Page 27 of Sensing Selma
SIX
Holly
––––––––
SUSAN AND I STOOD INthe front foyer, Mother in her wheelchair between us. Holding hands, we said goodbye to the house that held so many cherished memories.
“If that Baker person thinks that he’s going to get a fully furnished house,” Mother said, her eyes hard and her lips in a grimace, “he’s in for quite a surprise.”
“I hate this,” I muttered. “I hate having to leave this behind, but I hate having to leave this to a total stranger even more. Who does he think he is? What is he going to do with it now? A hotel? A museum? Does he have a family...children? Will they move in and create new memories in a house that isn’t rightfully theirs.” I stomped my foot. “Oh, I hate it all!”
We had no idea why we were losing our home. Mr.Baker had made no mention of how he’d acquired our home. All we’d been told at the reading of Father’s will was that the title to the home was no longer his and therefore, could not be ours.
I wanted to question Susan more on her relationship with Bradley and how it had led to us being expelled so unexpectedly, but she was unusually quiet and sullen, and I thought it best to leave her to her thoughts.
“Let’s get out of here before I say something I’ll regret,” Mother said.
Susan and I knew she was angry with Father, upset that he should let this happen. He’d always said his family was his priority, but we now knew that wasn’t quite true. No. It was not true at all. Had it ever been?
We turned and Susan opened the door. I wheeled Mother to the van where the waiting driver helped us get her inside. The hired van was to take us and all our luggage to Derbyshire. Mother and Susan each had three suitcases that fit neatly at the back of the van. I, however, having a more extensive wardrobe, had five large suitcases plus a trunk filled with shoes and handbags, leaving us to sit side by side on the cramped middle seat of the van.
I had tried to convince the driver to let one of us sit in front, but he maintained that his trusted dog, Butler, was the only one allowed that privilege.
Clearly, he didn’t want to be bothered by having to converse with a chatty passenger at his side. Pity; he was kind of cute.
The ride out of Bath left Mother teary-eyed, but as we crossed the luscious countryside and neared Derbyshire, her spirits rose.
“This is quite lovely,” she said. “Oh, and look at that country home. Very nice, indeed.”
It pleased me to see her in good spirits. The past week and a half had been difficult. Getting rid of Father’s things had been excruciating. She’d wanted to keep every shirt. Then she’d chosen only a few of her favorites. In the end, she knew there was no point keeping any of them.
“We’ve now entered the property of Moon Manor,” the driver called out.
“Oh, Mother,” I said, suddenly overflowing with excitement. “Isn’t this fabulous? Look at the spectacular grounds.Those lakes and that one with a bridge.Oh my!Wasn’t that inPride and Prejudice?It is all so grand. It’s like living in a Jane Austen novel!Enough to forget the heartache of leaving Selma Sanctuary behind.”
Mother nodded, her gaze set straight ahead, waiting for the first glimpse of Moon Manor itself.
