Chapter 11: Chp 11: New Home, Old Friend

NATHAN

I sat at my desk, pushing away the papers and reports that littered its surface. Light from the setting sun streamed in through the window to my left, and the ticking of the clock above my head filled the room. My phone suddenly rang, jolting me back to reality. I glanced at the caller ID and saw Mom's name flashing. Taking a deep breath, I answered with a warm smile; there was something comforting about hearing her cheery voice.

"Hey, Mom. What's up?"

Mom's voice came through the line, filled with excitement. "Nathan, we're going to visit the new apartment today. When will you be free to join us?"

My eyes widened and then shut tightly as I bit my lip, realising that I had forgotten. I looked at the work lined up on my desk. I was not exactly thrilled to see that new flat, but remembering the promise I made to my mom to check it first before deciding. I scratched my forehead in confusion, debating what to do now.

"I still have some work left, but go ahead and send me the address. I'll meet you directly there." My voice was calm and confident as I replied to her. Mom responded with a cheer in her voice, assuring me that she would send me the address straight away. I put down the phone, slowly exhaling a breath I hadn't even noticed I'd been holding. Images of our new home filled my mind with an odd mix of nervousness and anxiousness.

After tidying up my desk, I grabbed my belongings and made my way to the parking lot. My car rumbles to life as I started the ignition and followed the map directions. As I arrived at the complex, I took in its lavishness with a newfound energy. There were manicured gardens, an enormous swimming pool, and even an indoor games area. Membership for these facilities used to cost me so much back home, but here it was included. Suddenly, my pocket buzzed and I saw my sister's name on the caller ID. I answered her call.

"Heyy, Nate. Where are you?? How much time will it take for you to reach?? We have already reached."

"I have also reached. I am at the parking lot. Where are you guys??" I asked her.

"Okk! Wait, I'll send Arch to get you."

"Yep." With that, I hung up the call.

After a few minutes, Arch arrived and my family was already waiting. We headed inside with the real estate agent.

The elevator hummed as we rose to the fifteenth floor. He walked us through the rooms, hands gesturing as he pointed out the features and layout of the apartment. I couldn't help but feel relieved that although it wasn't exactly like the one we had seen before, there were enough similarities that it still felt right. A sense of satisfaction swelled in all of us siblings as we explored every corner of the space. Mom and Dad discussed furniture placement and potential paint colours, while Mel had already claimed her room before we'd even finished looking around.

"Mel, Nate, what do you guys think now?" Dad asked us after the agent left us to decide.

"It's not that good, but, bearable." Mel answered to them, trying not to show her acceptance so easily.

"Same here." I replied the same with a shrug.

"Mom, I think you forget that you have 3 children. You forgot to ask me." Arch pointed at himself and said. Mom sighed heavily and Dad rolled his eyes in response.

"It was clear from your reaction, Arch, that you really liked the house and can't wait to move in, that's why." Dad answered Arch's question for Mom.

"So, what! You could have taken my verbal approval as well. I know you guys don't love me like you do these two."

Arch jabbed his finger in our direction and spoke the last part of his sentence. I felt my eyes stretch wide while Mel furrowed her brows, clearly lost in thought.

"Arch, we can take your accusations later at home. Now, seriously tell me if you liked it or not?" Mom's eyes narrowed and her voice was sharp and demanding as she spoke. He tried to maintain his composure, though his smile faltered slightly, and he nodded his head in agreement.

"I loved it. You saw every room has such a huge balcony. I can keep my bean bags there." He answered while mom nodded in agreement.

"So, everyone liked it. So, should we complete the deal?" Dad asked, and we all agreed.

After making our decision, Dad called the agent and told him what we had decided. We were ready to go ahead with the deal and make that apartment our new home. The paperwork was finalised, and a palpable sense of accomplishment filled the room. With the signing of the papers, we had become official homeowners. Dad shook hands with the agent, who smiled warmly and said,

"Congratulations for your new home, Mr. Hughes. So, when are you planning to shift?" He asked Dad, who looked at us.

"Maybe, after 7- 10 days. Actually, we were planning to shift at the end of this month in the previous house. But as you know what happened. Our packing is almost done. But still my kids have work. So, whenever they are free, they will move in." Dad explained to him and nodded smiling.

"As you wish, sir. Now, shall I drop you till the parking lot?"

"Yeah, sure. Let's go." Dad uttered and motioned him to lead the way.

We all stepped inside the lift, and as it lurched upwards, the muffled sounds of conversation and laughter drifted up from the parking lot. When the lift doors slid open, we said our goodbyes to the agent with smiles and grateful farewells. Most of us turned to head toward Mel's car, but Mom opted to come with me instead. We were about to get in my car when a distant chorus of voices.

"Reya, this is all your fault. If you take the car, you should take care of it as well. It never happens when Eve drives." A lady argued.

"Mom, why do you always have to blame me for everything? When I said, I didn't do it, it means I didn't do it." A girl's voice sounded frustrated.

"It's Ok, mom. I can reschedule my appointment. You don't have to worry." Another girl said.

We saw mother- daughters walk past us. But, when a girl touched her mother's shoulder, she turned and said in a strict tone,

"You are not cancelling your appointment today, Eve. We are going upstairs. I am changing my clothes and we are taking Uber. I won't compromise on your health."

Suddenly, her eyes darted in our direction. Her eyebrows knitted together as she scrutinised my mother, her expression of puzzlement mirrored on mom's face. Mom slowly stepped toward the woman, and then paused at a polite distance.

"Penelope Miller?" Mom asked her.

"Elizabeth Hughes?" She paused before asking. A wide smile broke on the woman's face, and a low chuckle escaped my mother's lips. As my mom stepped closer and closed the gap between them, she slowly opened her arms to embrace the lady named Penelope, who returned the affection with a warm hug.

"OH GOD!!! Pen, it's so good to see you. It has been so long since we last met." Mom said and broke the hug.

"Oh my god!! Same here, Liz. I never thought that I would meet you like this." The lady's eyes were warm as she addressed my mother by her nickname, something that I had only ever heard Dad and some of Mom's closest friends use. Something in her gentle tone told me she was one of them.

Pen stepped aside, and Freya appeared in front of us. My eyes widened as I recognized her. Ivana's sister had just walked into the room, and a wave of confusion rippled through the air. She stood still, staring blankly ahead, her mouth slightly agape. Ivana looked confused as her eyes darted between Freya and me.

"What are you doing here?" She asked me. Mom and Pen's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Mom turned and looked at me.

"You guys know each other?" Mom asked.

"And how?" Pen too questioned. Freya looked at her mom and answered,

"Mom, he is the one I told you about, the one who saved Eve and took her to hospital."

All eyes turned towards me. Mom asked in confusion,

"So, you went to hospital to save Pen's daughter?"

"Mom, I think we should continue this conversation at home. Why don't you call your..... friend upstairs and then we can continue." Ivana's voice broke through the silence that had settled over the room. Her mom's slap on her forehead was gentle, but firm. She looked first at my dad, and then at us, siblings. The smile that spread across her face illuminated the dimly lit room as she looked back at dad.

"I hope you still remember your matchmaker?" She playful asked him. He chuckled at her question and answered,

"Of course, how can I forget such an important person?" he answered, and he hugged her.

"Fine, let's go upstairs, you guys are having dinner at my house. And I am not asking but stating." She said looking at my mom and dad. I chuckled left in my mouth thinking like a mother, like a daughter. She too had so much authoritative tone like Ivana.

"Still haven't changed a bit. Same old Pen." Mom said and chuckled. Pen's smile decreases a little, but she covered it quietly and said,

"I wish. Now, follow me."

We followed her down the hallway of the 15th floor, watching as she fished a jumble of keys from her purse and opened the door. Inside was a cosy living room with a seven-seater sofa set and a couch facing it in front of a three-seater sofa. In between them sat a small tea table, and a soft carpet lay in front of the fireplace. Above its mantle hung numerous photo frames, each one filled with pictures of the siblings.

"So, what do you guys like to have for dinner?" She asked mom and dad. But, before they could answer she stopped them showing a finger and continued,

"No, don't tell me. I remember. Liz you'll have Meatloaf and you Hal will have fried catfish. Am I right?"

She nervously paused, and Mom and Dad's eyes met for a moment before they looked at her. Dad smiled reassuringly, while Mom's smile widened as she nodded in agreement.

"How can you doubt your memory, Pen? You were most proud of it." Mom said. Her words shift something in Pen. She licked her lips nervously and shook her head to discard whatever she was thinking.

"Leave it, Liz! Ok now tell me what will you kids have? Mel, Archie and...." She stopped while looking at me in confusion.

"And Nathan. How can you forget him, Pen? I didn't expect this from you." My mom jumped in between and said. I don't know why but I felt something was off between them about me. Pen smiled a little and again looked at me and asked,

"Is he...." But before she could complete mom said,

"My son." Mom raised her voice, as if she were trying to shut down whatever conversation Pen wanted to start. I knew that it had something to do with my past, the one subject Mom refused to talk about. The doctor had warned us that trying to recall too many of my forgotten memories could be damaging for my mental health, so Mom never let anyone bring it up. Yet despite all this, there remained an insatiable curiosity within me to know more.

"You were talking about some appointment of someone, Pen? In the parking lot, about Ivana's appointment, I guess." Mom said giving me back to reality.

"Oh! Yes. I totally forgot about it in all this!" Pen replied.

"It's OK! We can have dinner some other day. Taking Ivana to her appointment is more important." Dad's gaze lingered on Ivana, who lifted the corners of her lips in a timid smile.

"No, uncle. It's fine. I can reschedule my appointment. And after all, it's just a routine checkup after my allergic reaction. Nothing serious. Also, my car isn't working." She politely replied to my dad.

"It's for the doctor to decide if it's serious or not?" Her mom said and glared at her daughter.

"I can take her there." The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them. As soon as the sentence ended, a shocked silence filled the room. I was even surprised by what I had just said.

"Are you sure? Your friend said you have a phobia of hospitals." Freya asked, breaking the silence.

"I said I'll take you there, not come inside with you." I felt my mother's hand on my knee, its gentle squeeze communicating her unspoken worry. I placed my own hand over hers and gave it a reassuring pat, meeting her gaze with a calm expression in an attempt to ease her concern. 'I'm fine, you don’t have to worry.'

"You guys can make dinner and catch up while I, Freya and Ivana will be back from hospital." I said looking at everyone.

Mel, Mom, and Pen darted towards the kitchen, their footsteps drumming against the linoleum floor. Archie and Dad hung back, whispering quietly amongst themselves as they surveyed the living room for something to do. Meanwhile, Freya led the way towards the front door, my heart racing with anticipation. With every step we took, I just hoped I didn't suggest anything wrong and wished I could build some ground with Ivana.