Chapter Ten:

"Thank you for always being here for me," I admitted. Kate had been the one constant person in my life.

"I know this is a hard subject for you sweetheart, but I care about you and need you to see this is not how you should spend your life." She touched my hand and I knew she meant well.

"I know you are totally right," I told Kate knowing that I needed to figure out my life. "I need to start thinking about my future, I want more than this." I choked.

"What happened to you wanting to go to culinary school?" She asked, this had been a goal of mine for a few years now, but with my agoraphobia, I have not been able to apply to any college without the fear of attending it.

"After what happened last year, it's hard for me to think about that." I had a major panic attack that send me to the hospital for days. It had been after my last boyfriend had dumped me and shared my issues with everyone.

"I know but that was a while ago Ana, you need to get out there and do things. I know the bar thing didn't work out very well which was my fault because I pushed you to take such a big step, but we can try other things. Maybe coffee at a place that isn't the café we work at?"

"I think I can do that." I shyly answered.

"Well enough of this serious talk," she smiled, "How about we do something today? Maybe a movie or you can teach me how to make one of your amazing peach pies?" She said and I laughed. Kate was horrible in the kitchen and the last time I had allowed her to assist me she had almost burned down the Café.

"How about a movie?"

"Great, what are you feeling like? Horror, action... perhaps romance?"

"How about a family one?" I told her thinking of the boxes that I had found in the attic. "I was cleaning the attic and I found a lot of homemade movies."

"I get to see little Ana, done. How about I fetch it and you make popcorn?" She said and I agreed. It had been a long time since I had spend time thinking of my parents. "Also, I still want you to teach me how to make the peach pie." She pointed at me and we laughed.

"Now where did you say this box is?"

"In the attic, but I'll fetch it if you make the popcorn... and I'll never make the mistake of letting you in the kitchen again" I laughed.

I walked out of the kitchen smiling, I couldn't wait for Kate to see my parents. It had been a while since I was able to look at their pictures without crying. I attempted to shake that out of my mind for right now and focus on my task. I climb up the stairs that lead to the attic and look around for the box. I give myself a mental high-five when I spot it fast. I carefully bring them down the stairs and head into the living-room where Kate is already sitting with a bowl of popcorn in her hands.

"So how do we do this?" She asked looking at me seriously.

"I think we just stick them in the VCR." I laughed.

"No, I mean... should I get tissues?" She was concerned.

"Don't worry, I will be fine," I reassure her.

I looked inside the box and brought a video out. I read the label and saw that it was from Christmas. "Ready?"

Kate nodded her head and I opened the door to my past.

Sam Smith's voice relaxed me as I stir the pot which held my famous leek soup. Cooking had always helped me when I felt anxious and stressed out.

My mind kept running back to Christian, I couldn't get him out of my mind. I didn't really want too. He had given me a glimpse of what being attracted to someone felt like. He had treated me differently than anyone else in my life. People usually dismissed me because of my agoraphobia but not him. Not that he knew I suffered that, but he had been very understanding with my anxiety attacks.

Kate had left me with so much to think about. Perhaps it was time I started to think about my future and what I wanted it to look like? I will be turning twenty-three in two months and I needed to spread my wings and fly away from my aunts hold. I knew I wanted to change. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life here. I knew that my aunt would never truly let me have full control of Hug in a Mug Café. I also knew I couldn't take big steps too soon or it would be like the last time. I would break.

The egg shape timer rang and I knew it meant my dinner rolls were done. Putting my oven mitts on I pulled out the tray and took in the wonderful aroma. Cooking was my passion and perhaps that could be my future. The front door opened as I was placing the rolls into a bread basket and my aunt walked into the kitchen with a smile on her face.

"Great, dinner is ready." She said as she took the bread basket from my hands and took it to the table. "How did the cleaning go?"

"All done," I answered her, " I have a few things to get rid of-"

She reached for my hand and squeezed it, "Thank you for doing it."

I nodded my head as I walked to the counter and filled two bowls with leek soup, "While I was cleaning, I found a black briefcase with my fathers' initials. I tried to open it, but it needs a key." I take the bowls of soup and place them on the table, "I was wondering if you have the key?"

"A briefcase? Sorry sweetheart, I haven't looked through that stuff since your parents died."

"It's alright, I just thought I would ask," I said and took a seat. Maybe I was just not meant to see my father's stuff.

"It is probably just work stuff." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Yeah, you are probably right." I took a spoonful of my soup and let the briefcase go for now.

I awoke in the middle of the night to someone speaking in the hallway. I rubbed my eyes and tried to listen to the voice, but I couldn't make out the words. I stood up and moved to the door.

"I know... I just need more time-" the voice was my aunts, "Yes, I'll be flying to New York soon. I'll have the papers signed by then... Yes, I won't let you down."

What is she talking about? I opened the door slightly, but she was no longer there. I closed it and leaned on it. My aunt had always been mysterious, but something didn't seem right. Was she hiding something from me?