Mystery at Brightfields

Chapter 23.

The morning came quickly. Especially when it was 3:30 am. Zoe has stayed up later than she wanted gathering the rest of her things and shoving them down into her backpack. She packed too much and had to restart the process after remembering how warm it was in the States in comparison to the cold British island. She was excited, too. Not just for Pin but to not be living out of a suitcase and the few things she had picked up for riding wear. She also figured she could sell a few of her things that weren't coming with her and buy Raven some new saddle pads and maybe a new bridle.
Exciting.

Maggie knocked quietly at the door and let her know that they were leaving for the airport in about 30 minutes. Gave Zoe enough time to shower and grab some light breakfast. Flying always unsettled her stomach, especially if it was a long flight, like this one. Hopefully it was one they wouldn't have to take for a while after this weekend.

Zoe drug herself out of her room and met a half asleep Rosie coming down the staircase. Rose was more excited for the LA trip but you couldn't tell by how she looked right now. She drug her over-packed bag down the stairs and collapsed in a sleepy pile on the last step.

"You know we're bringing back most everything you could ever need, Rosie. Why so much in the bag?" Zoe laughed at her sister.

"I only packed the essentials, Zoe. Some of us need more than breeches and a sweatshirt to wear during the day." She spat back.

"Whoa whoa okay. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Cheer up sis. Chipotle and Starbucks await you."

Rosie sighed to herself, but smiled.

After a few minutes, after splitting a bagel with Rosie, there was a knock at the door.

Zoe grinned to herself and met a tired and dishevelled Pin in the doorway.

"Ready?" He asked and smiled at her.

"Ready".
_________________________________

The 4 of them were quiet on their way to the airport, most due to lack of sleep. Zoe was just hoping they would be able to get a few hours on the plane and not lose a whole day from jet lag. A lot to do in a small amount of time. A lot of suitcases to pack and a freight container for some irreplaceable things to have shipped over in a few weeks. 

Luckly oversea flights have pretty comfortable seats with a little bit more recline than your average state to state flights, and endless movies to watch. Zoe was sandwiched in-between her mom and Pin and that was just fine with her. She stuck in her headphones, turned on The Office and slept soundly on Pin's shoulder.

Zoe woke up a few times over the duration of the flight, sometimes turbulence, sometimes needing to eat or pee. They had a layover in Nashville which was a little over an hour and they got to walk around and stretch/eat non airplane food. 4 hours to go.

____________________________________

The sun was warm. Comforting. Homey. Missed. There was something special about Los Angeles and there would always be something special there. She'd lived in CA her whole life and everyone in her family was picking up and moving because of her and Raven. For her chance to make it as an equestrian. There was a weight on her shoulders she didn't realize until she stepped off the plane and squinted into the sunshine.

They stood and waited for their bags staring and hoping theirs would be next.

"Hey strangers!" A voice called and Zoe felt some tears in her eyes. It had been a while.

"Dad!" Rosie squealed.

"I'll grab your bag if I see it. Go hug your Dad" Pin said to her kissing her cheek.

Maggie had already walked over to join the group hug with Huck and Zoe followed after her.
"My girls. Finally made it home. Its been the longest 12 hours." He says to them. "Are you guys hungry? O know it's been a long day or do you guys just want to crash for a few hours?"

"I think Rosie has been craving Chipotle since the day we left. And I wanted Pin to try it too"  said Zoe, glancing Pins direction. He was waiting at the baggage line still. Quietly and not butting in. She like that about him.

"Oh right. Pin" says Huck. "Probably should go say hello".

"Be nice Huck. He's offered to help us move. We needed an extra set of hands for a bigger stuff and he volunteered." Maggie added quietly.

They moved their clump back towards baggage and Pin, and Huck went over and shook his hand.

Well. Hardest part is over. Thought Zoe. Time to head home.

__________________________________

After stopping for an early dinner, which Pin loved, Huck pulled up to their garage and stopped the car.

It felt different now. Home here was somewhere Zoe felt comfortable and where she wanted to be a good portion of the day. Now she couldn't wait to get back to the island and Raven. The people weren't fake and had no hidden agenda on trying to get themselves to the top...well other than any one from Holloway, but they were downright obvious about their intentions.

Zoe was the first to the door of the house and she pulled out her keys. She hear a familiar bark and she knelt down to greet Baxter who came running to her. "Hey boy! We missed you! Are you ready to have your whole world turned upside down? You're going to need a coat for the island weather bud."  Zoe scratched him under the chin. She couldn't wait to have Bax meet Raven. He was going to freak.

Pin stayed in the living room and Zoe wandered back to her room, Baxter following close behind. She heard Rosie squealed from next door.
"Oh my clothes. I missed you. You have no idea how much I missed you. Mama is home now and we're going on a trip."

Zoe rolled her eyes. Her room was almost childish now. The island had made her grow up in a way. She sat down on her bed.
Ok. She missed LA her bed. Definitely more comfortable than the bed at Grandpa's house for sure.

Huck had left a few boxes in the corner of the room and Zoe glanced around at what remained. Clothes, yes definitely. She has a fabulous new closet to fill although a lot of the fancy party dresses and strappy heels could be donated. She had some random other things such as books and blankets that had sentimental meaning to them but she hadn't really collected a lot of dustables. Everything was replaceable in this house...as much as she wanted to take her bed.

"Hey." Pin says quietly peeking his head around the door. "So this is 'before Pin' Zoe, huh?"

"Before Pin huh? I call it more 'pre Raven'' she laughs back.

Pin slowly walks around the room examining everything slowly and taking it all in, like he was trying to get to know the old Zoe and still find a connection with the Zoe he knew now.

"You're quiet"
"Just looking. Trying to figure out how much stuff we're going to have to pack." He replies.
"It's the one next door we have to be worried about it"
Pin smiled at her and nods, but then falls quiet.

"Is it weird?...moving your whole life halfway around the world? The island isn't that special and you could really take Raven anywhere."

"I wouldn't say weird. Moreso moving to where I'm supposed to be. I wasn't special here. I was different and people thought that was weird so I didn't really fit in anywhere until Brightfields. That's home. Ravens home. Becky, Jade, Marcus and even Mia is home. You're home."

_____________________________

Authors note- Aight y'all. Anyone watch season 3? Some things were weirdly familiar...guess my mind and the writers were on the same page 😂. Still working on new chapters. Guess I need to think out of the box. Coming soon!!