Serendipity

Chapter 7

The girls were glued to the window when we got to South Hampton.

The gate to the driveway is shut right now. The pink trees line the driveway, shading the entire thing.

I go up to the gate with the car and roll the window down. I press the button.

"Schuler residence. Who am I assisting?"

It's Jeremy.

"Jeremy! It's Carmen."

"Oh, Miss Carmen, of course!"

The gate slowly opens.

I drive through it, sighing.

"Holy shit." Delaney says, opening the sunroof, her and Ari peek out.

Once we pass the trees, we reach the clearing, and I see the house and the fields.

They both slide back itno the car, their jaws slack at the sight of my childhood home.

"Holy shit, Car. You grew up here?" Del asks

"Uh, yeah."

Jeremy is standing in the driveway when I pull up.

"Your mother would like for you to park your vehicle in the garage in your parking spot."

I nod to him and go park.

I enter the house from the garage, going right into the mudroom. To the left is the chef's kitchen and to the right is the actual kitchen.

I let Regina and Jeremy get our things and bring them to my room.

I showthem all around the house, to every bedroom, every bathroom, every closet, everything.

There's a bowling alley, a sauna, and a bar on the third floor, along with a movie theatre.

I bring them to the roof, to the golf course.

We all stand here, looking at the view.

"This is incredible." Del mutters.

After a few minutes of being up here, we go back downstairs to the first floor.

I hear my Mom laughing, and I follow the sound to the kitchen.

She's wearing a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. Her hair is down and unbrushed.

Clearly she's not ready for the day.

Times like this, when Mom isn't busy, I cherish this.

She's laughing because my Dad is standing between her legs and she's on the counter.

Dad is only wearing a pair of sweats.

M face scrunches up in disgust.

"We'll come back." I say.

"Nonsense!" Mom says, hopping off the counter. "Are you girls hungry?"

I look at Del and Ari. They shrug.

Ari has never met my family before.
"Mom, Dad, this is Ariella. Ari, this is my Mom and Dad."

"Of course, it's so lovely to meet you!"

Mom hugs her, and Dad shakes her hand.

Clearly, she's intimidated of my father.

"And Delaney, right?" Mom asks Delaney.

She nods.

"Yeah. Nice to see you again, Mrs. S, Mr. S."

She accepts Mom's hug and shakes Dad's hand.