Ella’s POV
The boys were back at Gabby’s house. They had asked to spend the evening with Melody two days after the party and I had willingly agreed. I had my own reasons for wanting to go to Gabby’s house and was glad the boys brought up the offer before me. I needed an excuse to be with Gabby and the boys always came in handy but they would see through me and know I was up to something if I asked them to go to Gabby’s house first.
I had been forced to take them out yesterday so it wouldn’t be known that I had lied the next time they were around Melody and Gabby.
“Nathan. Neo. Nick.” Melody screeched as she opened the door and saw them. “It’s so good to see you again.”
“You too, Melody.” The boys said.
The kids took their time embracing one another while I stood there watching them. Moments later, Melody glanced up and bowed her head to me with a smile.
“Thanks for letting them visit, Mrs. Allen.” She said.
I smiled at her, feeling the need to run my hands through her hair but refrained from doing that. She was cute in a way that made my heart sing and protect her on a personal note asides the humanity in me that had been stirred in me towards her.
“You are welcome. The boys wanted to see you and I would like to spend some time with your mother as well. I’m actually bored, being alone at home and it would be nice to be around her energy.” I said, hoping that I didn’t sound too chatty to the girl.
I wasn’t alone at home though but she didn’t have to know that.
Her expression soured at my words and I wondered if I had said something bad. “I’m afraid mum is sleeping at the moment. Maybe I should wake her up and tell her that you are around to see her.”
“Oh no! Don’t do that.” I said, reaching out with a hand as if to stop her from leaving even though she hadn’t taken a step, my eyes widening in horror.
I had a reason for being here and I could do that without the presence of her mother.
“You don’t have to wake your mother up. Don’t disturb her. I’m fine.” I said, smiling at her.
“Aren’t you bored?” She asked, quizzing me with her eyes.
I shrugged. “There is nothing that can be done about that. Boredom hasn’t been known to kill anyone yet, has it?”
She pouted. “I feel bad that you will be left alone when I leave with the boys to play.”
“I can take a tour around the house. I think I saw some beautiful flowers when we were coming in.”
Melody smiled. “Those would be my mother’s flower pots. They are really beautiful. She spent hours tending them at times.” She explained.
I nodded. “It’s no wonder they turned out fine. Will your mother mind if I take a look around the house?”
She shook her head. “I doubt that she will mind.”
I nodded. My plans were falling in place more than I had hoped. “I will take a look around the house then. Tell your mum when she wakes up that I’m outside but don’t wake her up unless she is up by herself.”
“Yes, Mrs. Allen.” She said and left with the boys.
I stepped out and closed the door behind me. I groaned as I realized that I hadn’t remembered to warn the kids not to play too loudly and wake Gabby up but I hoped that they would be able to think of that on their own.
Or not.
I realized I had to hurry if I wanted to do the investigation I was here that I had camouflaged as a tour before Gabby came back, which might be anytime soon from now, considering the kids that were inside playing. I couldn’t hear their voices now but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t be loud soon.
I walked round the house, avoiding the flower pots that I had lied I wanted to admire. Melody had said the flowers were important to Gabby and I would hate to accidentally break one of them.
Two minutes after I started walking, I saw what I was looking for. The footsteps that showed that someone was around here yesterday and early this morning. There were old ones and freshly made one. I checked around to find the direction the footsteps led to but they seemed to come from different angles, curving around nearly all the houses here.
I bit back a curse. It was either the spies were sly and had made their spying look like a neighborhood watch in case they were caught or it was indeed a neighborhood watch.
I told myself there was no need to freak out yet. I had to confirm if we were being paranoid or were actually on a trail that led to Melody’s enemies. I knew of a way to do that but I couldn’t think of a way of doing that without Gabby’s help and I didn’t know how to ask for her help without her asking her questions I couldn’t give answers to.
“Here you are.”
I jumped as I heard Gabby’s voice. I turned back to find her staring at me with a smile on her face. I relaxed, glad she didn’t find it suspicious that I was lurking around her house, checking out the path like a mad detective.
“The kids told me that I would find you here.” She said as she moved closer to me.
“Oh! Did they wake you up?” I sighed as I moved towards her, heading in the direction of the house. “I shouldn’t have left them alone in the house when I heard you were sleeping. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. I was awake long before I came out.”
“I was already coming inside.” I lied. “You didn’t have to come outside to meet me.”
“I needed a stretch after sleeping for that long.” She said.
“Let’s go inside.” I said, heading inside.
“Actually, I came out to ask you something. Do you want to go the supermarket with me?”
I smiled as I nodded my consent. Things were definitely working in my way more than I had imagined it would. The universe was surely moving in our support. I guessed the universe also wanted to protect Melody as much we did. She was really a special kid.