"Alice, dear? What troubles you so?"
My mother put her hand on my shoulder, turning me towards her.
"It's nothing mother, just a bit uneasy from the storm" I said turning back to the window. The rain gently pats the window, making a soft hypnotic rhythym. The clouds were dark and thunderous, a flash of lightning a bit of ways away.
The sudden light startled me, making me jerk back slightly. I sighed and turned back to reading my book. I looked up just enough to see my mother reaching out to me.
She gently pushed the stray strands of hair out of my face to behind my ear."Do you honestly think a mother doesn't notice when her daughter is upset?" She traced her fingertips down my jaw and to my chin, lifting my head so our eyes meet. "What is troubling you?"
I tightened my jaw and pulled back. "Mother, if I told you, you wouldn't understand. You would say I am mad for thinking up something as impossible as it seems." My eyes drifted back out the window.
My mother took a quick breath and built up enough muchness to ask me, "may I show you something?"
Out of curiosity, I found myself looking back at my mother. "That certainly depends. Is it pleasant?"
She sighed and took my hands, "come with me." She stood, pulling me along behind her.
I reluctantly followed her out of the drawing room, unaware of the surprise ahead of me.