The Secrets He Keeps

We made the journey in the middle of winter.

First, we took a flight. Then, we transitioned to a train ride. One car ride later, we had to switch to a jeep instead. In the end, we had to walk for more than six miles to reach our destination.

Finally, my boyfriend, Anthony Hawthorne, and I stood before his house. I even hunched over with my hands clasped onto my knees while panting heavily. At the same time, I began studying Anthony's childhood home.

It wasn't as rundown as I thought. If anything, it looked like a regular farmhouse that seemed to have weathered some years.

I recalled the houses that were scattered across the area when I walked past them earlier. Honestly speaking, Anthony's childhood home was considered one of the better ones.

"Let's enter my home."

Anthony took my hand and led me into the farmhouse. As he walked, he called out, "Mom, I'm home! Look who's here with me!"

As soon as Anthony's voice rang out, someone dashed out of the farmhouse. She stopped before us in just a few steps.

"Oh! You're back, Ant! You're finally back! I've been waiting for you!"

It was a middle-aged woman who looked quite similar to Anthony. Her skin was all tanned because of the farm work she had been doing all year long.

This must be Anthony's mother.

I gulped nervously before forcing out a smile. "Hello, Mrs. Hawthorne! I'm Anthony's girlfriend, Roxanne Parson."

Mrs. Hawthorne's gaze landed on me. For a moment, I could feel chills traveling down my spine.

She smiled at me right away. "Ah! It's you, Roxy! Ant talks about you a lot! Oh my! It's so wonderful to see you here! Come in, then!"

As she spoke, she reached out to take my luggage from me as well.

I let out a sigh of relief, thinking that I must be imagining things due to exhaustion.

Once we entered the courtyard, I saw a young girl—perhaps in her teenage years—sitting under a roof. She happened to be patching up a shirt at that time. She didn't even bother raising her head when she heard us coming in.

I glanced at Anthony, albeit awkwardly. I didn't know whether or not I should greet that girl.

But Anthony didn't look at me. He didn't even glance at that girl. He kept chatting with Mrs. Hawthorne the whole time.

I just let out a small sigh before following the Hawthornes into the farmhouse. Before I did so, I tilted my head to glance at the girl again. That was when I made eye contact with her.

I couldn't help but shiver the moment I saw the girl's eyes. How could a human being's eyes be that cold and impassive?

"Roxy, come in and have some water! You must be thirsty, right?" Anthony's voice drifted from the farmhouse before I could dwell on the girl.

I quickly hurried into the farmhouse upon hearing Anthony's voice. After scanning the furniture in the farmhouse, I was surprised to see them all made of solid wood. As far as I knew, solid wood furniture was pretty expensive.

I already knew that Anthony came from a poor family a long time ago. He often told me how tough it was for Mrs. Hawthorne to raise him as well as how poor and undeveloped his backwater of a village was.

But based on the furniture, his family was definitely not poor at all.

I smiled faintly. Did Anthony fabricate his background just to make himself look more pitiful in front of me? How silly of him!

After we sat around for a few moments, Mrs. Hawthorne rose to her feet. She claimed that she'd get dinner prepared soon.

I stood up uneasily as well, but Anthony patted my hand with a smile. "You should rest. You must be tired from all the traveling, right? I'll help my mom with dinner. We'll be done in a while."

I loved how caring Anthony was, so I smiled and nodded at him.

After sitting in the living room for a while, I kept feeling a little awkward for not doing anything. I thought for a moment before exiting the farmhouse and joining the young girl. Then, I crouched down in front of her and smiled at her.

"Hi there."

The girl glanced at me without responding at all. She just kept patching the shirt up.

This made me feel a little awkward. Once again, I began studying her. She looked very skinny and frail, though her face was pretty cute. The clothes she wore didn't fit her frame at all. Not to mention, they were covered in patches.

I remembered how well-kept Anthony looked as well as the expensive-looking solid wood furniture in his farmhouse. Something seemed out of place, yet I couldn't really put my finger on it.