Paranoia

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

     "Raven?" Robert said loudly outside Raven's bedroom then knocked lightly.

     "Coming dad!" Raven replied loudly and grabbed her backpack from her bed. She opened her bedroom door with a smile, and closed it behind her.

     "Happy are we?" Robert asked as they went downstairs.

     "Nah, I'm just excited to see aunt Beatrice," Raven replied with a smile as Robert opened the front door.

     "Happy about you visiting your aunt or is it a certain someone?" Robert asked teasingly as he went outside of the house and locked the door.

     "Now, you sound like mom, dad," Raven said with a laugh.

     "It feels good to laugh and smile again," Raven said with a slight smile and looked at Robert as they headed towards the car.

     "Sure is kiddo," Robert replied with a smile and they went inside the car.

     Robert started the ignition and they drove off.

     "Dad?" Raven said.

     "Yes?" Robert replied.

     "Thanks," she said.

     "What for?"

     "For everything dad. I love you."

     "I love you too dear," he replied with a smile and glanced a short while at Raven then back at the road.

Beatrice heard the doorbell and stood up from her stool then headed towards the front door. She opened the door and smiled when she saw Robert and Raven standing outside.

     "So good of you to come. I see we're all good today," Beatrice said then stepped back to open the door. Robert and Raven walked inside.

      Beatrice's house was full of antiques, especially wood crafts and porcelains. Everything was mostly out of the color red; red curtains, red carpets, a red couch. The whole house seemed to be in a vintage at the same time historically creepy in design.

     "You sure like red," Raven said looking around the house.

     Beatrice giggled. "I grew fond of it, never really liked it," she said and headed towards the kitchen.

     As they headed to the kitchen, they pushed their way through white painted French doors. The kitchen had a style that seemed to be avant-garde. The cupboards were made up of mahogany with flawless carvings of ancient craftsmanship. The counter was made up of marble that shined, with a few stools around it and, wines and goblets that hanged above the counter.

     Raven sat on a stool and leaned her elbows on the counter as she looked at Beatrice who was busying herself.

     "I'll go get our stuff," Robert said and went outside.

     "Okay dad. Be careful," Raven replied.

     "Yes, do dear," Beatrice added.

     Robert just nodded and headed outside.

     "I hope it's not a bother that we're crushing at your place for the next few days," Raven said shyly.

     "Oh, but it's no bother at all," Beatrice said started dressing the salad.