Chapter- 2

“Please carry the things carefully, sir. It has glass dishes,” Charlotte said as they carry her stuff to the truck. The worker nodded with a smile. She then turned her attention to Noah who came out of his room.

“Do I look good in this shirt?” he asked in doubt. It’s evident from his face that he doesn’t like wearing that floral printed shirt which Charlotte bought for him a month ago.

“You look too cute and handsome baby,” she smiled caressing his wavy black hair for that he smiled lightly.

“Have you packed your backpack?” she questioned.

“Yes,”

“Great,”

Today the sun is shining brightly after the light rain yesterday. The skies were so clear and Charlotte watched that sitting on Noah’s bed. But her apartment is somewhat dark since it is located in the middle of the two other apartments and has limited windows. Noah carrying his bag in his shoulders came to Charlotte.

Finally picking up her handbag and holding Noah’s hand Charlotte came out of her empty apartment. She locked the door and made her way downstairs.

Mrs. Robin, the owner of the apartment came out once she heard a knocking sound on the door. She had a wide smile seeing Noah and Charlotte.

“Keys,” Charlotte gave it.

“Goodbye, Noah. Take care of your mom,” she said.

“Sure,” he nodded.

“Thank you, Mrs. Robin. I forever grateful for everything you did,” she told.

“No dear, please don’t say it, I am so happy to help you,” Mrs. Robin smiled.

“Keep in touch, okay,” she added and Charlotte nodding her head hugged her, “Sure.”

“Have a safe journey,” Mrs. Robin said. When Charlotte came to this city with her mom she was seven months pregnant. After her mom died during her fourth year in college Mrs. Robin looked after Noah whenever she couldn’t.  She’s one of the kindest ladies she has had seen in her life. After waving their goodbye, Charlotte drove her car towards the new home, new life, and new beginning.

Having a nice adventure storybook in his hand Noah passed the boring five-hour travel, Charlotte didn’t miss the truck’s path which is going before them. As she doesn’t know the proper route to reach the place she thought it’s better to follow the truck instead of trusting google maps.

The high dazzling city buildings welcomed them after a tiring journey. Noah opened the window shield to look at the new city. The streets were busy and crowded by the people even on Saturday afternoon.

As the truck passed took the right turn to enter the Highland street. Charlotte noticed there are only sophisticated mansions and bungalows in the streets. The truck stopped before a simple and small house, in fact, that house is the smallest in the entire street. She got down from the car and stretched her hands and legs, following her Noah did the same.

Her house has a big lawn in the front and back in a good condition, the maple tree stood tall at the side of her house and a few roses plants were at the side. Her house occupies only one-third of the space. but it is three times bigger than her previous apartment. Charlotte has wished to have a house like this and now it happened after all her struggle. A happy smile eventually spread across her lips.

“Mommy, this house looks beautiful,” Noah got her attention.

“I told you right,” she winked.

They walked to the house and they were welcomed by their previous owner Mr. Giovanni and Janet was there.

“Hi, Mr. Giovanni. It’s a great pleasure to meet you,” Charlotte said.

“Yes, the pleasure is all mine,” he replied.

“You came earlier than expected,” Janet told.

“Yeah, we didn’t stop anywhere in the middle,” Charlotte replied.

“Oh, then you both must be tired.”

“Yes,” Charlotte nodded and looked at the workers who were waiting for the door to open.

“Your house keys,” Mr. Giovanni handed the keys to Charlotte. “This house is my lucky charm, but after my wife’s death I couldn’t stay here alone so I am moving with my daughter’s family to look after my grandkids,” he said.

“Thanks, sir,” she smiled. The feeling while holding her house keys were incredible.

“No problem. And I hope the luck goes for you too,” he brushed Noah's hair and hearing that Charlotte nodded.

After he left in his car. Janet, Charlotte and Noah walked to the door, “Are you ready to open it?”

“Yes,” she nodded in excitement and gave the key to Noah. She lifted him from the ground and together they opened their new house. She doesn’t know whether this house will turn out to be her lucky charm but her son will always be. After she gave birth to Noah she has got that courage and confidence to shine in her life. She wanted to live the life she always dreamt of.

 As soon as Noah saw the big interior he ran upstairs to tour the house and Charlotte smiled looking at her son. The house has a warm interior. There are a lot of windows for ventilation and the house is neatly painted in peach color.

Matching with the color of the interior the furniture was there already.

“You don’t have to buy furniture, Mr. Giovanni has left it for you,” Janet chuckled.

“I think, Mr. Giovanni is a kind person to leave all this costly furniture here,” Charlotte said.

“Downstairs contains living space, kitchen and a spare room along with the lawn. Upstairs contains two bedrooms plus a large balcony attached to the master bedroom.” Janet told and they made their way towards the upstairs.

“The house is small but the land is big. In case if you want to sell in the future you will get double the price for what you’ve invested,” Janet told.

“Thanks, Janet,” Charlotte smiled.

“No, that’s fine. Actually, when I came to know that this house is coming for sale I first thought about you. There’s a lot of competitions you know, but Mr. Giovanni wanted to give it to someone who will look after the house like how he did so I talked to him and he agreed right away.”

After checking the small bedroom, they entered the master bedroom and it’s too big with a walk-in closet and the balcony. The afternoon is slowly diminishing and the evening is lighting up the size.

“Mommy, look at the house. It’s so big,” Noah exclaimed.

Charlotte slowly lowered her gaze to the Mansion before her. It’s so bigger occupying half of the street before she could take a proper look at the house, Janet got her attention.

“And one more thing I forgot to tell you about this place.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a high profile place, what do you say a VIP area. Many celebrity doctors, actors are your neighbors. Security is on all twenty-four hours, you can walk in this street freely even in the midnight so you don’t have to worry about anything.”

“Great!” Charlotte smiled.

“By the way, do you know whose house is that?” she asked looking the upper floor glass wall giving a perfect view of the bedroom.

“I don’t know exactly but I heard it belongs to a sports person,” Janet gave a wavering answer.

“Okay, I will see them anyway and let’s get an autograph if I know him, okay baby,” Charlotte smiled at her son and walked out of the place.

“What are your dinner plans?” Janet questioned.

“I can’t cook today so we are going out to eat,” she replied.

“Oh, then try the restaurant in the next street, I heard it’s good,”

“Okay. Do you want to join us?”

“I am afraid I can’t, I have plans with my colleague. But I invite you both for my house, it’s just a mile away from here.”

“Sure, we will come next week,” Charlotte agreed.

“Bye and my best wishes for your new home,” she told and winked at Noah before leaving.

By the time the workers have shifted all the boxes into the house. Charlotte paid them for their dinner along with the payment.

“Do you like the house?” she asked Noah.

“Yes, I like this house, Mommy. Now I am too hungry,” he pouted.

“Aww baby, I am sorry,” she apologized and they came out of the house.

Charlotte drove to the restaurant that Janet mentioned, it’s not too fancy and they just ordered pasta and sandwiches. The food is not bad and they came out after paying the bills.

“M-Mommy, I really love this neighborhood. It’s like in the m-movies,”

“Yeah. Your new school is just a few yards away from here and I think you’ll love it too,” Charlotte assured looking at the busy streets in front of her. They came back home and arranged their beds before starting to unpack the things. Charlotte first arranged the kitchen. Time passed and she arranged the house until Noah said he wants to sleep. So she decided to finish the rest tomorrow and walked with him to the bedroom. She gave his pajamas and he changed looking at the house opposite.

Noah felt like someone watching them after noticing a shadow of a person there in that glass wall but he brushes it off when Charlotte called him. After finishing off their night routine Noah went to bed.

Charlotte changed her clothes in the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. She loosed her long raven hair that fell just above her butt. She’s twenty-four, young and beautiful but she couldn’t enjoy her youth anymore. She hates to be in this time of her life to see others of her age have just started their beautiful life but she’s a mother of a six-year-old kid. That’s embarrassing but she didn’t hate being a mother, in truth, it showed the purpose in her life.

Nevertheless, she hates the fact that she’s young because she has someone in her heart who she loves unconditionally and hates totally, those two strong emotions are enough for her to never let anyone.

Somewhere she heard and somehow she saw him being successful in his life. He has achieved something great and she’s happy to know that because all she wanted is to see him that way. Sometimes she wondered whether he still remember her then she told to herself that if he did then he would have come to her.

She knows him very well and also knows her chances of meeting him again is less, even if that happens he won’t forgive her for what she did, that’s what makes her sad.