come over for a sleepover."

Minutes later, the driver of the truck told me that they were ready to go. This was it. I was going to start living my life on my own again. Giving my Mom a last hug and to Tiffany as well who ran to the door to send me off, I rushed towards my car and drove round the curb towards the gate. The truck was following behind me.

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As I got to the house, Crista was there waiting for me by the garage. Getting out of the car, I felt my nerves starting to get the best of me. It was like they were telling me to just go back to my parents' house and live there for good but the other half tells me that it was time to get out of the closet and to stop hiding. It was time for me to move on.

"Welcome, Ms. Robins. The staff assigned to work for you has already arrived and they've already settled in. They'll be helping you to unpack."

I nodded and followed her up the stairs to get to the main floor of the house. I was already surprised to see three maids already working there, cleaning the living room. They all stopped to greet me and Crista introduced them one by one. Waiting for the movers to bring the boxes up, I went to the kitchen and saw a familiar face there.

She was in her late forties, a bit short and round. Her hair was dark but there were already lines of grey in them. She was wearing her uniform with an apron tied around her waist. She was busy cooking something for lunch I guess since she didn't bother greeting me.

"Maggie?" I said with a soft voice.

She looked at me, her eyes wide and suddenly misty as tears started to form in them. Hastily wiping her hands on her apron, she engulfed me in her warmest hug. It felt like coming home. It felt like something good was going to happen once she embraced me.

"I'm so sorry..." she reluctantly let me go and held my hands in her shaking ones. "I'm just so happy to see you, again."

"Me too, Maggie. I'm happy that we're going to be together again here."

She sighed and cupped my face and kissing my cheeks relentlessly. This woman was Tim's nanny since he was a baby and lived to serve him when he moved to his apartment. He was like a mother hen looking after Tim all the time and extended her care to me when Tim and I officially became a couple.

"Well, we'll have all the time to catch up later. For now you go and finish unpacking your things. You can order the three maids to help you with your things. Just give them instructions" she said as she went back to cutting and chopping the vegetables. I nodded and went back to the living room to give instructions to the maids that were there who were waiting for me.

Maggie was right. They helped me a lot and I can say that they were efficient to work even without having to be told on what I wanted. They arranged my books on the shelves in the living room and in my bedroom. My clothes were pressed before they were kept in the massive walk in closet. I thanked them profusely but they just smiled at me and told me that it was their pleasure to do their job. I haven't known them for long but I love them already.

It was already 12:30 when Maggie called all of us for lunch. I even talked with the movers to join us since their more than enough for everyone. I felt right at home and the whole atmosphere was really homey. We enjoyed the good food that Maggie prepared and helped ourselves to the desert that I had delivered to the house.

The movers left shortly after lunch and Crista was left there to do some paperwork with me. I signed the papers that tells everyone that I already own the house as willed by Tim before he passed. We both talked about things that I might need while living here and when she was about to leave, Crista turned around to say something that I didn't expect her to.

"Well, my part of the work here is done. It's time for you to get to the second part," she said.

I wondered what she meant by that. Sure she was done. I bet she'll even get a hefty bonus from her boss after she convinced me to be in this house. But there was certainly something there left hanging.

"What do you mean, Crista?"

She took out an envelope from her bag and handed it to me. It looked identical to the first envelope that I received from the couple that I met at the cemetery. Tim's handwriting was visible and I worried what it was again.

"Everything that you need to know is here, Ms. Robins. If you have any questions, you can call me anytime." She got her coat from the coat hanger and wore it before turning to me and saying goodbye.

I stood there in the foyer dumbfounded as I looked at the sealed envelope that I was holding. What could Tim want me to do now? Here I was thinking that I should probably move on but little did I know someone who was six feet below the ground was trying to run my life. He was the puppet master and I was his puppet on strings. Frustration. That's what I felt now. Walking towards my room, I plopped on the bed feeling tired as ever and before I realized it, I dozed off holding the envelope in my hand.