New Name, New Home

                                                                       

Chapter 2

Freya 

After being on a flight for three hours I'm so ready to eat and sleep, but the men inform me we have another forty five minute drive to the estate. The two men are about five feet away from me. One is talking on the phone, looking straight at me. He and I make eye contact and he ends the call with whoever he is speaking with. They say nothing, just waving their hands and motioning for me to follow them. We walk through this private hallway until we reach a set of double glass doors. We walk through and we are met with another set of men but this time they seem more friendly. They're both wearing black suits but their hair isn't cut as short as the other two. This time the car is a white four-door sedan with black seats and tinted windows as well. One of the gentlemen opens the back door telling me to get in the four men have a brief conversation about whatever because I couldn't hear anything they were saying then we are off to meet my new "family"

"Do you know anything about the family that will be adopting me  I say out loud"

Sorry to inform you but we are not allowed to disclose that information Ms Myers because you are one of the winners of this year's scholarship program we can not say anything because there are other families and students involved. The closer we get to the estate my stomach feels like it's going to fall out of my chest the man in the driver's seat is looking at me through the rearview mirror he says you are fortunate not many people of color are accepted into the program not knowing what to say I just chuckled and pushed it aside 

"Must have used up the rest of my luck for my whole life I say out loud" 

The other man gives a slight cough to break the silence saying I saw that you would open up a bookstore with the money that you will receive you must really enjoy reading books 

How the hell did he know that I assumed all submission letters were kept confidential? The gentleman in the driver seat slightly taps the man sitting on the passenger side kinda giving him a you spoke too much but maybe I'm just imagining things. 

There's a brief moment of silence throughout the car brushing it off I say 

"It's not the point of enjoying them, it's my safe space through books. I was able to live and escape my reality. Because nothing good ever happens where I'm from only if you're willing to sell your soul for it".

Nothing else was said during the car ride so I pulled out my Kindle and tried to finish the book I was reading. When I looked up we were in a secluded area with nothing but tall trees. It seemed like there wasn't anyone around for miles we reached a long concrete driveway once we made it to the top there was a black gate the man in the driver's seat puts in a pin to open the gate then we drove through 

Finally, we reach the entrance to the estate. Two older white women stand waiting at the door, dressed in matching black and white maid uniforms. Their posture is perfect

"Hello, nice to meet you. I'm Freya Myers." I say with a small smile and wave 

The two women bow, greeting me back like they are trained to be a mirror of one another's actions. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Myers. I'm sorry to inform you that the family is out running errands and won't be returning until later tonight.

If you follow me I can show you to your bedroom room Miss. The house is... stunning. Almost unreal. As we walk through the main hall, sunlight pours in from the floor to ceiling windows, casting long, golden beams shadows across the cedar wood floors  a soft gray with hints of silver. The walls are painted a pure, almost glowing white. In the sitting area, there's a low-profile tan sectional resting on a rich, multi shaded brown rug. A glass coffee table sits at the center, holding a perfectly arranged bouquet of fresh flowers.

It's quiet too quiet. No music. No echoes of laughter. Just the soft click of shoes against polished floor.

The entire estate sits on a huge lake with no neighbors for miles around.

"I never got your name," I said "You can call me Edith, I've been working here on the property for over thirty years now," Edith said 

"Omg, that's a long time. I bet you've seen a lot of amazing things while working here..." I start to say, but she cuts me off before I can finish.

Edith stops so abruptly that I nearly walk right into her. I bump her back lightly, and she turns her head just enough for me to see her eyes.

They're kind  but there's something else there too. A warning. She looks at me for a long second. Doesn't say a word, but somehow I feel like something was said  just not out loud.

Then, she lifts her hand and points to the door at the end of the hallway.

"Ms. Myers , that's your room right there," she says softly.

And just like that, she bows and walks away, her footsteps quiet against the floor, leaving me frozen and uneasy. 

I stare after her for a moment, a chill running down my spine.

"What the hell did I get involved in?". 

.....

Turning the doorknob to enter the room, My eyes adjust to the warm light that pours in from the four large windows that overlook the property. This room is huge, or should I say my room has a large king size bed with the fluffiest tan comforter set, with about a million decorative pillows. The curtains are a silky grey that slightly hits the floor like they tried to add feminine touches but it feels like no one has ever used this room before. Their world is completely different from mine. Where I come from a place where most people wouldn't survive. Wealth like this will cause you to go against your morals. Now it's making me think about what they want with a poor girl like me from Massachusetts. 

The bed is enormous, with the most beautiful mahogany oak frame and a tall, elegant headboard. I've never had a headboard before never even had a bed this big. On either side are matching nightstands, each with a large lamp perched on top. The walls are freshly painted in a soft, creamy seashell white.

I slip off my shoes before stepping further into the room. As I approach the bed, my toes sink into the softest rug I've ever felt. It peeks out from beneath the bed on all sides like a cloud wrapped around the frame. Then, I notice a set of French doors just to the right of the nightstand. Curious, I walk over and pull one open.

The bathroom on the other side takes my breath away.

It's massive far larger than any bathroom I've ever seen. The countertop is a polished marble stone, and warm copper light fixtures hang elegantly from the ceiling. The tub and shower are separate, both designed with the same calming, neutral tones as the bedroom.

I'm so used to sharing a bathroom with ten other kids... I never imagined I'd ever have my own.

I glance up at the mirror and catch my reflection and suddenly, it feels like all of this doesn't belong to me. I don't belong here.

There I am: natural curls frizzy  from the day, beat up Converse, stretched-out black leggings, and an oversized zip-up sweater that's so big it's falling off one shoulder. I look like what I've always been nothing just a chubby girl with brown skin and black hair, standing in a house full of white people.

Who are we kidding?

They only adopted me for charity. For diversity. I'm probably the closest they've ever gotten to a Black person outside of someone working under them.

"Like, yes, Master," I mutter under my breath, the sarcasm bitter on my tongue.

Can I really live up to what they expect from me? Do I even have the right to feel happy wanted?

Maybe leaving would be best for everyone. Because once they realize I'm nothing special, once they see I'm not worth the investment, they'll toss me aside like everyone else has.

Knock, knock.

"Ms. Myers? May I come in?"

"Yes," I say, just loud enough.

The door opens and Lilith, the housekeeper, steps inside.

"Freya," she says with a kind smile, "I came to let you know dinner is ready. Mr. Calvin and Mrs. Catherine will be joining you shortly. You can come down in about twenty minutes."

She closes the door gently behind her, leaving me alone again with my thoughts.

And that's never a good thing.