Maid in Ink [PUBLISHED]

Chapter Three

Home.

It's been different over the years. My home was with my parents in our own house. It changed to my aunt's apartment, a dorm room, then my apartment now. I can't wait to be home with Casey and my aunt and her family, and Anthony and his daughter. It's where I truly feel at home now.

Dr. Harrison's affirmations breathed a new life in me. She knows I'm doing better and for the past month it's been without the pills she prescribed. I know I can do this on my own, but maybe I'll start up again in the next week. I just don't want anyone to find out.

It's Thursday afternoon. I left town as soon as I got out of work. I know I'm going to take a lot of time off when it gets closer to the wedding so I'm only taking this Sunday off of work.

I'm driving through these old roads and memories from when my parents were still here pop into my head.

My aunt Jade and James moved into a two-bedroom duplex and they insisted I stay at their house instead of grabbing a hotel room. Casey wanted me to stay with her and Levi, but that would've felt a little weird, like I'm intruding on their bubble.

The neighborhood where their duplex is is really nice. I drive along the streets until I get to their house, remembering easily even though I've only been here once. My aunts old car is parked in the driveway along with James' SUV. I park on the side of the road and take a deep breath. Just as I open my car door, the front door opens, revealing my aunt with little Penelope in her arms.

She runs up to me and wraps her free arm around me. "My gorgeous babe, I've missed you so much!"

I hug her tightly before I take Penelope in my arms. "I've missed you all so much. I'm sorry I didn't come sooner."

Penelope squeals in my arms and takes my face in her small hands. Her honey hair is in a long braid and her light brown eyes sparkle as they lock with mine. For a split second I see my mom in her.

"Don't worry about it," she waves it off. "James will be here in a little bit. He ran to the store to get some things for dinner."

I grab my bag and we head inside. Penelope runs into the house ahead of us and I follow her. Once inside, the warm smell of vanilla, my aunts favorite scent, hits me and it brings me back to the apartment. It's similarly decorated to the old apartment, with things from James scattered throughout. The same photos we had at the apartment are hanging, including some with my parents. I instantly spot the newer photo of me, my aunt, James, and Penelope at my college graduation. God, it was only a year ago, why do I feel so aged now?

~

Friday morning James is up early making coffee while my aunt Jade and Penelope are still sleeping. I join him in the kitchen. After a restless night on the air mattress I have no problem getting up early. I can practically feel the bags under my eyes hanging low.

James lets out a long sigh as he pours coffee into a mug. "There's nothing I'd rather do than spend my morning with college kids trying to teach them basic genetics."

He'd picked up a summer class and I can tell he really loves it. Also, that his sarcasm is just as funny as it was when I first met him years ago.

"At least it's only for an hour and fifteen minutes," I tell him. He gets it over with in the morning and then has the rest of the day with my aunt and Penelope.

Soon enough he starts getting ready and I hear stirring from Penelope. She enters the living room where I'm sitting, rubs her eyes, and sits next to me, laying her head in my lap. I take my phone out, snap a picture of her, and quickly post it on Instagram. This moment is too cute not to be shared.