HOME BETWEEN US

CHAPTER4

The car rolled to a stop in front of the house that seemed to stretch forever.

Jittery, Muriel bit on her upper lip staring right ahead. She had practiced her reaction to this moment over and again in her head, but now that she was there, all she had practiced seemed to have deserted her.

Mrs. Matilda turned to her with a smile, but this time, it seemed to carry more weight than before. “Well, here we are,” she said, her voice soft but cheerful. “Welcome home, Muriel.”

Muriel’s throat tightened. “Home,” she repeated under her breath, testing the word, though it didn’t quite feel like it yet. She had imagined this moment, but never like that. Never in a house that felt so... unfamiliar.

A home like this was a place for people who belonged. She wasn’t sure she could picture herself here, and the more she tried, the more her stomach twisted. She stepped out of the car, and the chill of the late afternoon air hit her.

Mrs. Matilda gave her a quick but warm smile and motioned for her to follow. “Come on in,” she said, opening the front door. She wanted to survey the environment and wished they would step inside before her, but the way Mrs. Matilda stood there with a smile, she knew that was impossible. The place felt and looked different from where she came from. There were no peeling paint, no chipped windowsills, no overcrowded hallways like her old home. It felt like a different world entirely. Hanging from the front door was a placard with scrawny handwriting that read, "The Hamilton's' Home."

Inside, the space was breathtaking. High ceilings with intricate crown molding. Crystal chandeliers hanging like stars from the sky. Muriel’s footsteps echoed on the polished marble floors, and every room seemed to sparkle with a quiet luxury that made her feel both out of place and... strange, like she didn’t belong.

Muriel turned to see Mrs. Matilda smiled at her again, beckoning her toward a large living room. The walls were lined with family portraits, of faces she had seen earlier when Mrs. Matilda had handed her phone over and some other people she could not realize. Then, as if on cue, the door swung open to reveal the sprawling entryway, and Muriel's gaze snapped to the entrance, a flutter of unease sizzling in her stomach. The house was grand. Far grander than she had expected.

High ceilings, sparkling chandeliers, and rooms that seemed to stretch endlessly. It felt like a museum or a gallery, and Muriel felt like the only exhibit on display. Mrs. Hamilton led her inside, her cheerful voice breaking the silence. “If you are tired, I could show you to your room and do the introductions tomorrow.”

She looked at Muriel for approval. While Muriel would have rejected the offer, she couldn't. She wanted to be alone, even for a minute, and take in everything that had happened. The look of excitement on Mrs. Matilda's voice and face tugged at her chest and, for some reason, she hated to disappoint her." Uhhhm," she started, "I would love that."

"Okay." Mrs. Matilda clasped her hand together, still smiling, and beckoned to her husband, who was still standing at the doorway. "Can you...…"

Her statement was met by a whirlwind of energy. From behind a tall archway emerged a group of boys—four of them, ranging in age from Sebastian, the youngest of whom Mrs. Matilda had pointed out, to a teenager Muriel assumed was the oldest. They came bounding into the room like a swarm of bees, full of curiosity and excitement.

“Hi! You must be Muriel!” The oldest boy, around the same age as her, tall, athletic, dark-haired with sharp features, and intense blue eyes, rushed up to her first with a wide grin. “I’m Sinclair, and these are my brothers, Alex, Jeremy, and Sebastian.”

Caught unawares, Muriel struggled to maintain decorum. She wasn't prepared for the sight before her as she struggled to match each of their faces with the ones she had seen on their mother's phone.

Jeremy, a boy who looked about eleven, lean, sandy-haired, hazel eyes, grinned shyly and waved from behind Alex.

Alex, the second oldest, who seemed shorter than Sinclair and Jeremy, with messy light brown hair, smiled warmly exposing his dimples, but stayed a little further back, peering at her curiously as if sizing her up.

Then there was Sebastian. The little boy with messy brown hair and deep blue eyes, stood near the back, his hands tucked into his hoodie pockets, watching Muriel with wide, inquisitive eyes. He seemed to be the quiet one, but there was a kind of earnestness in his gaze that made Muriel pause.

His energy wasn’t as boisterous as the others, but he had an almost protective air about him, like he was silently assessing the newcomer before making up his mind. Muriel could see he shared the same eye color with his older brother.

Jeremy's voice broke through the tension. “We’ve been waiting for you! We’re going to show you everything—our room, the game room, the backyard. You’ll love it here!” His enthusiasm was contagious, and Muriel couldn’t help but smile, though the anxiety still gnawed at her.

This was all happening so fast. Mrs. Matilda, noticing the flurry of activity, stepped in with a laugh, looking grateful. “Boys, let Muriel catch her breath! We’ve got time to show her everything. But first, why don’t you show her to her room? She could use a nap, you know?”

Jeremy nodded in dejection, his eager spirit from earlier, gone. Noticing his change of mood and the disappointment on the faces of the others, she turned to their mother and said, "I wouldn't mind, Mrs. Matilda."

surprised, she raised her brows so that they arched, "Mrs. Matilda? Nonsense!" She smiled warmly, "you can just call me Mother but I know that would take some adjusting to. So, just call me Matilda or Mrs. Hamilton. Okay?"

Muriel nodded, not expecting that reply.

"You see?" Jeremy said cheerfully to his mother like she hadn't just had a discussion with Muriel and waved his hand toward the living room. “We’ve got a movie marathon planned. It’s tradition on the first night!” His voice carried a note of pride.

"He just created that." Sinclair smiled, tapping his brother playfully on the head.

“We’re starting with Pirates of the Caribbean. You’re gonna love it.” Jeremy continued, Ignoring his brother.

Muriel wasn’t sure what to say. A movie marathon sounded nice, but it felt overwhelming. Still, she followed Alex and Sinclair as they led her toward the couch. Alex trailed behind, sitting near the edge of the room, seemingly content to let his brothers take the lead.

She glanced over her shoulders to see Matilda and Luke stare warmly at them. But then, just as they reached the living room, Muriel felt a gentle tug at her sleeve. She turned to find Sebastian, his small face upturned as he looked at her with a shy but determined expression.

“Want to make popcorn?” he asked softly, his voice small but filled with unexpected confidence. Muriel blinked, surprised by his sudden invitation. “Popcorn?” she echoed.

Sebastian nodded, his eyes bright with a mischievous gleam. “Yeah. I make the best popcorn. You can help me if you want." He sounded so innocent. "Come on, it’ll be fun.”

Before Muriel could respond, he was already turning and heading toward the kitchen. She glanced back at the group, her nerves rising again, but the warmth of his invitation felt oddly reassuring. The chaos of the boys was a bit much, and Sebastian’s quiet presence made her feel like maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t entirely alone in this strange new world.

“Okay,” she said softly, a little smile tugging at her lips.be the best popcorn you’ve ever had!”

Sebastian’s face lit up like the sun, and he bounded ahead, his small footsteps echoing in the grand hall. “You’ll see! It’s going to Muriel followed him, stepping into the spacious kitchen, where the smell of butter and salt immediately hit her nose.

The kitchen was large, with shiny countertops and gleaming appliances, but it felt warmer than the rest of the house. The low hum of the refrigerator, the clinking of the microwave door—it all made the space feel a little more like home. Sebastian scrambled to reach for the popcorn kernels on the top shelf, his small frame struggling for a second before Muriel reached up and handed him the box. He grinned up at her. “Thanks. I’m excellent at this, you’ll see.”

Muriel chuckled, her nerves starting to ease. “I’m sure you are.” As he prepared the popcorn, Sebastian chatted away like he had known her for years, telling her about his favorite snacks, his favorite shows, and even the weirdest thing he had ever found in the backyard. Muriel listened, fascinated by his energy, his innocence. It was the first time since arriving that she felt a sense of ease. Again, her mind drifted to what Mrs. Hamilton had said earlier, and she felt a warmth she hadn't ever experienced, spread over. Maybe coming to the Hamilton's home wasn't that bad after all.

When the popcorn was finally done, Sebastian handed her a bowl, eyes sparkling with excitement. “I told you it was the best,” he said proudly.

Muriel took the bowl from him, grateful for the small moment of calm. As she sat down at the kitchen island with him, the soft sounds of the movie marathon in the other room, she realized that maybe, just maybe, she could find a place here.

"Do you want to share with others?" she asked with a warmth-laced tone. Hoping that he would say no or yes. She wasn't sure how the conversation with the others would go. It could be timid. But whichever way it went, she could always turn to Sebastian, who clung to her.

"We should." He smiled up at her and, for the first time, Muriel noticed his tiny gaped teeth and cute dimples. As they walked hand in hand to join the others, Muriel came to a realization.

Hamilton's home was not a perfect place. But a place where, for the first time in a long time, she felt like she might be starting to belong.