FATHER ALWAYS SMILING

Chapter 03 ~~~~~~

The rest of the move went on progressively well, after having to help with the issue that was the couch that somehow managed to get wedged in the doorframe as Elain practically used her whole-body weight by jumping on it to get it unstuck. The remainder of things to be unpacked in the majority of boxes now scattered about the house.

The majority of which were either placed in the corresponding bedrooms or the basement. All the while trying their best to organize what would go where.

Elain fell to sit onto her bed, landing with just a slight bit of movement before settling in the softness of her sheets then laid down. Something she had to be self-conscious of now more than ever when doing things that would be seen as mundane or simple. It was the first thing she did when unpacking her things, taking out her bedding, airing it out and giving it a light spray of lavender air freshener before making her bed. It was what mattered first and foremost. For the rest of her belongings, she could take her time. It made her wonder just what might happen in the future of living in a new country, a new place. She could only hope that it would be for the better.

Her mind began to drift; the smell of the lavender made her sleepy as she closed her eyes.

However, the next thing she knew was hearing the sound of her sister calling to her in a loud voice that jolted her awake. "Ellie!! Wake up! We have food!"

"Kaya, don't be rude," her mother said in a stern voice before coming up the stairs and poking her head into the room. "You hungry?"

"I'm not really up for fast food again so soon."

Zuri smiled. "Well, then you're in luck." When Elain gave a confused frown, her mother said. "Come downstairs, and you'll see."

Hoping out of bed, Elain headed downstairs, where the smell of something amazing filled her nose. Entering the kitchen, she saw what looked to be a large pie of some sort sitting in the middle of the island while her brother and parents pulled out plates and utensils to use. "Okay, who'd you guys rob?" she said, which caused her father to laugh as their mother lightly slapped his arm with a smile of her own. "No, seriously, where'd you get this? There's no way this was frozen. It looks too perfect for that."

"A neighbour of ours saw us and brought this over. He lives right across the street. He said it was a welcome gift to the neighbourhood." Said Jair. "Your mother had a chat with him while your brother and I tested out the power."

Elain thought about the little girl she had seen earlier that day. "What was he like?"

"He was nice," Zuri said before Nate added.

"Oh, come on, Mom, we know what you're really thinking. You talked to that guy for like, forty minutes."

She arched a brow at her son before answering. "He is nice and not bad at all in the looks department, either."

"More handsome than me?" Her husband placed a hand along his chest as though he had been stabbed. "You wound me, my love!"

Their mother snorted in response. "There isn't anyone on this earth I love more than you Jair, our kids make a close second."

"You're not funny, Mom," Elain said rather dryly.

She moved around the island to kiss Elain on the cheek. "You know I'm joking; I love all of you equally." And she meant it too. Elain knew her mother would do anything to protect her kids, even go full Mama-Bear on those who hurt her children. Elain knew this very well, for what took place just a few months ago, but decided not to bring that up.

"What's our new neighbour's name?" Nathan asked.

"Alastor Hilmarsson."

Nathan frowned, the gears turning in his head. "Is that German?"