“I’m very concerned, Diana,” the housekeeper says as I change into my long white dress since my grandmother doesn’t allow me to wear anything else in here.
According to her, if one chooses to enter her domain, they must wear proper attire, which she defined as presentable long dresses for women and suits for men. That’s how she showed respect for the house that had been passed down through generations from mother to daughter, the one she planned to give to me. Sadly, she got sick before she could transfer the deed over to my name.
Thankfully, it’s located in the middle of nowhere, and my father always considered it “too small to use for anythinguseful.” While the architecture is unique and interesting, no one was interested in acquiring the property. It has a beautiful garden, but it’s a far cry from the luxurious mansions high society seems to have.
This allowed me to keep the keys and come here whenever I needed to unwind or just lock myself away from the world.
The only people taking care of it are Marta, the said housekeeper, and her husband, the gardener. I'm not sure how they still get a salary for their work. I think they would have stayed even if no one paid them a dime.
“This is so unlike you,” Marta mutters again when I grab my bow and arrows, checking the sharp tips. Last time I played with them, the tips got damaged, and I had to order a new set. Forgoing the shoes, as I prefer to feel the ground underneath me to better gauge the weather, I head to the door. The cozy one-level house could use some renovations, but it might lose its charm. “I’m very concerned,” she repeats.
“Why are you concerned? I always come here for archery and rest.” I would have come more often, but ever since Grandma got sick, it's been hard to find solace in these walls. They had the power to heal me because they created a protective cocoon from my father and brother. Once she was admitted to the hospital, though, it felt as if my cocoon got destroyed, and coming here brought me more pain. Plus, I didn’t want to develop further attachment to the place because I knew my father would have sold it just to hurt me.
“That was in the past. Now you’re married. It’s a bad sign.”
I pause and look at her. “It’s a bad sign?”
She nods, adjusting the mug on the tray she’s holding and moving it closer to the chocolate chip cookies. The woman is always trying to feed me.
“Yes. You use archery as an outlet for your frustration. And you’re here alone. It means there are problems in your marriage, and it makes me concerned.”
Great.
My best friend also noticed things, and it was why I avoided her phone calls all day. I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to explain that my husband is a serial killer, but not your run-of-the-mill serial killer.
She’d deem me a delusional idiot and call the cops to rescue me.
“Stop bothering our girl, Marta. Her marriage is no one’s business but her own.” Martin waves at me as we exit the house, trimming the bushes and catering to all the flora around here. “Let her unwind.”
“Fine. Prepare the shotgun. In case her husband comes in here angry.”
“Woman, I’ve never used a gun in my life, and you want me to threaten her husband with one?”
She places her hand on her hips and nods. “Yes.”
“Well, all right then.” And he resumes his work while Marta beams at me.
Shaking my head at their dynamic and how easy their marriage seems to be, I go to my usual place in the garden with several targets spread through the perimeter, far away from each other.
I place my arrows and bow down. Grabbing my water bottle, I take a drink and look up as dark clouds gather with no hint of rain.
The wind whooshes, plastering my dress all over my legs, and Marta clicks her tongue. “The weather is awful for archery.”
Yes, the wind isn’t my friend today. What’s the point of archery, or any sport for that matter, if there is no challenge in it?
“It’s fine.”
“All right, all right. I’m going to leave you alone. We’ll have dinner inside soon. Drink some tea. The wind is freezing.” She places the tray on the patio table and pats me on the shoulder. “Have a nice time, darling.”
Mustering up a smile, I wait for her to go inside before exhaling a heavy breath and finally allowing my mind to think about what I discovered back home.
No.
Back at Orion’s home.
Until I figure out what the hell is going on with me and how I feel about all the truths I uncovered this morning…I have no home.
Which is a sad fact in itself.
