Welcome to the family

She was about to open her mouth but his warning glance told her the conversation was over. Wonderful. She just accepted his rude words.

Carina pointed to the street sign. "This is the entrance to my parents' house."

Eric ran into the lane surrounding the house and turned off the engine. Both are researching a white Victorian house. From the outside, the warm, welcoming structure radiates from the classical stone pillars to the graceful porch that surrounds it. The weeping willows surrounded the edge of the sloping lawn almost forming a protective barrier. Large windows with closed black doors dot the front of the house. Now the darkness has obscured the signs of neglect due to financial hardship. It had covered the peeling white paint on the pillars, the cracked steps at the top of the porch, the faded old roof. She let out a sigh as her childhood home appeared around her as a consolation.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

She glanced at him. His face was cold, his eyes distant. He looked