***CHLOE***
When I arrived at the mansion, I stopped outside the gate before going in. I smiled.
“I misses this place. It still look the same like before. Nothing has changed except one thing. Mother isn’t here anymore.” I told myself
I took a deep breath and drove inside our mansion and parked my car in the front.
I opened the door and stepped out of the car and walked inside.
I opened the door and I saw dad is walking toward me smiling with his open arms.
“Hello sweetheart… Welcome back home.”
“Hi dad.” I ran and embraced him.
“It’s good to be finally home sweetheart. All these years I miss this place. It looks like your mother’s presence is still here.” Dad said while holding my hands.
“Yeah, I can see it dad. The place is still the same. I miss us here.”
“I know sweetheart and I miss this place too, but I never regret my decision to moved you in Boston because my life won’t be the same if I lose you too.”
“It’s okay daddy, I am grateful to that decision for the rest of my life. You did what you have to do just to protect me.”
“Thank you sweetheart and I am blessed to be your dad do you know that?” Dad squeezed my hands.
I kissed his forehead and said.
“I know dad.”
“By the way, tonight you won’t be Chloe Johnson anymore. You’re back Anna Mc Len my precious daughter in this house.”
“Dad, what do you mean.”
“I will introduce you to someone tonight. I have guests coming. So, why don’t you come up inside your room and check it out while you still have time. Your room has been waiting for you for a long time.”
“Dad?”
“Go on sweetheart go up. I’ll call you later.”
My dad pushed me a bit to start walking go upstairs.
“But dad, who are your guests?” I asked while trying to stop moving.
“Go go go.. you’ll know it later.” He said while waving his hands to shoo me away.
“Fine!” I mumbled while going upstairs. I wondered who could be his guests. He never told me about this. I shrugged my shoulders.
“May be his old acquaintances.” I thought of it.
I went upstairs and turned left as my room is at the left side. While I was walking suddenly our old housekeeper screamed.
“Anna!… Anna! Is that you? I looked at her with excitement.
“Aunt Grace?” I ran to her.
“Oh Anna it’s really you?” She asked and hug me tight.
“Yes, it’s me.” With a teary eyes
“Oh my goodness… Look at you! Such a fine beautiful lady.” she pulled me a bit away from her and looked at me from head to toe. And I smiled at her reaction. She was been with us since I was born and she look after our mansion since we left but she was my nanny before. I miss her a lot.
“Aunt Grace, you still look young.”
“Oh dear I’m getting old now, but I am very happy that you’re finally back.”
“Yes, and I am so sorry that we had to cut off all the ties we had her in the past. My dad was just worried that somebody might find out and he was scared to lose me again.”
“We all understand dear and the most important is you’re safe and back here again.”
“I heard from your dad that you’re safe now because the case is reopen and they found the person behind that accident.”
“Oh really? Dad didn’t mention it yet. He told me he was working on the case to reopen and hired a private investigator.”
“Sorry dear he has his reason to kept you waiting.”
“It’s okay aunt Grace, dad works in his mysterious way.”
“So tell me dear, are you staying for good?” Aunt Grace asked
“I am not yet sure aunt Grace. It’s depends on the situation. I have a business in Boston to manage.”
“I see… I understood. But we are all hoping that you can stay.”
“I am working on it, but for sure dad has his reason to stay for good now.”
“Yes, he is certain to stay now. We spoke about it last night.” Said aunt Grace.
“That’s what I’ve been waiting aunt Grace, that dad will comeback because his life is here. He already sacrificed his happiness for me and now he deserved to be happy again.” I said sadly
“Dear you’re his life and happiness that’s why he chose to be with you in Boston. You don’t have to blame yourself for that.” She held my hands.
I took a deep breath and smiled
“Come on. I’ll bring you to your room. I didn’t change a thing. I kept it the same way you love when you were young until now. It is still clean and tidy.”
I hugged aunt Grace and kissed her.
“Thank you so much aunt Grace. I am much more excited. I couldn’t imagine myself being in my room again.”
“Of course dear! Let’s go.” We walked to my room and aunt Grace turned the door knob and opened it. He opened the door widely so I can come in.
I gasped putting my right hand on my lips.
“Wow! It’s been the same way it is aunt Grace.” I turned to her smiling and hugged her tightly.
“I can’t believe it’s still the same.” I exclaimed
“Yes it is dear, I never fail to clean it everyday because I always thinks that you’re going back here everyday.”
“Oh aunt Grace thank you for doing all of these things to us. It means a lot for me.”
“It is my pleasure darling to take care of you and this house.”
I took a step and touched my stuff toys one by one. I stop in the front of my closet and opened it. My favorite clothes when I wan young was still inside and the other side are my new things for now.
“Your dad brought you clothes from your closet in Boston and some are your mother’s clothes.”
“Wow dad never forget to brought me clothes here.”
I touched my mom’s clothes softly and smiled.
Aunt Grace moved closer to me.
“These are your mom’s designer clothes. It will look perfect on you dear. You have the same figure and size.”
“Thank you and it looks perfect.”
“You look exactly a reflection of your mother. She was very beautiful like you too.”
“So kind of you aunt Grace and thank you.”
“I’m just telling you the fact that you look like your mother dear. She was beautiful and a very kind hearted woman. Everyone loves her because no matter how rich she was your father and her treated everyone equally.”
“Yes, I remembered mom was a kind strict when it comes to my candies but she was a very loving mother to me. No matter how busy she was she made sure she has time for me.” I smiled feeling proud.
“So true, she loves you so much and I know she is watching over you all the time.”
“Yes aunt Grace because I held on to mom everyday when I felt lonely especially when I miss her.”
I closed the closet and sat in my bed. I touched it gently.
“This bed reminds me of my childhood here. Mom used to put me in bed and read stories for me.”
“Oh darling, don’t be sad. Remember she’s always here inside your heart.” Aunt Grace pointed on my chest.
“Yes aunt Grace, she’s always here inside my heart.”
” Come! Why don’t you chose one of her dress and freshen up yourself again. I will be waiting downstairs. I need to help the servants to organize the foods on the table for you all.”
“Okay, please go ahead I will just change my clothes.”
Aunt Grace walked to the door but before she open it I told her.
“Aunt Grace thank you once again.”
She stopped and looked back then smiled.
“You’re welcome dear.” Then she left to go downstairs.
I watched her closed the door and sighed.
I stood up and opened my closet. I saw a red v-neck dress which caught my eyes.
“Wow it’s beautiful.” I told myself.
I took it out and brought it closer on my body to see on the mirror if it suits on me.
It was indeed suit on me. I took off my dress and put on mom’s red dress collection. I looked at myself on the mirror and I was amazed how beautiful the dress is. It’s elegant and made me even more gorgeous.
“Wow this is much beautiful than I expected.” I told myself.
Watching myself on the mirror, I turned around to see at the back side. It enhanced my curve. Who would have thought that mom’s collections will fit on me. I smiled and said.
“It’s perfect mom. Thank you for these dresses and I am glad that even you’re no longer here next to me but you left something that I can remember you. I’m sure dad will be happy too. I wish you’re here to see daughter.”
The tears fell on my face. I didn’t realize I was crying already. I look exactly like my mom. I went closer to the table to get a tissue when I noticed our family pictures on it.
The three of us looks so happy together. I picked up the framed photo and touched it gently with my fingers.
It was taken on my 7th birthday. Mom and dad were holding balloons on their hands and I was in the middle of them. I hugged the photo.
“I love you both, I am grateful for having such a wonderful parents.” I took one more glanced on our picture and put it back on the table. I took a tissue and wiped off my tears. I brushed my hair and sat down on the chair in front of the mirror. While I was putting on my lipstick I heard the sound of a car.
“That must be father’s guests.” I thought of it.
I put on my eyeliners after my lipstick. Again I checked myself on the mirror and stood up. I don’t want the guests to wait that long so I must go down.
I took out my shoe and chose the black 4 inches heels and put it on my feet.
I opened the door in my room and headed downstairs.