Curing His Love Allergy

Chapter 2 - New Beginnings

My father and I spent the next three weeks looking at houses as well as schools for me in New York. We found a quaint house in the suburbs of Manhattan. It wasn't a mansion, but it was luxurious. My father decided that he would leave the farm with Aunt Sara and Uncle Joe.

. . .

It was the day before we had to leave. We had done all the packing and the preparation for our surprise move. It was all surreal, to be honest. I was leaving my hometown, my best friend, and the people I had grown up with.

I woke up early the next morning, glad to be rid of the pain and the sorrow I was feeling in this haunted house with memories of Mom. My dad came into my room and said, "Baby girl, you have an hour to get ready before we have to catch a plane."

My dad had arranged for a furnished house so we could leave all of this behind. All we were carrying was little to no clothes because we would go shopping when we arrived.

From Texas to New York is a long plane ride. It's the end of August and I have my new school in a week, so I had some time to get settled in. At the airport, we went through security and got everything we needed for our three and a half hour flight.

When we arrived in Manhattan, our house was the smallest in the neighborhood. Ours was huge, so you could imagine the size of the other houses. The house was furnished and Dad told me to pick whichever room I wanted. I chose the master bedroom; it was upstairs. Dad didn't have a problem because he didn't have to go upstairs to a room. He preferred the ground level.

Our house was a cerulean color matching the sky. The interior décor was stunning and the gardens outside had it all from lilies to roses. Inside had a nice glow to it, I can't explain, but I had some nostalgic feelings toward the place. The inside was beautiful. There was a pool in the middle of the house, a living area around the back, and a cute kitchen with marble countertops at the front of the house. Inside was painted a nice cream color with bedrooms in different colors, of course.

The house beside ours was breathtaking. It looked like a mini castle. For a second, I wondered who lived there, but the thought left my mind when my dad told me to give out brownies to the neighbors as a gift from us, their new neighbors. If our house wasn't furnished, we would've been setting up, but he had it furnished before we came. We went to the store and bought some brownies to hand out to neighbors. Dad also had to buy groceries for the new house, so it was a win-win to me.

As we went home, Dad explained to me what I should say to our neighbors. "Tiara, say goodnight, then offer them the brownies. They'll say thanks, you'll say you're welcome. Keep it short, don't start a long conversation. I want you back by eight." I've decided I'm only going to seven houses, two brownies each. After going house to house, I'm at the last one, the beautiful house beside our own.

A pretty lady with luscious black hair and striking blue eyes stared critically at me. She was gorgeous. I recited my lines and she gladly accepted, her pearly white teeth shining at me as I looked to leave. She stopped me, "Wait!" I politely looked around with a practiced smile.

"Yes, Ms...?"

"Mrs. Williams. I had to stop you because you are such a beautiful and polite girl. Would you like to have some tea?"

"Uh, no thanks, but it was nice meeting you, Mrs. Williams!"

"Oh, you can call me Diana, and I insist. If you can't come in for some tea...how about some cookies, fresh from the oven?" This lady is so nice. I wondered if she lived alone.

When I saw her smile, I really couldn't resist. I nodded swiftly and she led me inside her palace.

The ceilings were high and had four huge columns seemingly holding up the roof. The house was beautifully furnished with large and luscious sofas, looking like something out of HGTV. I was floored.

I heard her say something, but I was distracted by the beautiful interior décor. She chuckled heartily at my expression when taking in her marvelous house.

"Dearest, your reaction to my house is delightful," she said, her smile akin to the Joker's.

"It is so magnificent, ma'am."

"Please, remember to call me Diana. Anyways, take a cookie, please." She walked over to her granite countertops and handed me the tray to take off a chocolate chip cookie.

"Wow, these are amazing!" I said, speaking nothing but the truth.

"Mom? Who are you talking to?" a loud masculine voice seemingly coming from upstairs asked.

"Dearest," she replied, "come down and meet our new neighbor. This is..." she trailed off as if prepping me to say my name.

"I am Tiara, Tiara Matthews." Down came a ridiculously handsome boy. He looked just like his mom, from his smile to his hair, but his eyes were slightly different. They were blue with a speck of golden brown.

He smiled at me, a smile that for sure made all the girls swoon. But I was not impressed; there were guys like this back in Texas, but dear, I admit he was way hotter. "Hi, I'm France Williams." Even his name was hot.

His mom had this knowing look on her face, but I said, "It was time for me to go. I stayed longer than I intended." His eyes lingered on mine even as I turned to go through their door. I heard him whisper to his mom, "Who is that girl?" But I left before I could hear anything else. I retreated to my home where Dad was no doubt waiting for me.

Why did I have to be right? He was most certainly sitting on the couch waiting for me when he should be in bed because he starts his new job tomorrow.

"Tiara, you lingered at a house, am I right?" I nodded wordlessly. He turned to go but not before kissing me on the forehead and whispering goodnight.

I changed out of my clothes and was entering my bathroom when I realized France's room was across from mine. He waved and I merely nodded, acknowledging his presence, then trotted to my bathroom. From the look in his eyes, I knew he was gonna be trouble—just what I didn't want.

. . . 

END OF CHAPTER 2.