The Smell of Lilies

Chapter 17

She dipped down to puck  the key from underneath a mini stone frog statue with a big smile on it. Unlocking the back door, she led him inside.

Her home was cozy and old. The back entry opened into her kitchen, a quaint, but fairly open concept with a black refrigerator, sink, and stove. The white craftsmen cupboards lined the top of the walls. There were little knick-knacks occupying the window sill in front of the sink. Little statues of cute animals and pictures made the kitchen friendly and inviting. 

Brandon picked up a small kitten figurine and examined it. "Nice."

Kel shrugged. "I like them. Maybe you could make me a bear and I'll put it up."

Look back her he replied, "Yah?"

Kel nodded, straightening some her knick-knacks on the opposite counter. "I'd keep it forever."

It was no joke to Kel, she would keep it forever. But the words were heavy with longing and sorrow because they were a reminder that Brandon was going to leave soon. She'd never see him after that. 

She gave him the grand tour. Her home was decorated just the way she wanted it to be, cute figurines and all. She had pictures of her and her sister on the mantel in the living room. Her college graduation photo with some friends. Brandon noticed that the younger Kel in the pictures was different. She had had bangs and wore red lipstick. 

Kel's furniture was simple. There was a dark blue, soft fabric sectional and a white love seat surrounding a small wooden coffee table. She had no T.V. Instead a book shelf was installed where the television would be. It was crammed with books and loose papers. 

She showed him the bathrooms were, because according to her the tour wasn't complete without it, and she finished with her bedroom. It was light and colorful. The walls were a rich tea color with three abstract paintings lined in a row on one side. Her queen bed was covered with a deep red quilt with white flowers stitched on it. She had pictures of her and her sister with some strangers. Brandon looked and noticed that some were from when Kel was very young, maybe high school. He put two and two together and decided that the strangers in the pictures were some of Kel's host parents. 

Her home was sweet and purely her own. He liked that she did that for herself. Kel liked her home too; she was glad that whenever Craig suggested to add something or remove something she did not listen. This was her home, where she lived. She didn't want anyone taking away from that.

Kel sighed. "What do you think?"

Brandon took one last glance around and nodded. Something caught his eye though. There was a picture on her desk of a brown haired woman laughing and a tall, pointed looking man next to her smiling as well. They were one some sort of lake dock. 

As he looked closer he asked, "Is this him?"

Kel looked over to what he pointed at and her face fell. It was her and Craig on a dock in Monterrey. He'd taken her there on their second year anniversary. She stepped over and took the picture in her hand and then swiftly tossed it into the waste bin. 

"Good riddance," she mumbled and then smiled at Brandon. "Are you hungry?"

Back in the kitchen, they decided to make pasta. It was easy and fast - a good recipe for hungry people. Brandon chopped tomatoes for the sauce while Kel got the water to boil. 

Sometime during the process she broached the subject of Brandon's family. "How long do you think you'll see them?"

Brandon thought for a moment, his chopping coming to a slow. "I'm not even sure if they'll want to see me."