Not Quite an Invitation

I’m back although I wasn’t ever really gone from the mansion. Auntie looked from Hayden to me and then back to Hayden again. I was sure that she had a million questions that she wanted to ask us, but in the end, she just smiled and nodded.

“Welcome back, Malissa. I’m so happy to have you back,” Auntie said with a touching smile.

“Thank you, Auntie…” I replied vaguely before smiling at her.

Auntie knew better than to ask unnecessary questions. I could tell that she was genuinely happy that I was back and the same could be said about how I felt.

“Little Hayden is with one of the maids in the garden. You don’t have to worry about that little guy,” Auntie told me with a reassuring smile as if she could read my mind.

“Thank you for taking care of him,” I thanked her and made a mental note to myself to thank the other maids as well.

“Let’s go,” Hayden said impatiently as he pulled on my hand.

I turned to wave at Auntie before Hayden dragged me away from the old woman. Although I knew w