The Jones Legacy~Chapter 3~Ch-Ch-Changes

The next morning I woke early.  My brother was not in his upper bunk in our room, he had spent the night on the couch.  The house was quiet.  Quite the difference from 12 hours before.  I went into the kitchen, and stood at the sink for what seemed like forever.  I was lost in the early morning sunrise.  The hills of Hidden Springs were  bright as the sun shone on them.  The ground sparkled like diamonds as each ray of sun hit each dew drop that had formed overnight on each blade of grass.  The sky was still light purple from the evening sky but was quickly turning a golden yellow as the sun rose higher and higher above the town.  A sense of calm, and warmth, came over me as I took in the sights of the town from our kitchen window.  I was so mesmerized by the beauty that I hadn't noticed that my mother came down the stairs.



"What are you looking at?" my mother asked in a soft, calm, voice.
"Just the town," I said still looking out the window."it's just really beautiful."
I turned to face my mother and saw that she, too, was mesmerized by the same beautiful scenery I was.
"Yes it is." she finally said. Her gaze went from the window down to me. "Felicity, there is something I need to talk to you about."
My heart beat hard in my chest.  Those words coming from a parent was like the kiss of death for a kid.  Immediately, different thoughts started running through my mind: were they kicking my brother out, was Star moving in with us, did my parents get into a fight after I went to bed-are they getting divorced, are they sending me to boarding school?  The thoughts went on and on for what seemed like hours.
Then, finally, my mother told me what it was she wanted to say, "with your brother marrying Star, and them not having enough money of their own, " my mothers tone was sarcastic at the mention of money, "your father and I, more-so your father than I,  decided it may be best that she move in with us."
I couldn't believe what my mother was saying.
"What?"  I blurted out . "you'll kill each other in such a small house." I scoffed.
"Well, that's," she sighed. "that's the second thing I needed to talk to you about."
I knew she could see the fear on my face.  I knew what was coming. They were going to send me to boarding school.
"We've decided to move into a bigger house." she said.
My heart felt like it jumped into my throat.  Part of me was relieved that I wasn't being sent away, but also upset at the news I was getting. I loved this house.  I loved the views surrounding this house.  This was our home, the only home I've ever known.
"I don't want to move." I said fighting back tears.
"I know.  None of us do, but with Star's family not being financially stable, and with her and your brother not having any money saved so they could move out,  we decided that the best thing was to have her move in with us.  There is not enough room in this house for five people." she explained.
"I don't understand." I said. "You hate Star. Why would you agree to having her move in with us?"
"Because I love my son, and I want my son to know that, no matter how much I dislike his choices, I am there for him. Just as I am for you."

The conversation left a bad taste in my mouth.  I suddenly hated my brother, and Star even more.  Their hasty actions were disrupting my life.  I didn't want to move.  I didn't want to accommodate his soon-to-be wife, and I knew, regardless of what she says, my mother doesn't either. The next few days my parents were busy talking to real estate agents.  On the third day, the "For Sale" sign went up on our front lawn.

It didn't take a week before we had a solid buyer, and the house was sold.

And so, with a heavy heart, we said, "goodbye" to our house.  And hello to our new house, AOK Ranch.