“Hi, Mrs. Garner.” I kind of felt a bit embarrassed when I reached her, and she hugged me from the doorframe. I used to spend a lot of time in the Garner house when I was younger but I’d left town on the worst terms with Mrs. Garner and her husband.
The was a strange look on her face that made this even more awkward.
“Sweetie, how was your drive?”
“It was good. The roads are still somewhat similar. Where's dad?”
“Come on in. It’s freezing outside. I’ve prepared you something nice and warm I know you’ll enjoy.”
My eyebrows shot up at her request, but I followed her in. I could already smell the hot chocolate with marshmallows as she welcomed me inside.
After all, I wasn't a guest but a regular, as they say.
It was unusually tidy inside, but I could already sense changes in the hallway, which gave a strange air to the environment.
"Did you guys move the furniture around or something? The living room looks a little off..."
"Hi, little Ella,” Mr. Garner chimed in as I came into the living room. He kissed my forehead and welcomed me with a warm hug. “Been long since we had you in here. Mrs Garner and I did some redecorating," he answered, sitting back on the couch.
"Why? You haven't changed this house in... well, as long as I can remember. Wait! You didn't do it to sell the house, did you?" I chuckled at the thought.
"Don't be silly, Elizabeth."
His voice cut my thought process off as he called me by my full name, Elizabeth. This meant that Maia had been right. Something was, indeed, going on. I started paying more attention to the house and looking at my own home to see if I could spot something else.
"Mrs. Garner? Where is my father? And... Why is our lawn not mowed? He never leaves it to grow this much."
"I don't think he's had much time in the past few days," he answered in a grave voice.
I turned around and saw both their eyes catch each other. “It's just that it's very noticeable. Dad always keeps it nice and short. I mean, he used to say it irked him to just see it slightly overgrown!" I laughed.
Instead, they both stared at me with steely fleeting gazes that assured me that both the husband and wife were hiding something.
"Is there something I'm supposed to know?" I asked gently.
"What? Your dad's lawn? I don't know, you know. Your old man is getting older. He might not be as thorough as he used to be anymore."
“Please give me a few seconds,” Mrs. Garner said, standing from her chair. "You must know though dear, no one likes to work into their old age," Mrs. Garner added as she headed out of the room.
I turned to Mr. Garner who was relaxed on the chair. "I get you. But it's hard picturing my dad slowing down, Mr. Garner. Both of you have the tendency to be stubborn old men. How are you handling things now without your work at the sardine factory?"
"I’m doing quite well. What I will have you know, though, is that my sardine career was cut short by the..."
"Mr. Garner, you had me at ‘sardine career'!" I laughed.
"Here I am! All ready for our dinner!"
“Yes!” Mr. Garner shouted at his wife's announcement. There was that little exchange of glances between them again.
That feeling came to me again that things were not right. Mr. Garner's conversation had sounded like he was stalling. His talk about a successful sardine career and all were just to keep me busy, and when that hadn't worked, there'd been a relief on his face when his wife had announced dinner. Seeing her, I could see signs of nervousness in how she had rushed from the door and back up the stairs to their bedroom.
In a few minutes, she had changed into a bright, eye-watering, gold dress which seemed like she had been saving since the 80s. It made her look like a Christmas ornament.
I was speechless. Apparently, so was Mr. Garner because he took one look at his wife and then went back to staring into space.
"Mrs. Garner! Why are you wearing that?"
“This dress is couture. It's vintage.” She twirled once. “What do you think?”