Chapter 8

I stand on the doorway, waving them goodbye, as Hektor comes next to me, wrapping his thin but strong arm around my shoulders and squeezing my lightly.

"I like him.", he grins, with his mischievous eyes focused far away, on Thomas and the rest walking back to the town. I squint my eyes at him, lips pressed in a thin line and nostrils flaring. "I swear to Goddess...". But, i never finish my sentence. He leans down and presses his lips on my cheek, giving me a very long and noisy kiss. I can't help but smile at him. How is it that their whole life they are driving me crazy but i can't seem to stay mad at them, ever? 

I turn to close the door. Milo comes with a small bucket of water and garden tools.

"Don't close the door, mum. We need to plant the plants that we brought, asap. They are waiting outside!", he moves past me, followed by Sean, who immediately declares he will be helping. So, i guess, i'm leaving the garden to the two of them.

"You know where to put everything?", i ask, just to make sure.

"Yes!", says Sean with a proud smile."The herb garden here, next to the kitchen door, reaching the end of the wall and, from over there", pointing around,"down over there."

"Yes, and we will put one sage plant on either side of the main entrance of the house, two basils outside our front door, bay around the house in between the windows..."Milo picks up after Sean, but his thoughts trail off.

"The rosemary?" he turns to me. "Where am i supposed to plant the rosemary?"

I lift my hand to his cheek, caressing it softly with my thump as i smile gently at him. "You find a spot. Any spot you like. I leave it up to you. The garden is yours to build, as you see fit. You already know the basics, so you figure out the rest as well. I know you will do great!" I say to them, giving them both a quick squeeze and releasing them, but still holding them in my gaze. They have grown so much, i find it hard to wrap my head around it every day. 

"I'm off to my room", Percy says bluntly, coming right towards me. Teenager or not, he doesn't miss a chance for a hug and i couldn't love this more. 

I finish tiding up the kitchen and setting it some more, after an hour or two, i shower, get dressed and head outside.

"I am going to the supermarket. Anyone fancy to come with?" I shout from the lobby, before opening the door.

"I'm coming!", i hear Hektor from the distance upstairs, clutter and thuds as he rushes through the maze of boxes and bags to come down the stairs. There is another set of stairs in the kitchen that he could have used, but for some reason he decided against it. Percy is still occupied in his room, scraping walls, cleaning, painting, and generally fixing stuff, and Sean and Milo have a lot of work in the garden, which is actually starting to take some form. It won't be completed today, though, and that is totally fine by me.

I am positively surprised that they hadn't started complaining yet, being hungry or tired. They aren't used to so much manual labor. I see they are trying to make it work here, they want to make their home here as much as i do. Nevertheless, they will be hungry soon, so i need to go food shopping if i am to make lunch any time soon. 

"Can i drive?", Hektor says as he reaches the car first.

"Not now". I tell him as i unlock and get in. The car is brand new and i didn't have time to fully enjoy it yet. I am not saying he is a bad driver, i am only saying i feel the need to protect it from him a little bit longer.

In any other time, we would have walked to the supermarket-only 15' away from the house, on foot. But not now. I am doing a full stock shopping today. The first 6 days of our time here we fed on ready meals and easy cookings, like pasta, eggs and pastry. Now that the kitchen is thoroughly cleaned, damage-free and partially setted and decorated, i can finally store food the right way and start cooking normal. I literally can't contain my excitement! This house is going to become the most beautiful in the whole town, and i know we will make a good life here. 

As i park in the parking lot and step outside my car, i feel it again. This heaviness, that is so profound in this town. People are so nice and friendly in general, always willing to help us out, but i see the lingering sadness behind their smiles, like something terrible happenned to everyone and they haven't recovered just yet. I suppose that's the mood of this town and we have to live with that. We felt it as we first arrived, and every day since but today it feels more intense, more consuming. I have been in the store two or three times already the past week, but today the cashier, Jack, is gloomier than ever.

"Good morning, Jack!", i smile widely at him, hoping i could make his day. He turns at me and puts on a fake smile.

"Morning to you too, Amy. Hektor." he nods at my son. Hektor nods back, smiling politely. Then Jack turns away and resumes his work. We move further inside, grab a cart each and we scatter, with a different list in hand. Hektor is responsible for prossessed and can foods, along with dairy, meat and other expendable items, like tissues, kitchen paper rolls and such. I am responsible for fresh food, self care and cleaning supplies.

This store is huge and very convenient being so close to our place. I have my cart already half full, but i find it really hard to remember what i am looking for. This heaviness in the atmosphere makes my brain a little bit foggy and i keep looking at my list, trying to concentrate. Like i don't have enough trouble with that on my own. I am so absorbed in my own head, i never notice that huge man lurking in the shadows at the end of my aisle, his bright yellow eyes glued on me. However, i think the air is not so dense on me anymore.