Once Upon A Bet

/1/ Warm welcome

As the minivan slowed its pace I felt my chest clenching once more. I've been dreading this moment for the past two years, but guess my roots were stronger than I would like.

Nobody had come to get me at the airport. Not a surprise, actually, but still somehow feeling like a kick in the guts. I haven't seen my parents since Christmas and they couldn't get in the car and come get her only daughter? I had to share a vehicle with a lovely elderly couple and an over-talkative little boy.

My stomach twitched at the familiar surroundings as we entered my old neighborhood.

Home, sweet home.

My hometown was a small town on the east of Maine, old, boring, closed off. Guess that only increased the scandal of two years ago... but I'd promised myself not to think about it so I pushed it in the further corner of my mind. My heart picked up, tho. 

I couldn't believe I was back here. Back to this place that once broke me.

The old man helped me get my heavy bags off the truck no matter how much I insisted on him not to, and the boy waved cheerfully as they drove away. Guess that would be more affection that what I would get from my parents.

I looked up to the three story house before me. I used to love those Victorian styled columns, an the oversized garden... I used to feel at home at their sight. Now they brought nostalgia and melancholy, but I didn't feel this place like mine. Guess that's what two years away do.

I pushed pass the shinny fence I walked the familiar yet strange path across the front yard, pass the beautiful fountain before the porch.

A man with grey hair and a neat suit stood in the door exactly ten seconds after I knocked and my chest warmed.

"George!" I threw my arms around him, my bags dropping to the floor. He stiffened at my sudden attack, but his muscled relaxed again when he recognized me.

"Miss Jensen." his palms gently patted my back, but that and the slight warmer tone was the only reaction I knew I could get out of him. With a bright grin I pulled away. "We were waiting for you."

First lie. My smile cringed at it and I clicked my tongue. "I can see that... Well, tell me, what about you? How had you been? Do you happen to get more wrinkled while I was gone?"

"As always, your presence light up the house, miss." he was back to his blank expression yet I knew he was internally rolling his eyes. I knew this man too well.

"Aw, George, I knew you missed me." I hugged him again and he sighed.

"Let go of the butler, Novella." her voice was like a bucket of ice drowned down my back. Cold and concealed. Motherly love in the air.

I did as ordered and my eyes met with George's for a second before he moved to get my things from where they'd fallen. Take it easy, was the meaning behind that brief glance. Yeah, he knew me well too.

I took in a deep breath, embracing myself for this, but not even with the whole flight here had I been able to- and  turned around to face the voice.

There she was, lowering the charcoal marble stairs. My mother.

People said we were so much alike, but in all fairness, I hope they didn't mean it.

Yeah, I'd inherited her slender frame and straight thick hair. I was glad of those. But her eyes held that ever present hint of ice, like she was tagging everything and everyone around. Her chin always tilted upwards with the precise mix of pride and elegance and never had I heard a bad expression coming out her lips outdoors nor a single hair out of place. She was the epitome of perfection and I... well, not.