Chapter Two

The house on Mountford Hall was beautiful every time of the year. But it was especially beautiful in summer when the canna lilies and chrysanthemums as well as the dahlia and cosmos.  The blend of colours from green to red to purple and blue blended together and gave the house an ethereal look. A look she loved to savour during the afternoons of the sunny summer days.

She stood there taking in the colours and the scents. The beauty and the contrast, created by nature and flowers. She watched as the summer breeze made the flowers dance. The heat of the sun at 29º was scorching, and she longed to go for a walk in the park or to sit by the beach dressed only in bikini. She looked on, seeing beyond the flowers and plants and the beauty.

A tear dropped down her left eye, and she slowly brushed it off as she heard a distinct footstep approaching the garden. She planted a smile on her face, and focussed on the beautiful flowers before her. She counted in her head.

Five…four…three…two…one.

“Here you are girl.”

Sidi turned to face a beautiful petite woman with long red hair and a tight expression. She smiled, as Sidi gave her a hug, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“Hello Aunt Bree.” Sidi greeted.

“Hello Lesley….Hello Connor.” She said to the youngsters standing behind Bree.

“Have you being standing out here for long?” Bree asked.

“Not so long, no.”

“Well then, come on in. I didn’t know you would be home this early or I would have left the key for you.”

“Neither did I.”

She followed Bree wordlessly, with Connor and Lesley lagging slowly behind.