Never ever

3. Taking initiative

I woke up from the morning sun shining through the curtains. I grunted trying to bury my face in my pillow. There was no way sleep would find me again. With a sigh I turned around, clearly the people before me brought their own curtains because the whole room was lit up with a golden glow. After searching for my phone I saw it was only 8 a.m. Better get an early start then, reluctantly throwing the comforter of me. I got dressed with just a comfy shirt on dark blue jeans and pulled my hair in a ponytail. Aunt Rachel had packed me some food but I would need to do some groceries shopping today. I’d better check with mrs. Green where the best place to go was. Maybe there was even something they needed from the store I thought. Since it was still early I decided to first unpack the last of my boxes. But soon realised that unpacking them would be difficult with no place to put the items. Kitchen cabinets weren’t the best place to hold books. So I made myself a list, writing everything down I might need in my new home. The very first things was the curtains for the bedroom. When I’m done with the list was a lot longer than I would have initially thought. This would not be doable by myself. Luckily I got Noah’s number yesterday I thought smiling. 

Good morning, are you up for sort of a predate to the thrift store this afternoon? I texted him. Looking through the boxes I found my alarm clock. That would come in handy, back at aunt Rachel I didn't need it but here no one would wake me up if I would be late. As I put it on my nightstand my phone buzzed loudly. Stumbling back to the living room almost falling over an empty box, that I left the other night to see what Noah texted back. He had class until two p.m. but would come and pick me up after that. Perfect, yet nerves fluttered softly in my stomach. Time for action I thought pushing those feelings down. I got the car keys but first walked toward the main house. I rang the doorbell but there was no answer, I was just about to go and find my own way when a voice yelled from the second store window.

“She is probably in the backyard, just go around dear” I didn’t see him but I could hear it was mr Green. After thanking him I followed a small overgrown path and found myself in a walhalla. 

I couldn't believe my eyes as I stared with an open mouth to the marvelous garden before me.  

A small pond filled with greenery and lily's to one side and a beautiful flower garden to the other. Butterflies flying from flower to flower in the morning sun and a sweet intriguing smell prickaling my nose. In Between was a patch of small glittering pebbles leading to I would assume was a vegetable garden seeing the perfect rows of plants. Closer to the house was a perfectly sized patio with in the corner an old wooden furness so you could probably sit there all year long. On a simple white garden chairs sat mrs. Green, a newspaper lay in front of her and a cup of coffee in her hand. 

“Good morning mrs. Green” I greeted her, hoping that I didn’t spook her to much. Of course she was surprised seeing me there all of a sudden, but she recovered pretty fast.

“Well good morning to you to my dear” she said with a smile, “welcome to my sanctum.” 

“It’s perfect” I said, looking around amazed and taking a seat as she gestured for me to sit down. 

“Thank you, so what can I do for you?”

“Well a couple of things actually,” I said smiling a bit nervously. Mrs. Green was very likable but she had something of air around her that demanded respect. 

“First I wanted to make an appointment with you to go over the planning. Secondly I would like to know where I should go to the store around here and if I could get anything for you as well?”

“How refreshing, you are the first to take this initiative. I’m impressed” she said smiling proudly. It made me think it had been her decision to take me on sort of speak. 

“Well first things first, how about tomorrow for meeting. You could meet me here for breakfast, let’s say 9 a.m.” she said, confidence readiating of her. It made me wonder if she had a high placing career before. 

“That is a good idea,” I said thinking of my shift in the afternoon, “Do you usually eat out here?”

“As often as I can, otherwise I will be in the kitchen,” she pointed behind her towards the two open doors giving me a glance at the kitchen. She continued with a direction to one of my options for the grocery stores. This one was close to the church I had seen on my first drive up here. It was small in comparison but would have the essentials you wanted. The other one was up town, it was a longer drive but well worth it if you needed something specific. I knew where it was seeing it was also the store Rachel loved to go to. As a chef she almost always needed some special herb or vegetable and there was no other place in town, you would want to go to. 

I decided to take a look at the smaller store first, knowing I could always make the drive later today with Noah. The thrift stores I wanted to visit where not that far from it. 

“Let me see if I need anything” mrs. Green said standing up to go inside.

“Oh before you go, do you perhaps know what kind of lightbulb the lamp in the living room needs. It broke yesterday and there weren't any spares in the apartment” I remembered suddenly. She looked a bit surprised by that, maybe even a little shook up.

“Again, maybe we better replace that lamp but let me see. I think I still have a bulb here for you”.

Sitting back, waiting for her to return, enjoying the warmht of the sun. For the time of the year it was unusually warm but I loved the sun and tried to catch every ray of sunshine I could. Unfortanit my skin didn’t share my love for the sun and especially in the summer I needed to be carefull or I would get burned. 

I looked over at the garden following a beautiful dragonfly, who flew across the pont finding a momentarily resting place on a fishing boy statue before continuing his yourny. Remembering I heard somewhere that dragonflies would bring luck and good fortune to those, who would give him a worthy home. It was probably just a tall tale but if not I couldn’t think of a more worthy garden. Mrs. Green came back handing me not one but two lightbulbs. She also had a grocery list for me and a key to their house so I didn’t have to ring the doorbell everytime. 

“If you can would you do me a favor and get a loaf of bread from the bakery behind the church instead of from the store. It is so much better and we just adore that little bakery” she asked.

“Of course that is no trouble at all. I might even get some for myself.”

“You shoot. Give her our regards, will you and when you come back just put everything on the kitchen table. I might be out later today and William will not be coming down” she said smiling trying to hide her concern for her husband. I guess he wasn’t feeling so good today.

The direction she had given me where spot on and I decided to go to the bakery first. It indeed was a little piece of heaven, or at least it smelled that good. I even talked a few minutes with the female baker before leaving for the store. It wasn’t as small as I had thought but they had a basic assortment with very few to no brands to choose from. I quickly got everything I needed for myself and the Greens and made sure to separate them at the cashresiture. After putting the groceries away, I looked around the small square where I had parked the car. There were several small stores with the square at the heart of it. Walking across the street, to one of them that had caught my attention. It had all kind of candles at display and the scent of a very strong incense greeted me as I walked in. It smelled somewhat familiar but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Behind a counter was a small woman smiling at me for a moment before returning to what she was doing. I strolled through the store but there wasn’t much that got my interest. Just as I wanted to leave did I notice a bin filled with all kind of candles that were for sale. Most of them were just basic in different kind of collars but there was one that stood out. It had a beautiful dark blue collar like a clear nights sky with almost golden stars and a sikkel moon carved in it. I just had to buy it and with some other plain ones I went to the counter. 

“I’m sorry” the woman said as she picked the engraved candle, “this one shouldn’t have been in that bin. It’s not on sale.” For a moment of hesitation I wanted to put it back but quickly changed my mind, telling he I would take it anyway. 

“Good choice” she said smiling approving, “why don’t you get another candle to make up for the mistake. Maybe a red one?” Indifferent about the collar of the candles I listened to her suggestion and pick a dark red one, it was almost burgundy. The other stores where nothing like that. There was a small shoe store with a old fashion tailor in the back, a bookstore and a*****e with all kind of household product. They also had whatever you could need for decorating your house, which included curtains. Unfortunately I didn't know what the correct measurement are for my new bedroom window. Who would have expected to find curtain while going for groceries. Luckily the man who helped me reassure me I could bring them back as long as I kept them clean. As I walked back to the car people were staring at me. I wondered if they recognized the car or was I just a stranger buying candle and dark curtains. The thought made me giddy and as I drove off I smiled to one of the couples staring rudely at me. 

Before taking the bag and bread to the main house, I quickly ran upstairs to put my own bags at the table. Putting them away could wait a couple of minutes. It was a little weird just opening their front door and walking in like I owned the place. Before finding the kitchen I even took a wrong turn and ended up in a study, which may I add had a most impressive bookcase I had ever seen. I would have loved to get lost in there but had turned around reluctantly. Maybe some other time I thought putting the groceries on the kitchen table. Rachel would have love to have a kitchen like this. It was grand and with a lot of counter space. The cabinets were made from a dark wood with black handles and accessories everywhere, still the room felt really light and spacious. I didn’t want to linger so with some swift movements I found myself back at the front door. 

“Hello?” I heard from the top of the stairs as my hand pulled the handle down. 

“Good morning mr Green, it's Maya. I just brought the groceries. I didn't want to disturb you” I said walking back to the bottom of the stairs, but still didn't see him there. 

“Ow yes, That’s right Karen did mention it. Thank you for doing so and have a nice day.” 

He didn't wait for me to reply to him as I heard him shuffling back to, assuming, his room. 

“Thank god, I thought I was hearing things again, don’t want to lose my mind as well” He said talking to himself. I couldn’t help myself but to feel sorry for him. Getting older wasn’t easy, let alone getting sick and your body letting you down in the process.