Chapter 3

Comfort

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more.

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, and confusion to clarity.

It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.

Melody Beattie

Aiofe POV

To say I'm tired it's an understatement, after thirteen hours of being stuck in a plane, I'm ready to get out of here and run around like a mad woman. Despite the fact that I sleep the first part of the fly, I'm starting to get bored, and anxious. I keep playing with the letter that Cedric, the family lawyer, gave me before boarding. I keep holding it close to me, but haven't read it yet. The captain announces that we have arrived to Seattle airport. I check the time and confirm that I have about one hour to get my packs, check them in and get to the next airplane. Checking that all the papers I need are ready, I get up from my seat and for the first time, walk into Seattle airport alone.

Somehow I end on the next plane and I'm already making a happy dance inside my head, not so bad for my first time alone. I try to prepare myself for at least one more hour of flight. I open the envelope and see inside another envelope much smaller that this one and I recognize our family emblem on it, taking the letter out, I start reading:

"Ava,

The other envelope contains a letter from your father, he left it for you and I think you will understand a lot of things when you read it. You will read it when you're ready Ava, so take your time.

I talk to Charlie yesterday, and he said that they will be waiting for you on Port Angeles airport. I need to say Charlie is very excited to have you with him.

I wish you all the luck on this new journey, and remember no matter where you go; we will always be waiting for you here.

Cedric

P.S. Don't worry to much about everyone here, I will take care of everything"

I couldn't help but smile, Cedric say Charlie was excited to have me living with him, and I could finally meet Sue. Putting the letters back into my bag I let my thoughts run free as I watched the cloud pass. The flight was quite peacefully for me, and before I could notice, we were already at the Port Angeles airport.

While picking up my luggage, I started to feel uneasy. What if Sue didn't like me? I walk towards the arriving door and I see Charlie, his brown hair is instantly recognizable, beside him I saw a woman with black long hair, and copper skin. I see Charlie smiling and pointing towards me, having that kind look in his brown eyes, and I can't resist it anymore. Running towards him, I drop my luggage when I got close and embrace him. I feel Charlie arms move around me and I can't help but smile. I step back, the smile still on my face.

-Hello Ava- my smile grows bigger as he makes use of my nickname instead of my name. - Ava this is Sue, my wife. Sue this is Ava.

-Nice to meet you Aiofe, Charlie has told me a lot of things about you- Sue shakes my hand and smiles kindly to me.

-Nice to meet you too Sue, but its Ava to family- I gave her a quick hug and hear Charlie soft laugh.

-We better pick up your luggage and get going.

I look back to the mess I left on the floor and giggle. Sue and Charlie help me with the luggage and get going to the cruiser. The drive from the airport towards the house was truly joyful to me. Sue was always talking with me, and Charlie will make that grunts when something was too tacky for him. I already got the feeling that Sue and I will be great friends. When the cruise parked in front of the house, Charlie sends Sue and me inside the house, so she can show me the bedroom while Charlie got my luggage.

-Up this way- Sue tells me. I follow her to the bedroom down the hall.

My name appears on the door with blue and purple shiny dust. I open the door and I freeze at the door. Before me was the most beautiful room I have ever seen. It wasn't as big as my old bedroom, but it was perfect. The walls were painted with a baby blue and a purple line in the middle, the double bed against one of the walls has silver bedclothes, a small wood desk was on the other side with some books over it, but what I love the most was the view, I can see the backyard and the tree line. I walk to the middle of the room and absorb every detail of my new room. I feel Charlie walking in and leaving the luggage.

-I know it's not what you're used to- he mumble- but…

-It's perfect, Charlie- I turn around and smile-. It's absolutely perfect, and I'm very thankful for it.

Charlie grunts and Sue place her hand on his shoulder.

-Dinner will be ready soon, if your not too tired.

-Not really, I will start unpack my stuff and I will be downstairs, alright?

Sue nods and goes downstairs, follow close by Charlie. Hearing the T.V., I start to get my clothes on the drawers, about half hour later I'm pretty much done. Proud of myself I left my room and join Charlie and Sue for dinner.

Dinner was quiet and wonderful. The food was simple and though I hardly knew what I was eating, I enjoy it. Saying good night to them, I change and for the first time on a very long time, I fall sleep without trouble.

I wake up and turn towards the window, watching the trees. I heard someone humming downstairs and I recognize Sue voice. I got up and take the first pair of jeans and a purple blouse and throw them in the bed. The bathroom is small, but I pretty much don't mind, taking a quick shower and putting some fresh clothes, I feel ready to tackle the day. I got downstairs and see Sue baking something.

-Good morning Ava.

-Good morning Sue. Uhmm where is Charlie? - I ask, as I sit.

-He needed to take care of something down the station, but he will be back soon. He is taking some days off while you get used.

-Oh… ok.

-Are you ok Ava?

-Yeah… just feel bad for all the trouble that I'm giving to Charlie.

Sue sits next to me and holds my hand.

-Don't worry Ava; it's not trouble at all- she reassures me-. So what do you want to do today?

-What do you normally do?

-Well make breakfast, do some chores, go to the bakery and then come back home to make some dinner.

-Well, I will love the breakfast, you can later tell me what chores should I do, and I will really, really love if I could go with you to the bakery and maybe if you want teach me how to bake.

-Sound like a plan, Ava.

I eat some pancakes and milk. Sue told me to clean my room and the bathroom. It was the first time that I got to do this without help and I was really enthusiastic about it. Think I might have scare Sue a little bit, since I go up running. I can hear her laugh as I run to the room and start making my bed. Charlie arrived when we were almost done with the cleaning. I hear Sue and Charlie talking, and I run downstairs.

-Morning Charlie- I could see Charlie making an attempt to smile to me, but I could see he was annoyed about something. – What's wrong, Charlie?

-Your mother called- I sit on the stairs and try not to panic-. She told me she was worried since you never called her and you haven't pick up your cell phone. –I can only nod. – You should probably call her Ava, I know it's hard but she is still your mother.

I got up and walk to my room, pick up my phone and stare to the screen. I didn't have any missed calls, I knew she was lying, but Charlie didn't need to know how bad our relation truly was. I dial her number and wait.

-Hello my sweet daughter- I hear her mocking voice-. I see that stupid cop did give you my message. Hope you are enjoying yourself.

-Hello mom- I tried for my voice to sound neutral-. Everything is fine.

-Oh Aiofe, five words from you and you already get me jaded. I expect you to keep calling me or pick up my calls, if you don't want for me to call Charlie to get news from you. We don't want for him to think badly of our relation, isn't it?

-I will remember mom- the line went death and I try shaking the troubled feeling I was getting. She can't really hurt you, you are here now. I tell myself. Don't worry about it. I take a deep breath and fake a smile, ready to spend a wonderful day with Sue and Charlie.

Through all the day Charlie and Sue give me worried looks, but never asked what happen between my mother and I, which I'm pretty thankful for that. Charlie stayed all the day with us on the bakery, and I couldn't help but laugh at his attempts to make something edible. Sue's bakery is something else, have so many open spaces and people is very friendly. I got to talk to so many costumers, and I feel that I have been here all my life. Sue is always ready to give me quick hug and teach me all her secrets. Charlie watches closely, and I can tell he is happy that we are having a great time. By the time we arrive to the house, I'm ready to go to sleep. Sue look and me and send me to sleep, giving me a kiss on the forehead. Charlie messes up my hair and I laugh all the way to my room. Not even bothering to change, I fall sleep on the bed.

By the fourth day, Charlie would go to work a couple of hours and I would stay with Sue. I have two more free weeks before the school start and I love the way my daily routine started to build up. I started to pay less attention to what my mother said during our phone calls. Sue was always talking about her kids, how much she miss her daughter Leah, and how wonderful Seth is, though she miss to see him during the dinner. She show me a picture of them, Leah looks so much like Sue, though her brown eyes show a deep sadness no matter she is smiling on the photography, and Seth, he looks… well I don't know how to describe him… handsome might apply, but that word feels inadequate for him. Sue tells me that Leah will come on the holidays to visit and I will be able to meet her, and Seth will be probably coming tomorrow for dinner. Hoping today will end soon and tomorrow morning and afternoon goes fast, I let my mind wonder about this unique family I'm starting to be part of.

I struggle a little with this chapter. Hopefully next one will come out more easily. I wait for your reviews and hope you enjoy it!