Withering Ivy: Chapter Twelve

The feeling of overwhelming joy crowded my senses as we pulled into the driveway of our home. The home I had come to miss and even think about when I was away. Not only had it suddenly become the place I was comfortable sleeping in, but it also had the people I wanted to see. What was it about me that made me feel like that? I obviously wanted to be with my parents. I obviously wanted my old life but at the same time, I had never felt the same as I did now.

Maybe I was odd, or crazed, or even gladly following along to a simulation but I didn't want to hide my smile as I opened the car door and sped out. Toby looked over at Ms. Winslet to make sure it was ok he didn't get to it before I did. She didn't mind, she was already back on her phone talking to someone I assumed was important. Everything she did seemed important. "Grace!" as I went up the steps the snap of Ms. Winslet made me immediately freeze and wait for her even though I longed to go ahead. Seeing her disappointed in me was not something I liked seeing.

"She's out for the day." The older woman whispered to me. Her phone was away from her cheek for only a minute before she continued into the house. Her conversation resumed as I stood still, my smile gone realizing maybe it wasn't the house.

"Not to worry, Grace left me a very detailed note." Nina the cook raised her apron as she stepped down from the house, the leash that usually rested in the soft hands I came to yearn for replaced by working ones of a cook. It wasn't bad but it wasn't her. "She told me very specifically that you need a lot of rest from your first outing." She gave me a reassuring smile but I only turned to let her hook my leash on.

"Where is she?" I asked. My voice was wavering as I felt the disappointment drop to my toes.

"A personal day." Guiding me inside she led me to my room where all was laid out. "I'm running your bath now. When you are done you will have dinner. A soulful meal I'm sure you'll enjoy and then it's off to bed." Nina said to me as she turned the knob off in my bathroom. My cheeks flushed red as I heard the door close and the steam rise to my level. I was hoping since my delayed visit with Grace was upon me, Ms. Winslet would do me the pleasure of joining but she didn't. She was far too busy Nina had said.

I ate alone and was escorted to my room where I lay under my covers. I was kicking my legs and arms underneath the blankets exasperated since they had been done wrong. Nina was so kind and considerate but she wasn't Grace. Even when the lights went off and I raised myself to go to the edge of my bed to see if anyone was coming back I felt annoyed. I moved the cushioned leash connecting me to the bed as I crawled over to the camera I usually said my second good night to. I didn't this time and instead, I laid back down and closed my eyes. Jealously washed over me as I thought more and more of Grace taking a "personal day" Was her time with me just a job? Who did she have in her "personal life" and why couldn't I be them?

Opening my eyes I was surprised to see something other than darkness staring back. Glow in the dark stars of all sizes filled the ceiling and I smiled thinking back to my hesitant admittance to my love of them. Somehow they were almost better than the real things. I stared at them for as long as I could, until I fell asleep under my mounds of blankets and pillows. The comfort was always top-tier. It always put me in such a heavy sleep that I barely stirred as my beds walls were put down. And a hand rested on my shoulder. When I refused to open my eyes hands went under me as they moved me away from my warmth. I was not too fond of it at first but my bed was replaced by something even better.

With one eye barely opening at a time I watched a blanket raise over me again before I shifted up to see a smiling Grace holding me in her arms. "Go back to sleep." That was all she said to me and I couldn't say no to that. I rested my head on her neck and didn't move until I had to the next morning.