A World Unknown

3. A New Beginning

*Tiara*

It had been nearly a year since that horrible day I came home to find my mom had suddenly passed. I came to find out it was a concoction of pills that lead to her death, but she was already in a fragile state. The autopsy didn’t reveal any health issue prior to her death so it was ruled a suicide. My mom was my world, but I quickly had to find a new way of life once Grandma Robbie Mae came to get me. She lived in a big city in another state and I had come to know why I never saw her growing up. Apparently, she and a few other family members didn’t approve of my father and my mom felt the only way they could be together was to cut off contact with the family. She left and only came back to visit once to let Grandma see me after I was born. Since then, she spent 12 years living in the middle of nowhere with the man she loved raising me. I always get teary eyed when I think about my mom. I never found out what happened to my dad. I don’t know if he knows mom is dead. I don’t know if I’ll ever see him again and it hurts to think about. I push those feelings down deep. The smell of sausage distracts me and my tummy starts to grumble. I hear the garage door open and the clanking of the keys as I know Grandma is just getting out of the truck. I come out of my room to go help grandma in the garage with the shopping.

“Hi Grandma! Let me help you with those bags.” I tell her. “I’m ready for that sausage you got!”

“Girl, how do you know I bought sausage?” She inquires.

“I can smell it! I can smell you too. Did you get an iced coffee for me too?” I said with a cheesy grin. Grandma would never let me drink coffee, but that never stopped me from asking.

“Girl, get, with your hypersensitive sense of smell!” Grandma chided.

I giggled as I grabbed the shopping bags and went inside. I started putting everything away and noticed quite a few of my favorite ingredients.

“Grandma, are you making lasagna?” I asked.

“Well since your birthday is coming up in a few days, I thought you might like it. Just one of the surprises I have planned for you. Thirteen is big!” grandma exclaimed.

“I don’t feel very different now. I don’t think it will change on my thirteenth birthday.”

“Well we’ll just have to see about that, my dear.”

She came inside the kitchen to help finish putting the food away. It was just her and I. It reminded me of being with mom when dad wasn’t around. She would cook my favorite food and I would happily stuff myself. We would play music and sing when she was cooking. Some of my favorite memories. At least I had my grandma to help carry on the tradition. It must be where my mom got it from. Grandma turned to me with a serious look on her face.

“Tiara, I thought it might be nice to go back to visit your old home. I know we haven’t been back since the day I picked you up. I have always felt you weren’t given the time to grieve and prepare for a new life. I don’t know how you feel about it.”

“Grandma, I’ve thought a lot about going back. Even though I didn’t really know anyone, it’s the only home I’ve had. I miss it a lot. I would love to go for a visit.”

Grandma smiled at my reaction and gave me another hug.

“Perfect,” she said, “We should go this weekend before your birthday on Tuesday.”

“Sounds like a plan!” I replied.

I was finally going home. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was looking forward to it. I wondered if any of my stuff was still there. My dad built the house and owned the land. Maybe one day I could come back and build a new house for myself. I liked the city, but I loved having the woods right in my back yard. It made me feel safe, strangely enough. The animals, the quiet, the space. All things I missed since moving here. At least I would get a taste of home for the weekend.

…

Grandma and I talked and sang songs on the long drive back to my hometown. A feeling of anticipation welled in my gut, and I was nervous about what we would find. We pulled off the highway after a four-hour drive and made our way to my old home. Thankfully it was still standing as we pulled into the long dirt driveway. We stopped at the front, and I sat quietly in my seat as grandma turned off the engine. She looked at me and sighed.

“You know, I didn’t really think this through. We don’t have to go in. I’m surprised it’s still standing after all this time. I surely thought some vagrants would have claimed it by now.”

Grandma was rambling. She did that when she was nervous. I put my hand on grandma’s hand and squeezed it gently.

“It’s ok, Grandma. I want to do this.”

She smiled at me with glassy eyes and put her other hand on top of mine and gave it a squeeze.

“Ok, baby. Let’s go.”

We both exited the truck and walked up the three steps to the porch. The outside paint was worn, but the house was well built. I kept my house key since leaving. I wore it like a necklace. It was one of my most treasured possessions now. I put the key in the lock and gave it a turn. It still worked. I opened the door and was surprised to see it looking almost like the day I left. The furniture and surfaces didn’t have a speck of dust. I went to my mother’s bedroom first. When my grandma came to get me the day she passed, we couldn’t wait for any medical officer to take her body. My grandma found some white sheets in the house and bundled my mom up carefully. Since she had a truck, we carried her out and laid her in the bed of it to bring her back to her hometown. There, Grandma was able to get her body to the coroner and have a proper burial for her. I had to answer a lot of questions, and the police came back to my home to do a full investigation. In the end, it was ruled a suicide. Her bed was still unmade. I tried my best not to cry.

I went to my room next. I wanted to take a few dolls and drawings. I knew I was too young to have this house to myself and could only hope that when I was old enough it would still be here. Maybe I could try to find my dad’s family. At least for now I could take some things to remember the life I had. We never had much decoration, but mom did keep some pictures of us on the walls. Even the pictures looked clean. I thought for sure the place would be covered in dust, but it seems like someone has been here keeping it clean. How could that be?

“Baby, something seems a little strange. It’s a little too clean up in here,” Grandma said as her eyes wandered around the house.

“I was thinking the same thing.” I confirmed.

“I made hotel reservations in a town nearby. I figured we could stay the weekend and take our time. We should head there now. I think maybe tomorrow we should have some kind of escort with us. I don’t want no funny business…” her voice drifting off as she studied everything in the kitchen and living room.

“Before we go, can I just go into the woods? I used to spend a lot of time out there. I don’t want to leave without a quick visit.” I clasped my hands together making the saddest puppy dog face I could. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.

“I’m staying in the truck. You got five minutes.” She told me.

I jumped for joy and gave her a quick hug and kiss as I ran out the front door. I ran to the back of the house and straight to my favorite spot. It was a small clearing with one lonely tree stump surrounded by trees. I planted wildflowers with my dad in various places and spent time when he wasn’t there drawing every animal that would come by. He taught me not to fear them and that we were much more powerful. He also told me to respect nature and taught me so much about the life around us. I tried to learn all I could when he was away. I never understood why he was gone so often. He always said he was some kind of security, but I didn’t know who he had to protect. Mom couldn’t tell me either. I ran straight to the stump in the middle and rested my hands on my knees as I caught my breath. Dad and I came here often and kept it clear, but after a year I expected it to be overgrown in some way. It’s like someone had been here too. As I caught my breath I heard rustling around me. I held my breath and waited. I would often sit perfectly still with my eyes closed, perched on the stump, listening to the sounds of nature. I could pick out the different birds, squirrels, rabbits, after a lot of practice. The movement stopped so I stood up and looked around. I waited a few moments more. When I didn’t hear anything else I went to sit on the stump. I just wanted to listen to the sounds of the woods. The city was so noisy. I missed the quietness of home. I closed my eyes and heard the rustling again. It was very faint. Not like the animals I was used to hearing. I caught a whiff of something in the air that smelled like strawberries and thought that was strange. It was stronger when the wind blew past me. I decided to go investigate. I already spent three of my five minutes and I had to be quick. I went to one edge of the circle clearing and listened. I walked the perimeter and stopped when I caught the scent again. I turned my head in the direction of the scent and tried to see if maybe someone had left some strawberries lying around and there were just animals scurrying around to eat them. As I turned my head, I heard rustling again and it trailed off, as if whatever it was had run off. The smell left as well. I assumed it was some kind of animal. I headed back to the truck. I wasn’t sure what was in the woods. I wasn’t sure why everything looked so neat. I was starting to think we were being watched. I didn’t want to worry my grandma so I didn’t mention anything about what I heard or smelled. My grandma had a scent too. I told her she smelled like mint, and she laughed and blamed it on her toothpaste. Even after a meal, I could still smell mint on her. It was calming to me. I loved the way she smelled.

“Did you find anything interesting out there?” Grandma asked as I opened the door and hopped in the truck.

“No. Just the same old woods,” I said to her. Something was going on out here and I really wanted to find out. It’s my dad’s land. Maybe someone who knows him knows about the house. Maybe they know where he is. This might be my only chance to find out where he is. I was determined to come back and hunt for clues.

“Well, baby girl, let’s head to the hotel. I’m tired and I think this was a lot to do in one day. We can see about getting some assistance with coming down here again tomorrow. I’m sure there are some things you would like to take.”

Grandma cupped my face and gave my chin a squeeze. She put the truck in gear and reversed out of the driveway. My eyes were glued to the woods as we drove away. The sun was setting and the night was coming alive. Fireflies danced in the last streaks of daylight. I rested my chin on my arm as I looked out the partially opened window. I swore I caught a flash of a pair of yellow eyes glowing from the woods. I blinked and it was gone. ‘So weird’ I thought. Then, that strawberry scent blasted my nose and disappeared as we picked up speed.