🤍 Jessica's POV 🤍
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvov7ewwNg
I balance the strawberry shortcake carefully in my hands as I approach the house, inhaling the sweet scent of fresh strawberries and cream. It's deliciousness tickling me.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvmLJuwrzT
I had gone all out to add extra baby strawberries on top.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmTtJVeSZG
The place looks cozy, with freshly painted shutters and a small garden out front, still a little overgrown from months of vacancy. The moving truck from earlier is long gone, but a few unopened boxes sit on the porch, hinting at the chaos of settling in.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrm0AjJdPR
Taking a steadying breath, I ring the bell.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qgJhgZwf3
For a moment, there's nothing. Then, soft footsteps approach from the other side, and the door swings open to reveal a woman who looks to be in her... late fifties.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtkpJqDWCk
She's petite, with silver-streaked brown hair pulled back into a neat bun, and warm brown eyes that immediately remind me of fresh-baked cookies and childhood bedtime stories.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8C7Xy2ryz
I have no idea why that popped into my head.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzsifAl8Ne
Her expression is kind, though slightly wary, like she isn't used to unexpected visitors.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBYYvDBGSL
"Oh" she says, blinking at me in surprise.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCZATH9wE1
I smile, lifting the cake slightly. "Hi! I'm Jessica. I live across the street. Wanted to come over and welcome you to the neighborhood."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRrDlRaXOf
Her face brightens instantly, the hesitation melting away. "Oh, how lovely! That's so sweet of you."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VSNpUOJZO
She glances down at the cake, then back up at me, her eyes twinkling. "And you brought dessert? Well, you might just be my favorite neighbor already."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMReK2Nf9Pv
I laugh. "I figured moving is stressful, and nothing eases stress like sugar" I point to the bakery "I own the Bakery across"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMH3KeEwnqJ
"Oh, The Lavender Loaf?"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pXlhnoiEH
I smile wider "That's the one!"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68OS0bveXQ
She chuckles, stepping aside. "Well, don't just stand there. Come in, come in, Please"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQMrWdQ7UX
I hesitate for half a second. I hadn't planned to stay, but she's already ushering me inside, so I follow.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu2nrJOWMR
The house smells like fresh paint and wild jasmine, but there's also the faint scent of lavender and something warm, like cinnamon tea.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTqIKajeSs
Moving boxes are stacked neatly in the living room, some already half-unpacked. The furniture is classic and cozy—lots of warm-toned wood, floral cushions, and soft lighting.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpImPviBKx
"Forgive the mess," she says, leading me toward the kitchen. "We're still settling in."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuKDmhIXjl
"No worries. I know how hectic moving can be. I once moved apartments and didn't find my favorite mug for three months. Turns out it was in the freezer"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fgZTj11eY
She laughs, gestures for me to set the cake on the kitchen counter, then turns to face me, smiling warmly. "I'm Nora Wilson, by the way."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfxkuwOXK2
"It's really nice to meet you, Mrs. Wilson."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjZNfl1s3O
"Oh, please," she waves a hand dismissively. "Call me Nora. Mrs. Wilson makes me feel ancient."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5oG9qYiEP
I grin. "There's nothing ancient-looking about you, ma'am. You could easily pass for a twenty year old beauty queen, but alright, Nora, if you say so."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmNt44fErv
Mrs Wilson blushes "You are such a flatterer"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuSujoyGCR
She pulls out a chair at the small dining table. "Sit, sit. Let me get us some tea."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxw7hwKnTy6
"Oh, you don't have to—"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4IZQfm9qb
"Nonsense." She's already moving toward the stove. "You brought me cake. The least I can do is make tea so we can enjoy it with the cake"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSefW0sGF0n
I give in, settling into the chair as she moves around the empty kitchen.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDBXmv0Iv0
"So," she says as she places two cups of steaming tea in front of us. "Tell me about yourself, Jessica. Do you live with your family?"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44Ibrlr7dr
I wrap my hands around the warm mug, the heat seeping into my palms. "Not really. It's just me, my brother, Ken and best friend, Rachel" I explain with a smile "We share the apartment across the street, right above the bakery. We lost our parents when we were little, so grandma practically raised us"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWIE9a7L66
Nora's expression softens, and she places a comforting hand on my shoulder softly "Oh, sweetheart. I'm so sorry."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRShLwaugFN
I shrug, offering a small smile. "It was tough, but we had grandma, and she's amazing"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8kJXFlSGH
Nora nods, sipping her tea. "Grandmothers are special like that."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCO9qImm1qV
"What about you?" I ask. "Is it just you?"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQdsRokvV3
She nods, her smile turning a little wistful. "Yes, my husband, Jacob, and I just moved here for a fresh start. He had a terrible accident a few years ago, and—well, he's in a wheelchair now. It's been... an adjustment."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oh7ESyx3D
I soften. "I'm really sorry. That must have been hard."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfxBtNvNLv
"Oh, you have no idea" She exhales, but there's no bitterness in her tone—just sheer strength, and continues. "But we manage. He's the strongest man I know, and as long as we have each other, I know we'll be okay."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUiiyU3faO
I take a sip of tea, feeling saddened by her story. "Do you have kids?"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBqZD1qsPE
Her face lights up. "Oh, yes. Six crazy boys."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYt6sAoeeh
My eyes widen. "Six? And they're crazy on top?"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXSh4g8Fmm
She covers her mouth, laughing "Yes, darling"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQTv3mjeM2
"Damn. How do you manage to still look this good and sane? I would've been in a mental asylum by now"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ8P0QVa56
She chuckles. "All I can say is it gets better with time. But It was a very loud and chaotic house for a very long time. But they're all grown now. In college, scattered across the country. It's just Jacob and me these days."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOy40vzf1r
I can tell she misses them. Greatly.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt328rZQw9O
"Permit me to ask this" I say, leaning in slightly. "Were you guys trying for a girl or something?"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZmIVLZPsZ
She looks at me with a knowing smirk "You pick up on things. Yes we were. But after my last boy, I just gave up and embraced being a proud boy mum"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GlgTRjE4U
We talk for a while, conversation flowing so easily it surprised me. We touch on everything—our families, the state of the country, even little things like favorite books and movies. It's strange how comfortable being around her feels, like I've known her for longer than just an hour.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0y3MEfuTrp
Oh shoot. The fucking ripper.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhbFRMvSOM
After a moment of hesitation, I clear my throat. "Actually, there's something I wanted to tell you."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwm7xmRQzN0
Her brows knit together. "Oh?"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwQA7wsZLB
I lean in slightly. "It's about the man you hired. A repair guy I think, for your windows. Did you?"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVInxScMuk
Her expression shifts, "Um, yeah. We got someone to work on the windows today. What about him?"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIgQ73vgPY
I sigh. "I hope I'm not too late. I kinda overheard him on the phone earlier. He was speaking in Bulgarian, so I guess he didn't think anyone around would understand. But I did."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWCWaDHN1K
She leans forward, looking concerned. "What did he say?"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxW2u020JWF
I hesitate for a second before finally spilling "He was talking about overcharging you by an extra five grand. Just because he thought you looked like you could afford it."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIN373ouOkV
Her lips part slightly in shock. "What?"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQf6wC9ryu
I nod grimly. "Yeah. I figured you should know before you sign anything"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGP9BoERnJ
She stares at me for a long moment, then lets out a slow breath. "Jessica, I don't even know what to say. That is... disgusting. Thank you so much for telling me."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwtoT1Gmy7
"Of course. I'd hate to see you get taken advantage of."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExFXycLxzo
She shakes her head. "Some people have no shame. I'll definitely be canceling with him."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqptS91wS9
I nod, relieved.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yfqbMQe80
Then, she suddenly brightens. "You know what? You have to come over for dinner this weekend."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmg4Opm4BE
I blink. "Oh, no, really, you don't have to—"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5pqnTHEXU
"I insist, Jessica" She folds her arms, giving me a look that grandma always gave me whenever I was about to argue with her "I love spending time with you. You remind me of the daughter I never had."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAr8Hkgh721
Something warm stirs in my chest at that.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64uU9CIJ5u
"But—"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDH8HYxRXe
"No buts," she says firmly. "Any weekend. Dinner. My house, as long as you have the time. And bring your brother and friend"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwM1f2WUs76
I laugh, shaking my head. "You're too kind, and very persuasive"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sBc7BV8yh
She grins. "That's why I win."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSc9Pk2uZl5
I sigh, knowing I've lost. "Alright, alright. I'll come."
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqYOpGtX8J
She claps her hands together. "Good. Now, let's have some more of that cake. It's the most delicious thing I've ever tasted!"
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKcVYSQz0o
And just like that, I realize moving to this neighborhood might have been one of the best things to ever happen to me.
ns216.73.216.82da2
