fae-ted

Settle down

As the car pulled up the dusty path towards their new "home," a gaggle of girls with long, jet black hair ran flanked the car.

"Come see, some see!" They babbled excitedly. "There's so much space!"

"I counted 6 windows in the living room alone." Eloise, who at eleven was the fourth oldest, nodded, approvingly. "We chose the best room already." Charlotte puffed out her chest while Rose nodded along. "We baggsed it." Hazel rolled her eyes. Typical twins.

"No fair!" Sophie stamped a foot, pouting. "You should have waited for me!"

"Well, E, it was your choice to ride in the car with the big girls." Zia reminded her. She exited the car, elegantly as always and came to stand behind Sophie, giving her shoulder a little squeeze. "I'm sure there are a lot of good rooms, why don't you take a look " Sophie nodded slowly, heartened by Zia's kind words. Hazel had always been envious of Zia's ability to remain calm, though she knew that talent came at a great cost. She had caught Tia looking out the window wistfully on the drive up once or twice herself. Hazel would not trade her voice and passion for the serenity her sister seemed to cultivate.

"What's going on?" Iyra stumbled her way out of the car at Zia's heels. She had slept for most of the ride over. She looked up, nose crinkling. "Is this it?" Hazel turned and looked up toward the house properly for the first time. It was cute...for a cabin. A wide porch encapsulated the three visible walls, its cedar surface and balustrades reflecting back the colour of the cabin walls.

Although it was only one story, its cross gabled emerald roof suggested it housed many rooms and, from where she was standing, an expansive living area was already visible. There were, as Eloise had noted, many windows. It was a far cry from the dingy shack Hazel had been dreading, although she wasn't yet ready to admit it.

"Does it even have wifi?" Iyra rolled her eyes, grabbing her small backpack and trudging up to the house. "I'm not sharing a bedroom anymore, by the way."

"Hey." Alan called, coming around from behind the cabin. Tall and well built, he was cradling four or five pink bags in his arms but still managed to raise an arm in greeting. "Welcome home!" Hazel's mother's long, curly brown hair bounced as she ran across to him, cuddling him with one arm and taking a few bags with the other. He kissed the top of her head. "Girls." She called up to the house, into which Sophie, Charlotte, Rose, Eloise and now Iyra had disappeared. "Come and help unpack." There was some giggling from insight and a faint smashing noise but no further response.

"Don't worry too much Tat, they're just excited!" Alan's eyes sparkled as he threw Hazel a casual wink. "How was the drive up?"

"Uneventful." Tia shrugged, saving Hazel the trouble. "Well, why don't you come see your new home then?" Alan chuckled, picking Hazel's mother up in one arm, bags in the other. She giggled. Hazel rolled her eyes. "You know, if you keep doing that, they'll fall out." Tia shot her a wicked grin. Hazel smiled back, reluctantly. "Come on, we're here now, you might as well make the most of it." Tia draped her hand gently along Hazel's shoulders, letting it work its magic.

"I guess." Hazel sighed. Tia was right after all, there really was no going back.

...

The living area somehow managed to be cozy and spacious at the same time. Exposed wooden beams, high, warm lighting, automatic blinds. The hearth of a large fireplace stood proudly in the middle of the main room, its stack reaching up to the ceiling roughly 20 metres above.

Isn't it beautiful! Hazel's mother looked around, hands clasped in front of her like a Disney princess. "I'm glad you like it!" Alan put the bags down on one of the long, low couches, the white shag draped across it falling to obscure the bag closest to the armrest.

"It is rather pretty." As always, Tia's tone was perfectly amiable but Hazel noted the moments hesitation. It was beautiful, even she had to concede. It just wasn't home. "I'm going to go find a room." Hazel lifted her bag from the pile. "Hazel wait." Her mother walked over to her, smiling. "I have a surprise for you."

She grabbed her hand, pulling her through the open plan kitchen, into an adjoining hallway, where the hardwood floors gave way to plush carpet that gave the space a muted, hushed feeling. "It's through here." Hazel smiled slightly at her mother's reverent whisper. They came to a thick door, crafted from the same cedar as the rest of the cabin. Her mother stopped for a moment, almost as if holding her breath and then turned the big, brass handle.