🤍 Jessica's POV 🤍
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8nW715oxw
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.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44DvnMbR2F
I had gone all out to add extra baby strawberries on top.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrURK2liFW
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.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSPDwO9Jnn
Taking a steadying breath, I ring the bell.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiCxzPwUzm
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.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXOA05ExYt
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.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGqJBNm3sS
I have no idea why that popped into my head.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBt0A19vgm
Her expression is kind, though slightly wary, like she isn't used to unexpected visitors.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgk4qYuKDlN
"Oh" she says, blinking at me in surprise.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDmplVKO0Q
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."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJ3RKr3hYs
Her face brightens instantly, the hesitation melting away. "Oh, how lovely! That's so sweet of you."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVmX5lEh6w
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."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BAyumV0EM
I laugh. "I figured moving is stressful, and nothing eases stress like sugar" I point to the bakery "I own the Bakery across"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGikhkCF8By
"Oh, The Lavender Loaf?"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83sAbwv3Gc
I smile wider "That's the one!"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIc2UWBdZcJ
She chuckles, stepping aside. "Well, don't just stand there. Come in, come in, Please"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jTFCTvCSZ
I hesitate for half a second. I hadn't planned to stay, but she's already ushering me inside, so I follow.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXcz1UcFFx
The house smells like fresh paint and wild jasmine, but there's also the faint scent of lavender and something warm, like cinnamon tea.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyjSdFSz9W
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.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOsCMubXYT
"Forgive the mess," she says, leading me toward the kitchen. "We're still settling in."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJ3hldTzRG
"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"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YFpSMa2NV
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."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMiHcUPoS1
"It's really nice to meet you, Mrs. Wilson."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6jlu2vyWA
"Oh, please," she waves a hand dismissively. "Call me Nora. Mrs. Wilson makes me feel ancient."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWectT1sfG
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."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcNZV25fHl
Mrs Wilson blushes "You are such a flatterer"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaspgyZmn0A
She pulls out a chair at the small dining table. "Sit, sit. Let me get us some tea."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlU3UquVLf
"Oh, you don't have to—"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xJGTdd7QE
"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"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEFZ6iNAAB
I give in, settling into the chair as she moves around the empty kitchen.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbBMZIrWkU
"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?"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjo6ShJ9BwR
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"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeegzANR5J
Nora's expression softens, and she places a comforting hand on my shoulder softly "Oh, sweetheart. I'm so sorry."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonrUFHeL4k
I shrug, offering a small smile. "It was tough, but we had grandma, and she's amazing"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOsYuoiIIR
Nora nods, sipping her tea. "Grandmothers are special like that."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBu2HWglWx
"What about you?" I ask. "Is it just you?"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXydEs4VQ5
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."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6JgaWrk5s
I soften. "I'm really sorry. That must have been hard."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWHCNNJpOx
"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."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoJqPsFAla
I take a sip of tea, feeling saddened by her story. "Do you have kids?"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgHAFO2nF0
Her face lights up. "Oh, yes. Six crazy boys."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zFHpSTFvW
My eyes widen. "Six? And they're crazy on top?"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZhZIobXVa
She covers her mouth, laughing "Yes, darling"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEdFUUrESI
"Damn. How do you manage to still look this good and sane? I would've been in a mental asylum by now"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4Ux7etyBd
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."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirIMPMuDBM
I can tell she misses them. Greatly.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5z1ikr2e3i
"Permit me to ask this" I say, leaning in slightly. "Were you guys trying for a girl or something?"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMXSu5WfOM
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"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVWFvOPIPq
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.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3qyrtXzi3
Oh shoot. The fucking ripper.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEMFhzxmrL
After a moment of hesitation, I clear my throat. "Actually, there's something I wanted to tell you."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknQUz7NB0r
Her brows knit together. "Oh?"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTshtsMQ5K
I lean in slightly. "It's about the man you hired. A repair guy I think, for your windows. Did you?"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavdL4PA3sn
Her expression shifts, "Um, yeah. We got someone to work on the windows today. What about him?"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGMHjf1S3O
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."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87yFbgnzYw
She leans forward, looking concerned. "What did he say?"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVWnjf0PeJ
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."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrzmlDfYKL
Her lips part slightly in shock. "What?"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaLkrRX1Ov
I nod grimly. "Yeah. I figured you should know before you sign anything"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07VXOLBO4u
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."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboxEM6V15i
"Of course. I'd hate to see you get taken advantage of."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpyv9q0thb
She shakes her head. "Some people have no shame. I'll definitely be canceling with him."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEDKruXLgF
I nod, relieved.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlz61oxydx6
Then, she suddenly brightens. "You know what? You have to come over for dinner this weekend."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlUTIF80dB
I blink. "Oh, no, really, you don't have to—"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXRDFIGvus
"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."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPwB3x36Bc
Something warm stirs in my chest at that.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSf8egnWWZa
"But—"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOaq5djV1Q
"No buts," she says firmly. "Any weekend. Dinner. My house, as long as you have the time. And bring your brother and friend"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62gFvJwDPF
I laugh, shaking my head. "You're too kind, and very persuasive"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCVpx9HaPm
She grins. "That's why I win."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxgo9tMdR6
I sigh, knowing I've lost. "Alright, alright. I'll come."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYwYgPTSVi
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!"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0IhCQpjxm
And just like that, I realize moving to this neighborhood might have been one of the best things to ever happen to me.
ns18.189.178.239da2
