The Secrets Within

It was a bright sunny Sunday when we stepped out of the car to stretch our tired limbs after the long trip. My children were still waking up and my mother was rubbing her eyes and blinking from the sun. I smiled at my children as I bent down to look at them through the cars window. My only son, Robert was looking back at me, as I went to open the door to let him out. Still snoozing in the middle, my daughter, who we lovingly called Lilibet, seemed comfortable in her car seat. My other daughter, Anne, smiled and nodded as I enquired if she was going to get out. As she exited the car, I unhooked Lilibet's seat and removed it. Together we looked towards the house looming in from of us. It had been years since I had been here. I gestured for the older children to follow as I carried the car seat and made our way slowly towards the house. As we came closer we viewed the gorgeous gardens and front veranda of house. I was surprised at how timeless the house was. It had been in our family for so many years and i was always in awe of the grandeur of the place. The current resident of the house was my great grandma. She moved here on the passing of her great aunt only 12 years ago. My mother had visited a few times in that time, but I had only visited twice as I had been busy having and raising my children. My great grandma and I shared a special relationship. We spoke all the time on the phone. My great grandpa, her husband, had died about 20 year's ago, and as I lived the closest to her, before she moved here, I would always go visit and see if she needed anything. Her own daughter, my nan and my pop had passed away only 8 months after my great grandpa in a car accident, so I felt the need to watch over her. My mum had moved closer to me when I had Anne, so that she could see more of her family. My dad had left when I was just a baby and my mum had not remarried, so we were the only family all of us had. As we walked up the stairs towards the front door, my great grandma opened the door to greet us with a smile. It always surprised me that she could look so youthful at her advanced years. I walked into her open arms, trying to not let my emotions overcome me. She smiled down at the children who were huddled around my skirt. My two older children had met her before, but they would not remember as they were only 2 and a newborn when we visited last. I introduced Robert first. As a strapping young 7 year old, he always seemed wise beyond his years. He was the picture of his father but shared my eyes and hair colour. It was Anne's turn next. She was 5 in a month, but she acted as if she was turning 15. She was cheeky and drove her big brother crazy with her antics. She looked so much like my mum when she was younger, except the curly hair, that came from her father. I pulled the car seat to my front and introduced my baby. Elizabeth was only 1 and a half, with the cutest little blonde curls. To me she was the perfect little mix of her father and I. My great grandma smiled down at her and she smiled right back. After everyone was introduced and we had all greeted each other, we heard a truck drive closer to the house. I looked down and sighed. Today we made this long trip to move in with my great grandma. My husband had died 3 months ago. It was a sad time for our little family. He was involved in an accident at work. He worked at an oil rig as an engineer. He was assisting with a repair when the part he was working on collapsed and trapped him and 3 other colleagues. They told me that he died on impact as the beam hit him in the head. I still have nightmares of the event, even though I wasn't there. Things become tough at home, so my great grandma offered to take us in. So here we are today, moving to the other side of the country, making a new adventure for us all.