"There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment." — Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever
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A week passed by the rainy day, Rose looked out from the window of her room, watching the sky that was bright without the somber colored clouds that covered the blue sky like a few days before.
"Without the rain, we will finally get some of the laundry done," said her mother when seeing Rose over the window. She pushed herself and walked to her mother, helping to take the basket in her hand.
"It's a nice weather," she agreed, "I will help you with this," she offered but her mother shook her head.
"How about helping me to go to the market? With your sister," added the woman, "I need you to send me this letter to the postman."
"Letters? For aunty?" asked Rose which her mother answered with a tight nod.
"You know how we haven't gotten any letters from her and I want to ask her if she will come for Easter," her mother said little but Rose could see the little hope and eagerness her mother had in her eyes, hoping to meet with her younger sister who had went away from the village and live a better life in the town after marrying a wealthy man.
Rose knew her mother's sentiment and how she wanted to fix the sisterhood they had that had went astray with the amount of years after the two had builds a home. "But I can go alone, Josie can stay here and help you with the chores. Another hand of help is never enough," said Rose with a thoughtful look. Her mother was old and it worries her that she still had to work around the house.
Like how Rose worries about her mother's health, Mrs. Maury was much worried about Rose. Health wasn't Mrs. Maury's greatest worry to her younger child, however; it was the fact that Rose rarely went out that worried the older woman.
She hoped to see Rose acquainting herself to more men who could be her suitor, but her second daughter like the first didn't like to leave the house. Recently, Mrs. Maury noticed her eldest child Josie had found a man she fancied. But she didn't see any sign of it from Rose. This put her at ease, but she didn't only have one daughter. The older woman knows that her two daughters didn't leave the house as they were worried about her and her husband, but she didn't want Rose to turn into a spinster.
Using the chance, Mrs. Maury wishes to create opportunities for Rose to leave the house and become acquainted with eligible men for her future.
"It's dangerous, you know about the attacks that had been going on, I wouldn't want you to go alone," her mother persuaded, placing her hand on the basket.
"It's close mama, and I thought the hunters had been issued to hunt for the wolf that attack Mr. Hearst," answered Rose. She didn't see why she had to bring her sister when it was close.
"That is what they said," her mother sighed and Rose's green eyes turned more curious, "It is said that the attack didn't come form a simple hungry wolf but something far worse. I heard that there were a couple of odd things about the corpse. Mr. Hearst's body had been ripped and torn to pieces by claws. There were traces of roughhousing like when a cat was playing with a mouse. The magistrate declared that it's obvious it was a work of a beast. A very large large wolf," said her mother; Rose, who had quite an imagination in her mind shivered like her mother did as she had ended her talk.
"No matter how large it is, it won't be as large as bears, isn't it?" asked Rose because from the way her mother described it, it appears that the wolves were both tall and large.
"There aren't wolves that are as large as bears, Rose," came the gentle voice from behind that took the attention of Rose and her mother.
Rose turned her head, seeing her sister looking at her back with her brown eyes shining over her beautiful face. Even though she didn't do anything less than washing her face, Josephine, her older sister was beautiful as the blooming flower. The beauty which Rose admired and hold as a pride. Stepping closer, Josie, who was shorter by half an inch smiled at Rose when their eyes met, who then begins to untie her dusty blonde hair and set it to her right shoulders
Rose returned the smile at her sister's words and said, "I have read in the books once that there is something called mutation. It happens often in animals who have stayed too long in the forest affected by climates and their environment sometimes by what they consume as well, causing their body to enlarge or reduce in size."
Josie lightly chuckle, "You shouldn't trust books wantonly, Rose. They often have the habit to mix lies with truth," advised Josie but Rose disagreed because books are the window of knowledge; it was due to reading books that Rose had acquired information of some herbs and medicinal plants she could use to heal wounds and illness.
"But there is still the truth," Rose answered to have her older sister sigh.
"I heard what you are talking earlier mama; are you really thinking of sending invitation to Aunt Marie?" Josie asked, her tone was slightly laced with bitterness which both Rose and her mother could pick out. Out of their family, Josie was the person who is against her aunt the most.
"Well, we are a family. Things like holidays are the best when we spend it together. I hope we can do that with your aunt this year," her mother kept her tone light but Rose know that there was sadness in her voice, something which saddened Rose as well. While some people tried to keep their family close sometimes the other person wouldn't think of the same, such was the case to their aunt.
Josie sighed, shaking her head as she looked at her mother and younger sister who were both naive to her eyes, "Aunt Marie wouldn't want to stay at our house for too long. If she doesn't send letters to us in intention to spend her holidays; I don't see the need for us to invite her every years only to be turned down."
Mrs. Maury showed a small smile, "Dearest, I know. But between two people it is always one of them who need to make more efforts to achieve what we want. I am sure there must be a reason why she turned our invitation down."
"Yes, all those empty reasons that said she had prior party engagement and soirée. Mama, I think we should put this to rest. To be honest, I don't see her willing to come here even after we got married," Josie said with a bitter look on her face.
Rose looked at her sister, and thought of how she cannot blame her sister's reaction which might come off as rude to others. They both know that Aunt Mary dislikes living in the village. After being married to a wealthy man, they saw their aunt feeling uncomfortable whenever she came to a village.
Although the village itself was not the problem for Aunt Marie, she didn't want to remember living in poverty. However, despite their aunt not wanting to come to the village, she would send them an annual gift each month and the girls appreciate her kindness.
Nowadays, her mother has been making changes for her aunt to stay, and the girls both hoped Aunt Marie would spare her time to put their mother's efforts as a chance for them to relish the time when the two were inseparable.
Rose held her sister's hand, trying to be the bright one on the room so they won't have a gloomy air. "I think Josie, maybe auntie is very busy. We don't know the life of the wealthy but then most people have their life it is just that the time wasn't perfect for it. I trust that auntie also want to be with us, every years she sent us gifts and letters to express that."
Josie thinned her lips, her eyes showing the dislike. "We are not beggars that keep waiting for her gifts. While I am thankful, I would be more thankful if she can show herself for once."
"I am sure that day would come soon," Rose said, trying to keep her family away from discourage. She changed the conversation, "Where is the letters, mama? I will deliver it now."
"It is in the cupboard on the foyer," said her mother and Rose tugged Josie's hand, leaving when her mother added, "Oh! And don't forget to bring your umbrella!"
Being youthful, the two girls were quick to arrive on the foyer of the door. While Rose took the white envelope after looking around the top of the cupboard, she heard Josie whose cheeks were bright pink, talking with vivacity about the man who had saved her a month ago whom then her sister fell for. "Mr. Harding said that the new shoes had been sent and the King had even requested one shoes to be made for him. Isn't that amazing?"
"It is," Rose said in surprise. For a shoemaker to be able to work under the King is no less than a dream and the man had achieved it which only added more thought in Rose how she support Josie to bond with the man whose name was Jayden Harding. "It had been three days since you met sister, you said that he went to Vinney, right? You should come and visit his shop when he came back."
"That is what I am planning to do, I also—" Josie's words stopped all of a sudden. Rose turned her face to look at her sister when Josie had left the door they had been standing and quickly ran over the yard, coming to the gate with a clear excitement.
Rose didn't know what happened that had her sister excited and she followed her gaze to see the tall man who had walked by the house. In time her green eyes met the man's brown ones, Josie's voice bloomed, "Mr. Harding!"
Mr. Harding heard Josie's voice but his eyes were unmoved as he stared affixed on the younger girl who still stood in front of the door and he found himself stunned, unable to tear away her gaze from Rose.
"You are blood. You are sisters. No man can break that bond." ― Kim Boykin, A Peach of a Pair*******Rose was startled to hear the name of the man who she and her sister had just talked about to appear in front of them. Being polite as their gazes met, Rose offered the man a smile which was failed to be returned and she noticed how Mr. Harding appeared to be stunned after looking at anything. It caused Rose to look at behind her as there was where she felt Mr. Harding's gazes were directed at."Good afternoon," greeted Josie who tried to put a better smile on her lips so she wouldn't appeared too rushed and excited. "It's nice to see you here."Jayden seemed to be taken by something behind him and Josie turned her eyes after noticing how the man had settled his gaze for too long, ignoring her words. She looked behind finding only Rose and her head tur
"I wish I knew how to quit you." —BrokeBack Mountain, Annie Proulx*******The talk the people had went heated for another round. Rose was not a gossip monger but she had heard something which she cannot let go. Since young, she had been a curious person who would always be interested in things that piqued her curiosity and would never be able to let go of the burning curiosity until she had the answer.In time her curiosity was piqued, Eleanor who was in the center of the conversation noticed her and waved her hand to call Rose from afar. "Rose! Here you are dear. You cooped yourself for so long inside your house that I begin to wonder if you will become a tale and only once in a week would I see you."Rose smiled in response to the woman's words, not taking it as noisy or intrusive. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Eleanor. I overheard your conversation from earlier. Was it about werewolf?""Yes!
"Of two sistersone is always the watcher,one the dancer." ― Louise Glück, Descending Figure****Without knowing Mr. Anonymous's condition, Rose went back home while wondering if the man was truly alright. They didn't spend more than ten minutes and it made Rose wonder why that man continued to linger in her mind despite the brief meeting?"It must be a concern," claimed Rose to herself. When she arrived back home, she was quickly greeted by Josie whose hair was tied in a bun. There were a few men who gathered around the fence and talked with her but once Rose appeared and Josie excused herself, the men scattered. Rose noticed how most of the men appeared to be peeved that they had to part away with Josie that caused Rose to smile.Since she was young, Rose noticed how her sister had always been the most beautiful in the village but her sister didn't seem to notice how the men regarded her as
Rose went down to the first floor of their house. She was a little taken aback and she won't lie by the question Josie had asked. She then remembered about the lingering look that Mr. Jayden Harding had when looking at her."No way," whispered Rose. She wasn't convinced the man would like her when yesterday was only their first meeting. Walking toward the kitchen, she found her mother."Oh my dearest, have you delivered the letter?" The older woman, Mrs. Maury wore an apron over her dress to stop the dusts from smudging over her dress."Yes I did, on my way I heard about Mr. Hearst's accident again. They said there are possible werewolves amongst us in the village," answered Rose as she quickly went on her mother's side, "I will clean the plate," she said dutifully, knowing that her mother need rest.Mrs. Maury let her daughter take over, taking her kindness, "That's impossible. We know there are not
It had been a week since he had been saved by a clueless woman who thought she could help him by a mere umbrella and somewhere with the days passed, he couldn't forget the girl who had took his interest and her sweet scent that still linger in the back of his mind even though days have passed. He knew he had a keen smelling sense, but the girl's scent was something different that even rain couldn't cease him from enjoying her sweet scent.He had threaded the thought of meeting her again and ordered his subordinate to quickly find the woman who he had been wanting to meet again. As for what he wanted to do when meeting her again, he put the thought on hold; thinking to choose what to do when he met her again who he had named in his mind as the rabbit of rose.When a knock came across his room, the man walked over the room and open the door. The maid who stood before the door had her eyes widen when she looked at his hair that was dampened and
The atmosphere in the room turn stifling but Dominic was full of smile. Unlike others he quite entertain the hobby of seeing other squirm on awkward situation and to create the situation. He took a seat in front of his parents, "Tell me, mother and father, I supposed I am called here for a reason, am I not? As your obedient son, I will listen to all your every commands. What can I help you with?"Dominic's affluent words sounded sweet to the ears when only lady Ashley and Cain could hear the exaggerated sarcasm he accentuate in every words he said. No one could take offense of his polite yet poisonous words."We have been thinking, Dominic," Lady Ashely started, her painted lips were pulled wide.Dominic raised one of his eyebrows. His "beloved" step mother was a woman who take offense on the littlest thing even if she falls, she was the type of someone who would blame the floor instead of her own goddamn legs that often
In Dominic's eyes there was sparkling interest. The girl had caught his attention like no one ever did. He didn't really feel attracted of kindness but no one had ever been kind to him. Through one small gesture of lending an umbrella, the woman caught his interest for she appeared not only a pure heart but a very peculiar line of thinking which attracted him.He had to be honest, he had never seen a soul so compassionate who would worry more about him than herself against the face of danger. She wasn't naive and now that it was dangerous, the little trembling of her slender fingers against his chest was still memorable to Dominic until now. She was only and simply kind.Cain had never seen the expression on Dominic's face despite being with him since they were young. He didn't know why this girl could attract Dominic's interest as not many could. And for those who did, they are now mostly turned into skeletons for they had attracted only th
"A crash never occur suddenly. It all started with fissures and the unseen cracks. How fearsome it is."**********Rose held the handle of the pot, bringing it toward the table where the cover had been set. On the front side of the seat she took was her mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Maury while on her left side was her sister, Josephine.When the dinner begin, Rose can't stop marveling at the taste of the soup, was there anything more fulfilling than ting a warmth bath or eating a delicious food after a tiring day? Well to Rose there was nothing. She recalled her cousin's remark where she commented about how mundane her days must have felt with how simple they live. But Rose thought it was the opposite.To have her family on the dinner table, together while sharing stories, she felt nothing more fulfilling and rewarding. God's mercy was by bringing her a peaceful day like today was.