5. SECRETS: PART ONE.

Felicity thought she had heard wrong. There was a certain longing in her father’s voice. She immediately looked at him but she could not read any emotion from his tired looking face. However, his eyes told her that there was pain being them. Her earlier speculation went out the window since the pain could only mean one thing, sleep.

Bruce alighted the carriage and waited for Felicity to do the same. Felicity closed her book and followed her father. Once her feet touched the ground she looked around and took the scenery in. The countryside always brightened her days whenever she came. She looked at the sky, held the book tighter to her chest, took a deep breathe and smiled.

The air was cleaner here. The trees were livelier. The birds were more energetic a’d everyone always wore a smile on their faces. They always greeted one another. Life here was totally worthwhile. Bruce had a smile on his face while looking at Felicity but he immediately dropped it when she looked at him.

“Bruce.” A voice called out.

“Mother.” She hugged her son before turning her attention to Felicity.

“Stormy.” She exclaimed and hugged Felicity. Stormy was a nickname her grandmother used since she was always full of energy when she was young. She said Felicity reminded her of a storm. It would always come in strong and leave just as strong. Once they had exchanged greetings, she welcomed them in.

Felicity’s grandmother, Hailey, asked Bruce why they had come on such short notice and this made Felicity stop. She had thought it was one of the trips her father always made to visit grandma Hailey to get away from work. What could have been the cause of not informing her this time? Bruce walked away grumbling and headed to his room.

In a flash, Hailey’s eyes became hard and cold as she looked at her son. Felicity might not have heard what she had said but Hailey definitely did. Hailey asked her to head up to her room and get some rest. The journey might not have been long but she was still exhausted. Following her grandmothers directive, she headed up to the room.

Hailey walked to her son’s room to get things clear. Felicity who had gotten to her room, sat down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. She could not shake the feeling that something was wrong. The only person who could really tell her what was happening was her grandmother, yet she had disappeared when her father grumbled.

As soon as she stepped foot into his room, Hailey demanded to know what was going on. Bruce walked to the door and closed it. He then helped his mother seat down. He really needed someone to talk to after what had happened with his brother but he couldn’t trust anyone after the incident. Before even his mother sat down, a line tear betrayed him and escaped. It landed on his mother’s hand.

Hailey immediately knew that something was wrong. She called down and took a seat. Bruce dragged his tired body to his seat. They were both silent for a while. Bruce’s emotions were all over thee place so he took this time to put them in order. Hailey let him have his time. She knew how much the lose of Daisy had impacted him and raising a daughter who very much looks like her was a weight he could barely manage on his own.

“It’s complicated.” He began.

Bruce hadn’t realized that his tears were falling. When he did, he wiped them away shocked. Hailey stood up and went to her son’s side. She enveloped him into a hug and for the first time in ages he met it all out. He did not care whether he was a grown man or not, all he knew was that he had reached his limit. Afterwards, he told his mother what had happened and she, also agreed bitterly with the decision he had taken. It was for the best.

Feeling more at ease than back when she was back home, Felicity fell asleep. After a while, she felt someone shake her. Felicity opened her eyes to find grandma Hailey there with her. She sat down and rubbed her eyes. The book was still held over her chest by her hand. Grandma Hailey immediately recognized it and reached out for it.

The book was a collection of stories Daisy had thought of, at least that was what she told everyone but she knew that wasn’t the case. Felicity noticed that her grandmother was staring at the book. She gave it to her but she declined it. Hailey could never once read the book no matter how much she tried. She came to a conclusion long ago that the book was never meant for her but for her granddaughter.

Daisy was supposed to be the last, but now it was Felicity.

“What is it about?”

“Collection of short stories.” Felicity replied.

“Take good care of it.”

“Mm.”

Felicity opened the first page but found it blank. She was sure there had been a message for her earlier on. She closed the book and opened it once more but, nothing. Had it been her imagination? Or had it been something she desperately wished for?

For a while now, Felicity could not remember what her mother looked like. Her memory was never 9ne to be questioned but she found out that after that strange dream, the memory of her mother was blocked. When she found the note this morning, she was glad to finally have something in her writing. But, that was not meant to be, right?

Hailey touched her shoulder and told her the reason why she was in her room. It was time for dinner. Felicity woke up and followed her grandmother, she turned to look at the window and caught a dark shadow sitting there. The man in her dream. Felicity wanted to call out to him but when she blinked, he was gone.

She turned to follow Grandma Hailey but someone was there.

“It is almost time. Don’t lose it.” He said while pointing at the book. And just as he had come, he disappeared.