Chapter 6

"You found her!" Petra cried rushing toward the cradled puppy. "I looked everywhere for her. Where did you see her?"

"In the bushes outside the fence. How did she reach there?" Gianna delicately settled Noah on the floor who rapidly ran to Petra's legs where it rubbed its body against her ankle. The latter stooped to caress the hairy west highland terrier behind the ears causing it to shut its eyes in satisfaction.

"We were playing in the backyard when I suddenly lost sight of her."

"Be careful with her next time." Gianna pulled out her sneakers. "Where's Venisa?"

"Watching her usual soap opera."

On the way to her room, she sighted a mop of purple hair protruding from the sofa situated opposite the wall-buried TV. She blew her nose, giving the notion that she was crying despite claiming to have watched the series twice before.

"I'm home," Gianna alerted.

"Oh, welcome. Your parents called a while ago saying they won't be home till nine today," her voice was thick.

"Did they say why?" 

Venisa fidgeted with tissue on her face before turning around. Gianna immediately wished she never did as she came in contact with smudges of makeup from all corners of her face. 

"Joined work at a client's."

"Thanks." Gianna readied to begin the first stair when she remembered something. "I'll be leaving today."

"Fifteen bucks."

"What the..." Gianna's mouth dropped. "Whatever happened to ten?"

"Now that you're informed of your parent's arrival there's a chance you'll return later than usual. Well you better, you don't want the five to go to waste." She shrugged.

"What if I don't want to?"

"My gain."

Gianna's eyes intently narrowed. "Fine. But be rest assured there'll be no other time." The tanned mid-twenty years old lass triumphantly smiled. "By the way you might want to repolish. You could scare Noah away from existence this time around."

Gianna tore past the numerous plantations, after settling Venisa, to the neighbors she'd retracted from for the past two weeks. At least it was more suitable to walk through a vineyard than it was through a grown cornfield or a wheat field. And if her father was planning to construct worker's quarters, as he deemed preferable both to him, the yields, and the peasants in charge of the plantations, she sure will probably never have the opportunity to visit unless she will have to make or settle an ally to keep their mouth shut as she did Venisa.

When the once fancy mansion came in sight, Gianna paused to take in its appearance; It must have been quite the eye's catch back in the 1700s and 1800s but not after, not now. It wasn't the best as she could say with its variegated roof slates and outdated yet well-maintained windows, some of which creaked when the wind walked by nevertheless.

"Gianna?" 

Startled, Gianna's head whipped to the direction of the quiet voice, then did she notice just how far into the McCarthy's territory she'd invaded.

Kelly approached with two small baskets of blueberries in hand. With her usually soft smile she said, "Long time. I almost thought you got caught."

"That's yet to happen, here, let me help you." She grabbed a basket and together they walked towards the backdoor to the kitchen. "I'm shocked this is still its season."

"Actually, it's not. Mum grows varieties for a long harvest due to the elevated and continuous demand of her blueberry cakes."

"Oh." She knew Mrs. McCarthy loved baking and if she had come to develop a super sweet tooth it was due to her pastries in addition to her grandma's delicious apple pie. Besides offering it to them every festive season, she seldom sent Kelly with an amicable share. "Mimie told me about your offer with regards to the book donation project. That's very generous of you."

"Oh, yeah. I was extremely delighted the moment I heard about it. I love reading and I can boast to have read half the books Cold Spring's library has to offer," she gleefully announced. 

"Got a hip of novels of all genres beneath my bed since my bookshelf's gotten too tight. And I'll love to share the energy with a whole lot of book enthusiasts, make them discover varieties. I proposed a reading committee too, you know. She said she'll think about it."

Gianna joined her in the merry, "Isn't the workload a bit too much for you?"

"On the contrary. I've got plenty of time to skimp on. There, you can drop that on the island. Mum, I'm home." Kelly reached for the sink and washed her hands. "So, how have you been? How's it going with Seth so far?"

"I've been good," she lied but didn't want to emerge the hardship she was going through because of her brother. Not only did she not want to sound childish, but she also didn't want to ruin her day complaining about him even though ironically, she was currently under his roof. "Nothing new concerning Seth yet."

"Yet?"

Gianna flushed, "he called saying he had something important to talk about."

"Uuuu, that sounds promising."

"Indeed. I just can't wait to—"

"Kelly have you seen m—" the person and his voice abruptly paused, his brows met and his mouth folded in disgust. "What is she doing here?" He spat with more repugnance than Gianna could hardly imagine that she was the cause. 

"Sean, Gianna's just visiting as u—"

"Can I talk to you for a sec?" She could see his jawbones clench and unclench as Kelly excused herself and disappeared with her brother into the depth of the house.

She shouldn't have gone that far no matter how provoked she was. She thought to herself. Now she feared Kelly will get hate-infected once he told her all that she'd said.

Mrs. McCarthy entered the kitchen humming a song known to her. Ever so joyous, the origin of Kelly's and Sean's hair and eye shades warmly greeted her guest, "Gianna, welcome deary."

"Hi, Mrs. McCarthy."

"Oh dear, how many times will I tell you to call me Lene? Or is the name too tough to pronounce?"

"Not at all. It...it's just so weird."

"How about Mme Lene?"

"That's a lot better."

"Fine then," she filled the sink with water and threw the blueberries in it. "How are your parents by the way?"

"They're fine. Can I help you with anything?" Gianna offered.

"Thank you but no worries," she drained the blueberries after massaging them carefully. "It's a form of therapy. I have Machkie's celebration to thank for this as I'll be insanely busy within the next two days."

"I understand. You bake the most delicious cakes in town."

"Thank you, Gianna."

There was a heartbeat pause until Gianna spoke, "Mme Lene?"

"Yes?" She settled the last hand of blueberries into the big steel colander before turning to Gianna.

Gianna wanted to ask what she meant by therapy but didn't want to sound too meddlesome. "What else do you do when you're not baking?"

She smiled. "I work in the backyard, clean, or knead."

Midway into bombarding the next question, Kelly interceded, "I wish to take Gianna away if you don't mind."

"Oh, okay, go on ahead."

The two teenagers ascended Kelly's room with Gianna feeling uneasy as ever.  "Where's Sean?"

Gianna walked in before Kelly shut the door. "He's gone out." She pulled out the fairly dirty pair of jeans she had on and scanned her wardrobe for clean ones. "I'm very sorry about Sean's attitude. He's been sour to everyone since we returned from school and doesn't want to say why."

Gianna lowered her head with guilt.

"Machkie's jub is the talk of the town. I guess I'm the only one not antsy about it." Gianna's mouth opened to ask why but was replied before she could make a sound. "I hate crowds so bad that I absent myself from Cold Spring's outstanding events. The worst thing about it all is the shut down of all my favorite places, even if it's just temporary."

As far as Gianna knew, Kelly had two of those; School and the library. "There won't be school?"

"Oh, there will be," she pulled off her t-shirt after fastening her jeans. "Half day. We don't have events as such every day or every week so be ready to experience a three-course celebration. Machkie will be offering free breakfast in the morning, all restaurants, in Cold Spring of course, will offer a twenty-four hours fifty percent lunch discount, and the party proper will take place at dusk."

"There've been an occasion like this before?"

"Just one," she faltered from frowning. "Wasn't born back then. The place is non-existent now. However, Machkie is the first Golden jubilee a lot of us know of. There's been a handful of silver which is celebrated almost similarly. Give me a sec, let me get these clothes to the laundry room."

While Gianna waited, she wandered around Kelly's room. It had changed a bit from the last time she was there; a new bookshelf had been installed above her reading table but was already congested with a variety of novels. Kelly was a perpetual sucker for historical fiction and dark romance. 

On the organized reading table were more books, a cute DIY pen cup holder, a maths set, and random glittery red hearts and stars stickers on the table as well as the portion of the wall it occupied.

Of all the little table items, the only thing that snatched more of Gianna's attention was a book inscribed The Vladimirs And The Way Forward Pt.1. Curiosity getting the best of her, she trailed a finger along the rough handwritten words. 

"Sorry I took a minute longer." The sudden voice made Gianna retract her fingers like the book suddenly burned.

"You write?"

Kelly's eyes picked the book Gianna referred to. With a fleeting smile, Kelly scurried to Gianna, gripped the book, and quickly flung it in one of the table's drawers. "Sometimes. You know, when you read a whole lot you tend to formulate your imaginations and all that..."

Not related to what she just saw but Gianna knew better than to insist on family matters.

"I downloaded more movies I bet you haven't watched," She initiated. "Hopefully you have enough time to complete a full movie."

"More than enough. My parents won't be home till nine."

"Oh, wonderful. In that case, you'll help me pick out a pretty graphic design for the book donation. I came up with four different types yesterday." She rapidly typed her password.

"There is something I have to tell you first, Kelly." The latter quit her view from the laptop screen and slanted her head, dubious. "I hope you don't get mad too."

She thought it would be preferable to hear what happened in school from her mouth than from any other student. And also, before Sean decided to do so. 

"I might be the reason behind Sean's mood today. I...I said something impulsive to him and it's eating me up. You have to know that I didn't mean it, I swear."

"Okay. I'm all ears."

Gianna huffed.