A surprise visit

Chapter 2

It’s a lovely snowy day, and it's lovely because I have several houses to clean this week, which means more earnings for me. Miss Brighton just informed me that there's a house I need to clean where the owners haven’t lived for a while, and they are coming to celebrate Christmas, so I had to go get the address from her along with my payment.

Upon arriving at her office, she motions for me to take a seat while conversing on the phone and smiling. I can't help but wonder who elicits such joy in her, as she typically isn't one to smile, except for those from whom she gains some advantage.

Following her call, she recognized me, saying, "oh, it's so great to see you here again." Sure, just provide me the address so I can leave, she’s not fond of me at all, yet she appears to be in a cheerful mood today. I might as well just go along with it, "me too, Brighton, so could I have the address?" Still grinning, she replies, "You know that address better than anyone, right?" Why was she appearing so arrogant? "do I?" However, it truly captured my attention.

She nodded and said, "Guess who contacted our agency." As far as I know, I wouldn't have an idea. "Stop playing the guessing game, who is it?" Her smile widened as she replied, "Cole Rivers."

My eyes grew wide upon hearing a name I hadn't heard in thirteen years: "Cole Rivers?" I asked, no surprise she had a grin on her face, Cole used to be the favorite of everyone and the crush of every teenage girl, even I had a crush on my best friend, and most importantly, everyone was aware of our closeness because it’s a small town, and they all knew how upset I was when he left without saying goodbye, but what no one knew was that kiss he gave me in Mrs. Rachel's backyard, the unforgettable kiss "yes, the same Cole, you'll be tidying up his house today, though he didn’t mention what time he’d arrive but he did say it should be done as soon as possible" I nodded to her directions, I still couldn't believe Cole is coming after all this time.

How did I fail to see? The house appeared to be undergoing renovations; it had been repainted and had the scent of wood and fresh paint. As I stepped inside, memories from the past rushed in, nearly bringing tears to my eyes. I still haven't forgiven him for his actions; he departed without a word. Anyway, I suppose it’s time to begin the cleaning now.

It took me three hours to tidy up the entire house; once I finished, I informed Miss Brighton that I was complete, and in the next moment, she sent me my payment. I had more houses to clean, so I went to work.

Whew, it has been a lengthy day, but I still made sure to see Mrs. Rachel; it's a routine I've built over the years. I don’t have many friends due to my limited time, and even the few I have, I hardly talk to. Mrs. Rachel is the only person I can truly be myself around; it’s as if the old woman can see right through me. "I cleaned Cole's house today," I say, and Mrs. Rachel's eyes brighten. "Cole, oh, it’s been so long! Is he coming to visit? Did he reach out to you?" I waved my head "no, it was miss Brighton who informed me, she mentioned he is visiting for the Christmas holidays", Mrs. Rachel begins clapping her hands in joy "oh, he’ll be a wonderful young man, who knows he might even have a family of his own, oh that lovely boy", as I mentioned everyone adored him, his own family, huh? Just the thought of it makes me feel nauseous; I suppose my feelings for him linger, but I truly wish him well.

The days passed as they normally do; this week has been cold and hectic for me. Emilia will be home shortly for the Christmas break, and I can't wait for her arrival. Whenever she returns, she shares her experiences from college life. Being a student isn't simple, but there are also fascinating aspects to it. The last time we talked, she mentioned a guy who asked her out, but she was more attracted to his friend. I advised her to be cautious, yet she insisted she has it all under control. Ugh, I really miss her.

My little sister is the outgoing type and I appreciate her for it; if she were in my position, she would have handled Rodney and Diane, lol. When I informed her about the breakup, she was furious, saying, "If I get my hands on those two, I'll make them regret it, can you believe it?" hahaha, which is why I adore her.

As I was heading home, my phone rang and it was my brother. "Hi Anne, how have you been doing?" It’s nice to hear his voice, “I’m fine, just where you left us. How about you? How’s Keisha and the baby?” He let out a sigh, "I'm doing well, and both Keisha and Edward are too. Umm, guess who I ran into this morning?" Why has everyone been asking me to guess lately? I'm not really good at it. "Um, I don't know, tell me," I said. "I saw Cole, Anne, but he wasn't alone; he had a child with him, and I assume it's his because they looked so similar." Wow, he really is married. "But that's not all—he seemed wealthy, Anne, like extravagantly rich. He was wearing an Armani suit". I wanted to laugh because Edmond has always been so obsessed with wealth, yet he got Keisha pregnant. "Well, I'm not too surprised he's back, I literally cleaned his home around a week back, and that he is wealthy, of course, not everyone will end up like us" there was a break on his end, "yeah I suppose you're correct, but must I remind you, you had feelings for him when we were younger, and you were genuinely devastated when he abruptly departed without a word, I'm somewhat intrigued by the expression you'll have when you encounter him, he is significantly more charming than he was, lol".

Edmond is aware of my teenage infatuation with Cole; after all, we’re just a year apart, and we were all part of the same friend group. He surely noticed the timid looks I would direct at Cole as time passed. Even Cole seemed to pick up on it, which might explain why he kissed me before he vanished. "Sure, laugh all you wish, but that was ages ago, and I'm eager to see how handsome he appears now." I hope that sounds believable, as I felt anxious for some reason. The idea of reuniting with him fills me with both excitement and anxiety.

What will his response be if he sees me once more? I'm no longer the vibrant Annette he once knew; I'm just a shadow of my previous self. I doubt he’d want to engage with me, just like Diane. Who would want a friend like me? Reflecting on this is really diminishing my self-esteem. "Enough about Cole; how has work been for you? Edmond", I wanted to understand how he has been coping. Since departing from the house and establishing a family with Keisha, things have certainly been challenging for him. Frankly, if I could advise him to focus on self-improvement and making child support payments first, then possibly consider marrying Keisha afterward, my brother wouldn't support that idea because he has the duty to care for Kaisha and Edward.

It’s similar to my mom and dad; once they learned my mom was expecting me, driven by their young love, they began a family. Just a year after my arrival, my brother came along and they tied the knot. Life remained delightful for them initially, but as time passed, the financial burden became overwhelming. When my sister was born, life became difficult, and I hope for better for my brother.

"Honestly Anne, life is tough, but Keisha and I are managing it. How about you, Anne? Are you still overwhelming yourself with work? You ought to relax a bit, perhaps unwind one of these days." Indeed, Edmond is correct; I'm too consumed by work to have time for myself. "Man, I'm truly busting my chops, but I'll heed your suggestion," he chuckled. "Absolutely, you should."