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I brazenly rested my body flat on the faux leather couch like an aged man after a long three-hour train ride back to Abbotsford. Thank heavens Erin was with me to keep me entertained, along with the view of the icy mountains that never failed to mesmerize me. The landscape was stunning especially when seen up close.
Finally, home.
Mom and Nana never failed to go above and beyond. In order for me to live normally, they poured all their love and devotion to me.
Mom's Julliard background and talent in playing the piano was a big help in sustaining my financial needs in school. She would even drive from home-to-home to give private lessons; that way, she'd earn more money. Even though it was a rough industry, we managed.
I closed my eyes as the stereo played Beethoven Symphony No. 7, one of my mom's favorite piece. I remember clear as day how it made me fall asleep without fail at night despite the excessive sounds of the brass and the percussion instruments. The melody had always calmed my senses. Listening to this kind of music after a stressful month of cramming and sleepless nights of finishing assignments, it made me feel more relaxed.
There goes my first year. Three more years of torturous hell in university and I'm done!
"Oh my goodness gracious, have some fresh croissants to fill you up. I've never seen you so skinny." Nana suddenly walked in with a tray full of freshly baked pastries. The smell of butter filled the room and my stomach grumbled, begging to devour the food.
The last time I had a feast was during Christmas and reading week. I lived by cup noodles and Uncle Ben's minute rice during my first year of university. Neither I nor Erin could cook well and we seldom eat out because of my limited budget.
I sat up and reached for a croissant. The aroma of butter was enough to fill me up. "Thanks, Nana. I miss eating real food."
Her wary expression immediately turned into a smile that stretched from side to side. "Congratulations on finishing your first year and selling your first art, dearie."
The mention of my art stopped me from taking a bite. I wasn't sure if selling an art in which I didn't even put my heart into was something to be proud of or worth to be celebrating about. Nana had always been my number one fan when it came to my art, but I wished inwardly that she wouldn't ask how I got the inspiration.
"Tell me dearie, what kind of art is it? I never had the chance to see it," Nana's face morphed into this sweet and eager expression with big, shiny googly eyes.
Jinxed it. How could I tell an old lady that I made a nude painting? Knowing her conventional value, she'd find that fact outrageous.
"It's a new approach Nana. It's an impressionistic painting. Never done it before," I mumbled. Impressionism really was my weakness in my opinion. Capturing little details, making it photograph-like could take a lifetime to master.
"...and?" Nana trailed off, impatient.
"and..." I mimicked.
"and I think you should give us an explanation why you have these," my mom, Carol Wren, blasted in the living room, holding up a thick envelope enclosing two plane tickets I purchased few days ago.
It was meant to be a surprise and I assumed she'd be happy to go, but her tone was implying otherwise. Her usual clear blue eyes turned dark and flashed at me. Was she mad?
With a wry smile, I brushed off the thought. "We're going to Toronto. I thought that maybe we can see dad's mural and go around the city, go to the CN Tower or maybe go to Niagara Falls. It's really popular. Just think of it as a treat from me."
The background music made my nerves worse as the timpani bang wildly; the violins created a suspenseful tune that made my voice fade as I finished my sentence.
Mom was not impressed as she shot me daggers. A lump in my throat prevented me from speaking up. Dad was as good as taboo, and mentioning about Toronto was enough to give me the death glare.
She sighed. "I appreciate you doing this but we are not going to there. Absolutely not." she attempted to walk out but I stopped her.
"Why?" My heart thumped in uneven beats from my bold act to ask.
She studied me with raking gaze. I'd never seen mom so angry over a simple question. Why was she acting weird every time I mention dad or Toronto? It was just a simple visit.
"We're not going back there and that's final. Understand?" she said with finality in her tone.
I smiled bitterly. As much as I wanted to pry and get answers, it would only get me into so much trouble. I did not expect her to be this upset, though. I thought I was doing the right thing.
"I just thought you'd be happy if I take you with me," I said to mom. "Besides, I really want to go see dad's art."
"Emerald, drop the subject. You are not going there." Her matriarch tone made me cower. When she thought she had made her point clear, Mom marched out of the living room, leaving me to a state of shock.
Nana tried to comfort me but I turned my back and ran to my old, little sanctuary— my room.
As soon as I opened my door, a hint of newly lit apple cinnamon candle that I adore during the cold winter nights welcomed me. I sat on the edge of my single bed that was neatly arranged, pillows stacked high. Even my sheets were fresh out of the dryer. The warm heat ran through my palms and the refreshing smell of mom's usual softener made me feel at home.
I smiled inwardly at the thought. This is home, idiot.
Even though I was away for school, mom and Nana took care of my room as if I was here the whole time. I could almost imagine them folding my clothes and putting them away even though I'd told them countless times that I'd do it myself. I think she was forgetting that I was already nineteen— capable of moving out to explore the wonders of life and the world had to offer myself. But I couldn't help but feel shameful of my childish act two minutes ago.
"What's gotten into her?" I muttered to myself. It'd be a waste if I didn't convince her to come with me. I had purchased the tickets and it'd be a waste to not go.
I sighed. I should've taken Erin's advice to ask mom's permission first. After all, she had too much in her plate.
I waited for a few days to let her think about it. But few days did not help either. She was obviously furious. Every single one of my attempt to talk to her about Toronto was a flop.
I wasn't sure if it was her maternal antennae working, assuming that I would convince her to move there, but whatever it was that held her back left me extremely curious.
Every time I decide to sit back and wait for her to cool down, the more I realize that I was just wasting my precious time. Aside from my occasional running errands for Nana, quick shopping with Erin, and sleeping in... summer hadn't been exactly exciting.
The fruitful days of the month of spring were slowly decaying and I didn't want to spend the rest of vacation moping around and waiting for a miracle to happen.
"Hello dear," a soft voice called out to me. It was Nana, dressed in her thick fabric nightwear that draped down to her ankles. Her warm, loving hands cupped the ball of my shoulders then kissed the top of my head.
She then handed to me an envelope where the tickets were carefully placed in. I frowned as I took them from her.
"I guess we're not going, huh." the glum expression smeared all over my face.
Nana caught the tip of my chin and tilted it up. "It's okay. Your mother and I talked about it already. This is your moment, dearie. Go out to the world, cultivate your talent and share it. Just like how your father did it in the past. I am so proud of you, dear." She smiled at me gleefully with tears welling up in her blue eyes.
"How did you convince mom though?" I probed. And just when I was about to give up the thought of coming to Toronto, Nana became my saving grace.
She shrugged in reply. "Does it matter? Of course I had to pull the mother-in-law act." She replied with a smirk while I inwardly applauded her. Even my grandmother had a few tricks up her sleeve despite her age.
But I grimaced at the thought of going alone. I intended to bring Mom and Nana with me— to make happy memories. I was about to say thank you to her when she handed me a chestnut coloured box—a jewelry strongbox that I'd never seen before.
She signaled me to open the box by nodding once. In it were a few sepia and colored images with the dates plastered on the on the bottom right. I put the strongbox on top of my desk while I scan through the images.
A picture of me made me laugh heartily. "When was this?" I asked while I point at the photograph. Nana shifted over to my side and glanced over the picture.
"Oh. I remember this clear as day. You were only six years old. I left you for about ten minutes and when I came back from the kitchen, you already managed to coat your body with paint! Oh your mother was furious when you walked around the house, tainting the carpet and the walls." She replied with undeniable delight in her tone.
I scanned the piled photos a little bit more. Most of them had handwritten notes at the back but I didn't bother reading them. What caught my attention was my mom and dad standing side by side with a happy expression. It was their wedding picture.
Mom looked almost the same but with longer hair, slimmer, and a tad bit younger. She wore the whitest wedding gown, simple yet the intricate detailing was very prominent. Her head was slightly tilted up, smiling at her husband. Dad, on the other hand, looked very healthy and happy. He looked as if he was laughing in the picture.
"Look inside the box dear," Nana muttered.
I did what I was told and found a silver key. Is this a car key?
"That's the key to our old house in Toronto, where your dad practically grew up and first started painting. It's been eighteen years since I moved here with you and your mom and I'm afraid the house needs a little tending. It's too old."
The thought of selling the house my heart ache. I wanted to relive my father's early years in painting at least before a prospect buyer appear out of nowhere.
But my curiosity spiked. "But why didn't you sell it back then when you had the chance?"
Nana paused, deep in thought. "I was waiting for the right time. You know honey, the market and all that stuff. But it slipped my mind since I'm very old already." She answered with a chuckle. She just turned seventy-three in January and glad that despite her age, she was well and healthy.
"Go and explore Toronto. After all, it's where your dad planted his seed of dreams. I simply want you to see it for yourself."
I rose up and gave my grandmother a tight embrace and muttered my thanks. She patted my back and excused herself after she planted a goodnight kiss on my forehead.
The moment she shut the door behind her, I went back to checking the rest of the strongbox. I saw the picture of the house Nana was talking about a while ago. Thankfully enough, the address was written behind it. The house was a bungalow type with plenty of flowers planted on the front yard. I thought it was very much like my grandmother to plant roses and daisies.
Then an idea hit me like a thunderbolt.
I grabbed my phone and dialed Erin's phone. I was immediately connected to the other line after two rings.
"Want to come with me to Toronto?" I queried.
"Hell to the yea!" she quickly responded with gusto. "When are we leaving?"
"We'll leave in two days. Is that alright with your parents? I mean it's a quick notice."
"Em, we lived together in one apartment for eight months. They will feel better if they know I'll be with you. I think they even trust you more than their unica hija." Erin complained. Knowing her religious and strict parents, they'd always felt better whenever I was with Erin. It wouldn't be a problem.
We bid our goodbyes after planning our unplanned summer vacation. I felt both excited and scared at the same time. I was about to discover many of my father's art, and the thought of seeing a part of him with my own two eyes made me restless.
Three months would be a plenty amount of time for me to uncover my father's artwork. My hands would start to itch every time I think about the wide array of possibilities of artwork I could accomplish.
Suddenly, I couldn't sit tight anymore as excitement filled me.
I can't wait for Tuesday to come.
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Toronto, ON
The moment I stepped on Toronto soil, my excitement was sky high—until I entered Nana's old house.
Oh it's beyond old, alright.
The exterior of the property was presentable; sunflowers were growing in the front yard; the grass was scythed; and a few dandelions were growing. It was too presentable for an empty and abandoned property of eighteen years.
But the inside was horrible. The wooden floor was squeaky and rickety, the couch was dusty, and the lights were all busted. I was fairly astounded that no raccoon had housed the place. A burglar must've walked past this neighbourhood at some point in time yet not a single broken window was present even though it had been empty for many years.
So instead of going around the city, we decided to fix what we could. Cruising around could wait anyway.
For the past four days, we busied ourselves with finalizing the handyman work and shopping for groceries, pillows, bed sheets, and other home décor. We even managed to find a cheap telephone company that could provide us with a monthly pocket internet connection.
"Emerald! Come see this!" my best friend called from the front yard where she was watering the sunflowers. I scurried out of the old studio where I holed myself for the past two days, wiping down the dust that collected on the paintings that was hung on the wall. All of them had the initials F.W signed on the bottom right and knew exactly that they were all of my dad's.
As soon as I slid the door open, a black car was parked by the road and a woman dressed in a black pin skirt and white blouse exited the car. She marched forward and hailed with a friendly smile. Even from afar, I could tell that she was a very elegant woman.
"Good day. My name is Denise Lauren; I work for the CEO of D.V Aircraft. I assume you are the owner of the house?" she turned to me and uttered in a professional tone.
The woman named Denise looked intimidating enough in her black and white ensemble with a pair of sleek and superb Prada suede and crisscross stilettos. I glanced over Erin who was already standing beside me with the host in her hand, fanning herself like a fan-girl as soon as she heard the name of the company she was working in. She was obviously aware of the company since she was taking a business degree.
I exhaled loudly. "I'm not the owner, it's my Nana's. Is there anything I can help you with?"
The woman suddenly groped inside her briefcase and pulled out a folder with ample amount of paper. She handed them to me.
I shot up a brow. "What is this?" I asked as I went through the folder that said D.V Aircraft on the front cover.
"That is a contract that will allow the owner to sell out the property for a specific amount written at Section 2, paragraph eight. Many of the homeowners around this area already signed but the owner of this property is nowhere to be found. As you can see Miss..."
She stopped her seemingly boring explanation the moment she realized that I didn't have the chance to introduce myself.
"Wren." I replied, my voice tense and low. "Emerald Wren."
She nodded. "As you can see Miss Wren, my boss will be residing in this area. In order for his own place to be fully functional, which is preferably in six months, he needed his full sized outdoor pool and tennis court, which according to the blueprint, will be in this very same spot."
My mouth dropped in awe. I didn't know which part of the contract astounded me more— the massive construction of what Denise claimed to be a "humble abode" or the fact that this broken down house would cost Denise's boss a million dollars.
Yup. Section 2, paragraph 8 was no joke. I had to support Erin's back before she fell unconscious after seeing the amount herself.
I scoffed. There was nothing humble about buying the whole neighborhood just for a "humble abode"— it was a mansion. He or she had to be insane to pay that much for an old house.
I remembered the conversation Nana and I shared before I left Vancouver. Yes, the fact that she had waited for the right time for the house to be sold in the market indicated that she didn't need the house anymore. But for me, this was a newfound place, somewhere where I felt alive and inspired. I felt a little closer to my deceased father by living under the same roof, where he grew up in.
Erin nudged me to the elbow, making me snap out of my reverie. I leveled my eye contact to the slim woman who was patiently waiting for me to sign the contract.
I cleared my throat and swallowed hard. "I'm terribly sorry Miss Denise but this property is not for sale." My words stung Denise like bees that it only led her looking flabbergasted.
"In fact, I don't think it'll ever be." Without waiting for her to reply, I grabbed Erin's arm and dragged her inside the house. The moment I closed the door behind me, I was pretty damn sure that I made it very clear that I didn't want this house to be sold to whoever.
I gave it a good minute before I peeked through the window. Finally, Denise and her gang were clear from my peripherals. I limped in the couch as soon as I realized how much deep shit I just got into.
"Holy crap, Em! Are you sure about this? This is serious stuff— D.V. Aircraft is not a small business, you know." Erin emphasized as she put a hand on her hips.
The beat of my heart stabilized now. A million dollars. I couldn't help but shake my head in disbelief. "What's the big deal about this company anyway?"
Erin shot up an eyebrow. "They are the reason why you are able to fly from Vancouver to Toronto."
I paused and thought about it for a second. "A ticketing company?"
Erin snorted and dropped her body on the other couch. "No, silly. They manufacture aircraft parts for any airline around the globe. Did you know that the family has a net worth that is in par with the Prince of Dubai?"
I groaned. Formidable opponent indeed, but let it be the Prime Minister or even the richest man in the face of the earth, the sentiment and attachment that built up for this home would never overweigh any amount.
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A/N: Here's chapter three is heeere! *happy dance* Emerald's character is changed a bit, don't you think? The next chapter is so much better so watch out! ;) Please don't forget to vote, comment, and share!
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