Chapter 3. A Beautiful Place

* Julliane *

Mister Dankworth opened the back of the station wagon and, with Darren's help, managed to squeeze all our luggage inside. My mother slipped into the seat behind the driver and patted the space beside her, urging Mister Dankworth to sit beside her. I watched them momentarily, uncertain if there would be enough room for me, when Darren caught my attention.

"It's alright, Julie," he said with a reassuring smile. "You can sit with us in the front. It's wide enough for three."

His voice was calm and kind, and so I turned my gaze toward the front seat. But the driver, Lance, didn't look thrilled to see me. He didn't speak, didn't even look directly at me, but the stiffness in his posture made his silence louder than words.

"Look, Marriane," Mister Dankworth said with a pleased chuckle as he settled in beside my mother. "Our kids are getting along just fine. The three of them look good together, don't they?"

He sounded genuine, almost hopeful. As if he didn't, or chose not to, see the disdain flickering in Lance's eyes when he glanced at me. My mother just smiled and slipped her hand into his. She didn't even acknowledge the tension. Or maybe she simply didn't care.

With no other option, I slid into the middle seat, between Darren and Lance. Though Lance never said anything harsh, his cold silence and rigid body spoke volumes. I couldn't tell if he hated me, my mother, or both of us equally.

As the car pulled onto the road, the silence thickened. I could feel the heat radiating from Lance's body so close to mine, and every time our arms brushed, accidentally or not, my heart beat faster. It wasn't fear exactly, but something unfamiliar and uneasy. My throat felt dry. I wished the ride would end quickly.

After nearly an hour, the car began to slow. That's when I saw it, a large, weathered sign by the side of the road that read Welcome to Magnolia Manor. My eyes widened as I took in the surroundings, rows of tall, swaying coconut trees lined the roadside, their leaves rustling in the breeze like whispers from a different world.

"Oh, wow," I whispered without meaning to.

Darren turned to me, smiling. "Do you like our coconut farm, Julie?"

"Yes. It's beautiful. This is the first time I've seen trees like these in real life and the sand, too. It's so white."

I spoke honestly, unable to contain my awe. I didn't care who was listening. But when I glanced at Lance, I caught a fleeting expression on his face, something softer, almost curious, before it vanished.

"Don't be so ignorant, Julie. You act like you've never seen anything before, even on TV," my mother snapped from the backseat, irritated by my enthusiasm.

I shrank in my seat, my cheeks burning. But Mister Dankworth gently intervened.

"Let your daughter be, Marriane. She grew up in the city. This might be her first time stepping foot on the island. It's a good thing she's appreciating it, I can see it in her eyes."

I silently thanked him for his kindness, for defending me, however small the gesture. I turned my face to the window, afraid that anything more might provoke my mother's scorn again. I didn't want to embarrass myself, not in front of Darren and certainly not in front of Lance.

"Once you're settled in," Darren said softly, leaning a little closer, "I'll give you a proper tour of the place, Julie."

"Can I... can I swim in the ocean, too?" I asked, glancing toward the glittering stretch of sea in the distance.

"Of course! Swim whenever you like, the ocean's just a short walk from the house."

My eyes sparkled. "Oh! What's that over there?" I pointed at the horizon, where the ocean seemed to stretch and split into something else.

"That's a swamp," Darren explained. "And those plants growing in the water? Those are mangroves."

"Mangroves?" I echoed, fascinated.

Darren chuckled, but his laugh was cut short by the sharp sound of Lance clearing his throat, an unspoken warning.

"The mangroves are useful plants," Darren continued more seriously. "Locals use the leaves to make temporary roofs for houses near the shore. Some families even build their whole homes using them."

I stared at the tangle of green in the distance, amazed. I'd only ever seen such things in travel magazines. So that's what those beach huts were made from, real, living trees.

The more I looked around, the more I realized I wasn't bored at all. I'd expected monotony, silence, or awkward small talk. But instead, I was being introduced to something new, something strangely enchanting.

After another thirty minutes of winding through hills and fields, we finally arrived. Magnolia Manor stood like a forgotten palace atop a hill, grand and old, overlooking the sea. My eyes widened in wonder. The house was surrounded by towering trees I didn't recognize, the driveway was paved and curved elegantly toward the side entrance, and bright flowers bloomed wildly at the edges.

Beyond the garden, I noticed rows of plants bearing green and red fruits. Not very tall, but neat and organized.

"What are those, Darren?" I asked, pointing at the plants.

"Those are coffee trees," he said. "We grow them here and sell the beans. Some go to local markets, and some are exported."

I heard my mother gasp in amazement. "Oh really? You have a coffee farm?"

Lance glanced back and replied, "Yes. We even have our own brand, premium quality. It's been passed down through generations of Dankworth family."

My mother's eyes sparkled as she turned to Mister Dankworth and embraced him. "Darling, how come you never told me any of this? I had no idea how wealthy you really are."

Lance smirked, clearly amused by her reaction. Mister Dankworth simply cleared his throat.

"The farm's been in my family for generations, Marriane. Now, Lance oversees most of the operations. He has studied agriculture and uses modern technology to keep the farm productive. He's also finished a degree in architecture. Darren's planning to study engineering next."

My mother beamed, her voice almost a purr. "Primo darling, you are so lucky to have such sons. If I had children like them, I'd be the proudest mother in the world."

She said it with a sideways glance at me, sharp, cutting. A silent reminder of her disappointment.

I looked away, pretending not to hear, pretending not to care. But something inside me sank. As beautiful as Magnolia Manor was, as warm as Darren had been to me, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was already out of place in this new world, and that my mother wanted me to feel it.