Shattered

Three

-Emmaline's Point of View-

. . .

The next day I surprisingly woke up bright and early. I showered and did my hair. I put on my most "wholesome" outfit and brushed on a bit of make-up.

"Well goodmorning miss Emmaline, don't you look as pretty as a bluebonnet in spring." Marta sounded sweetly.

"Thank you Marta, I thought I would get an early start to the day and take over the cake to the new neighbors."

"The Cullens." My mother put in. "The family is The Cullens."

I smiled and greeted her before sitting down with her and bombarding her with questions about the mysterious new family.

"The only thing Hattie Wells told me is that the Husband is a top-notch doctor, good lookin to boot and the wife is a gorgeous home-maker."

"And what about kids?" I asked.

"Oh yes, Hattie said the Wife mentioned 'the children' and when Hattie asked if the children would be looking forward to school the wife replied with 'well you know teenagers.' but She swears the husband and wife can't be older than 35."

It was a curious commodity "well maybe they had like twins or triples at a really young age." I suggested.

My mother simply shrugged her shoulder as she sipped on her coffee.

"Now miss Emmaline I've put your cake on a lovely cake platter so that you could cover it with the glass dome and not ruin it." Marta said.

"Thank you, hey momma do you think I can grab one of the family cards to put a little welcome note."

My mother nodded her head as her cellphone began ringing, no doubt it was Hattie Wells, Treehaven's biggest real estate agent as well as the towns biggest gossiper.

I slipped into the office and grabbed one of the white cards, they we usually reserved for thank you notes. On the very front of the card there is a black embossed border so I wrote the word 'Welcome' right in the middle. On the inside I added a quick little note:

'Welcome to Treehaven, we hope you find the town both beautiful and welcoming.' I added my number as well for added measure then signed 'The Harpers.'

"I'll see you later momma." I called out, she waved me goodbye (as she was still on the phone) and Marta helped me get the cake into the car.

"Marta what if this is a bad idea?"

"Hush child, this is a nice gesture and I'm sure they will love it." she insisted.

"But what if they don't like me."

"Then that is their problem" she smiled, "Emmaline you are a special girl and you do not need to seek the approval of everybody, now go and deliver your cake and just be sure to be back in time for your Daddy's Bar-B-Que tonight."

"Yes ma'am."

Marta closed the car door and with a big sigh I turned the car on and drove. it was a nice day so I drove with the windows down, I smiled and waved at fellow Treehavians and then got just a little creeped out as I got toward the last stop sign of the town.

As a child everyone grew up being told to stay away from "the big house" because it was haunted. So naturally everyone went there occasionally to see if the creepy old house cover in dead Ivy and chipped paint was really haunted.

But no one ever found anything unusual.

I continued on my way and finally approached the entry way of the long driveway.