Page 55 of Hot Puck
In less than a week, our move was complete, and I don’t know about the girls, but I haven’t felt one bit of homesickness. It helps to have most of our furniture and household goods, like cutlery and linen, surrounding us.
When we first arrived and I questioned Gem about the empty rooms, she told me she had no attachment to any of her furniture and didn’t see the point in keeping it.
I’m not sure I believe her, although she did have a few pieces moved to the in-law suite on our arrival.
After our somewhat dramatic exit from St. Paul, our arrival in Baton Rouge has been smooth sailing. There were no tears, only happy smiles, the afternoon we closed the door on the only home we’ve ever known for the last time.
I think each of us, in our own way, was ready to leave that chapter of our life behind.
We have so much to look forward to. The first, our new home. And Gem was right about her house. It is far too big for one woman. Even with five of us living here it seems too big.
There are seven bedrooms including the one in the in-law suite. Two living rooms, two dining rooms, and a huge kitchen with a butler’s pantry you could easily mistake for the actual kitchen with its extra dishwasher, oven, and cooktop.
The girls have settled into their new rooms without a blip too.
Candace has proven the easiest of us to relocate though. Her routine remains unchanged, she’s still a night owl, but we’re seeing more and more of her during the day which means our nights aren’t as sleep deprived, and fingers crossed, that trend continues.
Cass and Stell have thrived since we arrived. They’re like their old selves again, the ones I remember from before Mom’s diagnosis, from before Dad died. Their smiling and joking around increases with each day.
Their biggest smiles were when Gem pointed them up the stairs and told them to pick any room. They chose two bedrooms connected by a large bathroom.
Although they’re still sharing one room. They plan to eventually have their own space but for now their beds are in one room and their desks in the other.
I have to admit, it’s a cool set up, and their excitement over Gem’s promise to go shopping for new furniture when they’re ready made my heart ache—in a good way.
Seeing them how they were before Mom got sick is a balm to not only my heart, but it also boosts my confidence.
Moving was the right decision.
Signing with the Rogues was the right choice.
There’s no doubt we would have made it if we’d stayed in St. Paul, but it would have been a struggle. One I’m glad we no longer need to go through.
Not that being here will be free and easy.
I know there’s bound to be issues. But the different surroundings—even with a lot of our own furniture in Gem’s house—has lifted all our spirits.
“Hello.”
Looking up from my seat beside the pool where the twins are finally getting their wish to go swimming, I find Gem in her usual business attire towering over me.
She’s still in her ever-present heels which I know are one of the first things she takes off when she gets home so she must have just come through the door.
“Hey.” I lean back and shield my eyes from the sun. “I didn’t think you were coming home this early.”
“I wasn’t, but my last meeting was canceled and there isn’t anything I need to do I can’t do from here later.”
“Oh?”
She drops into the chair next to me with a heavy sigh. “I thought it would be good to spend time with the girls. And you. Maybe take everyone out to one of my favorite restaurants. Show you more of what Baton Rouge has to offer.”
“We cooked, but I can put it in the fridge for tomorrow night.”
“What did you make?”
“Lasagna.” I eye her, and with a grin say, “Good thing you weren’t here an hour ago. The kitchen was a disaster zone.”
“It looked spotless when I walked through.”
