The Suburbs

Chapter three

I woke up quite refreshed considering I drank a bottle of wine on an empty stomach. I think it was the excitement which spurred me on today. My furniture arrived so most of my day has been spent organising myself as planned. I started with the lounge area which took the longest, I hung up lots of pictures and my mirror to make it feel a little more like my stamp was on the house and I arranged my sofa, coffee table, lamps and television just how I wanted it. I stopped for a quick bite for lunch and then spent the afternoon in my office, setting up my desk and arranging all my files and preparing myself for work. It needed to be done because next week I'll be starting to work from home a lot more and I know if I don't do it now, I never will. I'll get round to finishing my bedroom and bathroom as soon as I can. They're not as important.

The kitchen doesn't need anything doing to it thankfully, it's been newly fitted with all the little features and elegant touches and equipped already with a double oven and a huge American fridge freezer. I already spent ten minutes this morning fascinated by the ice dispenser on the front.
All the walls are lightly coloured with a cream paint and a couple of accent walls are papered with gold lining. It fits perfectly with my taste, which is another reason I chose this house whilst on my search. It felt ready to move into and needed very little work doing to it. I'm not exactly clued up with DIY so it suits me well.

My huge windows were also fitted with long transparent white drapes today. I might look into fitting some electronic black out blinds eventually but for now I'm happy enough with the sheer drapes. It is very private here after all.
This morning, waking up to the sun shining down on my bed was as wonderful as I hoped. I sat and just spent ten minutes sitting up in my bed and gazing out my glass wall. This is my forever home. I can feel it. I can't think of a single reason why I would ever want to leave here.

As I give the house a well needed hoover, I feel myself growing tired. It's been quite a long day and I think all the excitement of moving has finally caught up with me. I haven't picked a home for the hoover yet so I tuck it to one side in the hallway and decide it can wait as right now I deserve a nice hot soak in the tub. I gather my best bath salts and head for the bathroom. I have been waiting for this moment ever since I first saw the house. The bath is an egg shaped stone bath and looks so incredibly inviting. I grab half a dozen of the white fluffy towels from a moving box and stack them up neatly on the bathroom shelves.
I grab a bottle of bubble bath too and throw in a generous amount as the bath begins to fill.

I quickly strip off and carefully climb into the bath. The warm water feels so good against my skin. My lower back has been aching all afternoon and my shoulders have been so tense but as I ease myself  back in this bath I feel my muscles relaxing and it's a welcome relief. I'm not the type of person who has a quick bath, I never have been. Alex used to call me his little mermaid because I could be in the bath for pretty much an hour most nights. God, my face screws up as I realise my thoughts have wondered into Alex territory again. I suppose it's normal, considering the length of time we were together but I'm looking forward to the days when my mind doesn't automatically jump to memories of my ex-husband.

Bollocks. All the lights in the house have switched off. I'm in pitch black. I didn't even realise the sun had gone down. It must be a power cut. Damn it, I usually light candles when I have a bath and the one night I couldn't be bothered to do it there's a power cut.
I quickly get out of the bath and carefully make my way to the shelves where I grab a white towel. I flick the bathroom light switch but nothing. I go into the hallway and the bedroom and try to turn the lights on in there too, but I'm still in darkness. It must definitely be a power cut. I'm sure I had a torch in one of the boxes somewhere and a bag of tea lights. If I could just find those then I'll at least have some light for a little while.

Suddenly I hear a knock at the door. Bollocks. Who could that be now?
"I'm, erm, I'm coming, two minutes." I call as I quickly rush into my bedroom to find some clothes.