When I left home, I didn't even bother to let my mother know I was leaving. I simply rushed to get in the car and drove away. I drove along the road that led to Thomas' cabin, which is secluded from civilization. But it's also large and very beautiful. I drove for long minutes until I arrived. The weather here was colder than usual, with trees surrounding everything for miles. It was cloudy, and the place had a green hue due to the clarity of the trees. I bundled up because it was very cold and walked up to the door.
I knocked twice.
"I'm coming!" I heard Anne's voice from inside. Seconds later, she opened the door. "Carolina, you came in. Come in, it's freezing outside."
"Thank you," I entered, and Anne closed the door behind me. At that moment, I felt the warm and cozy interior of the house. What a change. Thomas' house is rustic, with yellow lights, a large living room, a fireplace, a TV screen, and a big dining area. I like it. "What a beautiful place, Anne."
"Thank you, I took care of decorating it," she shrugged. Anne still wears her glasses. "Thomas went to the supermarket to buy food. We thought of staying here for a while."
"That's perfect with me," I said because I liked having her close.
"To be honest, I've grown so accustomed to my town that... being away from here makes me uncomfortable. Canada is beautiful, but this town is my home. The forest, the lake, the shops, the high school... I don't want to leave. I'm thinking of staying here to live," she confessed. And I truly understand her; I feel the same way.
"If Thomas agrees, you can do it."
"Thomas says he's happy wherever I am."
"Well, there you go, problem solved."
"That's why I took the liberty of decorating this house. Despite being far from town, it's very beautiful, and I'd like to start a family here."
I sat next to her.
"Are you thinking of having children already?" I asked, astonished.
"I don't know," she blushed. "I'd like to be married first. I've been with Thomas for five years, and... I'd like to make it official, but I won't force him."
I nodded.
"Yes, I understand. Thomas will know what he's doing. You're still young, Anne. Don't let excitement steal your youth. The time for children will come. In the meantime, enjoy being alone and free. Look at me; I won't be able to enjoy it anymore," I pursed my lips.
"But you'll have a child with the man you love, Carolina. That must be beautiful."
"I suppose," I sighed. "Here are the things," I handed them to her.
"We should go before Thomas comes."
"Alright, let's take my car," we both stood up. Anne went to get Elias' brush, and the two of us left the house. We got in the car, and I drove through the forest until we reached the main road. "Do you think Kayler will get mad if he finds out what we're doing?" I wanted to know.
"I don't know, maybe not. Everything you do is right by him. It's incredible how you managed to capture the heart of Kayler Brown, the hottest and most respected guy in high school and the entire town."
I laughed.
"Sexy?"
"You know he is."
"I used to hate him."
"Maybe you hated him because you liked him."
"Yeah, I hated that he was so arrogant, but he was right."
I drove until we reached the town, a clinic that Anne knew well because she and Apollo took the test here. Lately, everything reminds poor Anne of Apollo. We got out of the car and went inside.
"Leave it to me," she said, taking the tests to where a nurse was. She stayed there explaining things, jotting something down on papers, and then the nurse took the items away.
Anne came back to me.
"All set. I know the nurse, so we can be sure that the test won't be altered or anything like that. Now we just have to wait," she explained.
"How many days?" I asked.
"She said four days."
I nodded.
"Perfect," I replied, feeling nervous. I need to be prepared for whatever comes, keep my feet on the ground, and not have false illusions. I won't entertain ideas that aren't real. I know that test will come out positive since Kayler is Kylie's father. "Shall we go? By the way, Mom and Mike are back."
"Really? How was their honeymoon?" she asked. We started walking towards the exit.
"It went well. They look very happy. But now that Kylie is in the house, my mom treats her as if she's known her since birth."
"Are you jealous?"
I scoffed.
"Obviously not."
"I'd like to say hello to your mom, if that's okay with you."
"I'd prefer to spend the evening at your place, Anne. I don't want to go to mine."
"Let's do something."
We got in the car, and I started the engine.
"Come over for dinner tonight, with Kayler and Kylie. You can also invite your mom and Mike. It would be the first time I have guests at my place. I'll have to cook and get everything ready," she commented.
"Don't worry, Anne. Dinner sounds good. We'll be there at six."
"Perfect," she sighed, excited.
•
When we arrived, we got out of the car and entered the house. I heard laughter and murmurs coming from the kitchen. Mom was laughing. Everyone was in the kitchen.
"Mom," I called her attention and that of the others. Mom was playing with Kylie, making food houses.
"Carolina, you're back," she barely said to me before continuing what she was doing.
Feeling ignored.com.
I rolled my eyes and leaned against the wall.
"Hello, Mrs. Lane. It's nice to have you back," Anne greeted her.
"Anne, my dear, thank you. I'm glad you're here accompanying Carolina. You look lovely, eh?" she said without even looking at her. How much attention does she give to Kylie? She's just playing with the food, wasting it. Kayler approached.
"Thank you," Anne replied.
"Where did you go?" the clueless Kayler asked.
"Somewhere, why do you care?" I turned around, flipping my hair in his face, and walked out to the living room, followed by Anne.
"Your mom is really excited about Kylie," Anne remarked.
"Too much," I sat on the couch. Anne sat next to me.
"Is that a bad thing?" she asked me.
"Of course it's bad, she didn't even notice us," I whispered, "I wonder if Kylie will be a wolf girl," narrowing my eyes.
"I don't think so. Their wolf side appears when they're around twelve or thirteen, I believe," she replied.
"I see. So you don't have super speed or long-distance hearing."
"I don't think so. She's just a normal child living her childhood."
I nodded.
"So, my baby will be normal in the meantime," I murmured to myself, trying to calm down.
"Don't worry about that."
"Sometimes I forget that I'm pregnant. Mom doesn't even know."
"You can tell her tonight at dinner."
I hesitated.
"Maybe that way you'll pay more attention to me than to Kylie."
Anne laughed.
"You're getting jealous of a little girl," she teased. "Relax, Carolina."
The others entered the room.
Great.
"Kayler, congratulations on your daughter. She's a very intelligent and funny girl. You've done a good job," Mom said, not caring that I was present and her words affected me.
Kayler looked at me, seemingly uncomfortable with the situation.
"Thank you, Mrs. Lane," he replied.
"Call me Mom," she told him.
I looked at Anne in horror because I can't believe Mom said that. What's been happening to her lately? She's becoming even crazier than usual.