The HazeWalker

Settling In

Later that day with a full belly and a smile on my face I was in my room packing my things when there

was a knock on the door. “Come in.” I yelled at the door as I stuffed my clothes in my duffle bag. Adsila came

through the door carrying a small white box. “Will you sit with me and have a talk before you go>” she asked

with a smile. I nodded and moved my duffel bag to the floor and sat on the bed. I held my blanket in my

hands. The one my mother had left with me at the church. It always brought me peace and comfort. Adsila

sat down on the bed beside of me. “I have something for you.” she told me as she handed me the white box

she had been holding. I was very close to your mother. Since she lost her mother at a young age to heart

disease I took on the mother roll in her eyes.” Adsila told me with a distant look in her eyes. When she got

pregnant she came to me for advice constantly. She was always telling me of the things she planned to teach

you. She wanted you to be a strong independent woman that was with your mate because you wanted to be not because you had to be. She wanted you to have a life separate from the tribe and fulfill all your dreams.

Not that she wasn’t proud of her heritage because she but our women are expected to find their mate, have

babies and work on the farm. She wanted more than that for you.” she told me with tears forming in her eyes.

I think you are exactly as she would want you to be. She would be very proud of you.” she told me as she

looked into my eyes. “Now, I know you haven’t yet found your mate, but this is something she wanted you to

have on your wedding day.” she told me looking at the box. I looked down at the box, I wished so bad that

they were still here. I slowly took the lid off of the tiny white box revealing a beautiful ring. It had a black stone

in it surround by several diamonds. It was absolutely gorgeous. “That is a black diamond.” Adsila explained to

me.”Your father gave this to your mother when he proposed. He said he chose a black diamond because like

her it was beautiful and different. When she became pregnant with you she brought this to me and told me to

keep it for her. She said she wanted to give it to you when you found your mate.” Tears were now streaming

down my face. “Thankyou so much Adsila, you don’t know what this means to me.” I cried. I slipped the ring

on my index finger and admired it. It fit perfectly, making me think my mother and I must have been close to

the same size. I had appreciated Adsila giving it to me more than anything, but a part of me wished it had

been my mother who had given it to me.

I pulled up to the farm a short time later. Just having my mother's ring on my finger made me feel

closer to her. I was constantly fiddling with it, and looking at it. It was so beautiful and different. Unlike any

ring I had ever seen before. I put my truck in park and looked up at the farm. It was absolutely beautiful.

There was cornfields, cows, and horses. Chickens cat and dogs were running around the big front yard that

was littered with apple trees. The was a concrete walkway that led to the huge yellow two story farmhouse,

that was framed by the huge red barn in the backyard. I climbed out of the truck and surveyed my

surroundings. A big white fluffy dog came running up to me. I ruffled his firth and gave him a good scratch

before making my way around to the back of the house to find the guest house Uncle Preston had told me

about.

Turning the corner I was astonished at seeing a beautiful little yellow cottage a little ways from the

house. It was small, but cozy and surrounded by flowers of all different types. “Your mother planted those

flowers.” Startled I looked behind me to see who the voice was coming from. It was Uncle Preston, standing

there in his overall and plaid shirt with his hands stuck in his pockets. I smiled as he made his way across the

yard to stand next me. “Your mother and father spent one whole summer working on this house. It was the

summer she found out she was pregnant with you.” he said as he smiled down at me. “This place is yours

now Eliza, you are home . Do as you please to make this place feel like yours. This whole property is our

families. It has been in the family for generations. Father's Great grandfather won this property in a car

game.” he smiled proudly. “You are a part of this land Eliza. Respect it and it will give you everything you

need, now let's get you settled in.” He told me as he put his hand on my back and led me to the front door.

He produced a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. “This is your now.” he said handing me the

key. “Thank you.” I told him as I looked around the house. The sun was shining through the windows and

everything had a thin sheet of dust coated on top of it, but it was beautiful.” No one has been in here since

they passed.” My uncle told me as he began to take the sheets from the furniture. I began walking around

the beautiful oak hardwood floors. The living room and kitchen were connected, but were large and had

plenty of space. There was an island centered in the kitchen that sat in front of the sink which was framed by a beautiful window that overlooked the farm. The stove was snuggly inserted between the countertops, with

the refrigerator on the adjacent wall. There was a beautiful breakfast nook that sat in the corner aligned by

the beautiful oak walls. The kitchen and living room were separated by a fluffy yellow couch that was

decorated with green orange and yellow throw pillows. “This is a pull out.” Uncle Preston informed me of the

couch. “Its useful if you plan to have guest, since the place only has one bedroom.” “That will work great.” I

said cheerfully scanning the rest of the room. There was a small oak comfortable and end tables that

surrounded the couch. On the adjacent wall beside the front door was a matching big comfortable chair with

a neatly placed lamp table beside of it. In front of the couch on the far wall was an entertainment center with

windows on either side of it. “The place has a lot of natural light.” I observed out loud. “Through this door is

your bathroom.” Uncle Preston showed me as he opened a stained oak door. The bathroom was small but

sufficient, with a deep whet bathtub on the far wall, and then the wall in front of me contained a pedestal sink

with a medicine cabinet and mirror over top, and a window placed between the sink and the toilet. “I'll show

you to the bedroom if you will follow me.” Uncle Preston told me as he exited the bathroom. I followed him

out the door and into another room right beside of the bathroom. It was a nice sized cozy bedroom. “Your

mother put the carpet down. She said she didn't want her feet cold in the winter time.” he chuckled. The shag

carpet was a beautiful white with Grey speckles throughout. The was a huge four poster oak bed that set in

the middle of the room with windows on either side of it, and oak nightstands under the windows. There was

a big 9 drawer dresser that sat on the opposite wall with a huge mirror that set on top of it, and to my right

was a tall 5 drawer dresser. Across from the dresser on the opposite wall was a beautiful white desk with a

huge bay window above it. “I suspect everything will need to be dusted, vacuumed and washed. If you need

to wash clothes you can bring them over to the main house. Your mother had plans on building a laundry

room. If that is something you are interested in just let me know. Your father and I built this place from the

ground up, and everything you see inside of it came from the village.” He explained to me as he walked to

the front door. “That may be something to think about. Thank you so much for everything.” I told him as he

waved goodbye and shut the door.