After All These Years | ✔

6 - CARLIE

By the time the five of them arrived in West Kentbridge, the sun was setting once more and the car was running low on fuel. Carlie was sick of the way the days just seemed to fade into each other; she was relieved to find that they were almost there.

She peered out the window at the small town. West Kentbridge was located between a mountain range and a lake, and on that afternoon it was swarming with people. Kids played on the playground and parents sat and talked over coffee like they had all the time in the world. Without one single person in a tailored suit, Carlie realised how different her world will be now. But as much as she was reluctant to the change, there was no denying the beauty of the place.

Little shops littered the roadside on her right, and she noticed large parks covered in the multi-coloured leaves of autumn on her left as they drove by. Back home, that was her happiness: spending time in the parks of the city. Darling Gardens, a memorial park on the quiet side of town, was her favourite, and it was where she sketched most often, or listened to music in the afternoons when she had time off school. As they drove, Carlie felt it getting harder and harder to dislike the place.

"Carlie, look!" Mackenzie bounced next to her. She pointed into the distance, and Carlie noticed that the land around the lake grew steeper, forming a low cliff face at the end of the beach. People around her age took turns jumping off it, flipping in the air until they hit the water. They were crazy, especially with how cold it was outside, but she let herself smile at them and the freedom they had nevertheless. 

Carlie pried her eyes away from the lake shore and relaxed back into her seat, easing the pressure on her chest. The main town passed and they continued to drive down a long road, with driveways on both sides, leading to houses that were hidden among the large pine trees.

"Here we are." Paul's voice filled the car as he slowed and turned. She took a deep breath as the car began along a gravel, overgrown driveway with tall trees and flowers protruding on each side.

Outwardly she would have seemed as though she hated him, he unintentionally caused this. Although on the inside, no amount of hatred could stop the growing fear of what may be awaiting her. She was just too stubborn to let it show just yet. The long driveway seemed to go on and on, but Carlie didn't mind, she needed time; time to prepare herself for what she might find.

Like the rest of the town, the house was beautiful; with French windows and white paint, causing the house to stand out in a strong contrast against the thick forest around it. Her new foster parents, Elise and Clay Bennett stood in front of it, their arms around each other. They looked young, possibly only in their late 20s, but Jen and Paul had chosen them specifically for her, and the least she could do was trust their judgement.

Carlie looked past the couple at house again, realising she'd fallen in love with it and hating herself for it. No, she couldn't love what she was about to move into, not when all her love belonged to the people sitting this side of the car doors. The whole town was so picturesque it was almost like Jen and Paul had chosen it to soften the blow for her. But in some ways, it was just making her feel worse. The fact that this life could be perfect for her was too much to think of.

When it came down to it, she just wasn't ready to move on.

Minutes later, as she stepped out onto the wet white stones of the driveway, she glanced to her left and found Paul and Jen leaning against the bonnet of the car. Mackenzie and Caiden joined her, taking her hands in their small ones. Carlie knew they were still family and as scary as it was, and no matter what happened in the house before them, she knew they believed everything would turn out for the better.

And deep down, though she might fight it, Carlie believed it too.