Chapter 2

Michelle lived outside the city, she got off the bus and walked up the driveway of her house. Michelle's cottage was a beautiful place, the bricks were a golden-brown color and was two stories high. The yard was well kept (being a family of sevens in all) the lawn was so lush and there was a field of flowers growing.

Life at home was much better for Michelle. It was a place she could have her independence and no mean kids would hurt you. She gave a small smile and headed up to the front door.

Michelle walked in through the front door and into the hall.

Her mother Denise was in the kitchen cleaning the windows, the kitchen doorway was on the left-hand side of the cottage. Denise was an extremely beautiful woman. She was slim, had stringy dirty blond hair that past her shoulders. She wore a black crop top and a black miniskirt. Although she was in her early thirties she looked like in her late teens.

"Hi mom" said Michelle in a soft but loud enough voice for her to her.

Denise looked over and saw her daughter. "Hello Rosebud," she said gingerly. The name Rosebud was a nickname inspired by Michelle's middle name 'Rose.' Roses were Denise's favourite flower

"How was school?" asked Denise.

Michelle's smile faded.

Denise noticed it and frowned.

"Was Emily McShayne picking on you again?" she asked understandingly.

Although Michelle didn't answer, Denise knew it was true. "I really should tell the principal" she grumbled.

"Mom it's okay, they just threw grapes at me" said Michelle. Michelle's parents were aware of Emily's bullying, but Michelle never wanted them to do anything about it because if Emily got into trouble she would just get worst with Michelle.

"So how did the flower selling go today?" asked Michelle changing the subject.

Being a family of sevens, Michelle's family loved the outdoors, Denise would make bouquets out of the flowers that grew in the field and sold them at a roadside stand.

"It was very nice," said Denise. "I sold fourteen bouquets today!" they sold flower bouquets for $6.89 per bouquet so today they had made $96.48.

"You're father should be home from work soon Michelle," said Denise. "So you can do whatever until dinner's ready."

Michelle's father Bentley was a gardener, he would spend the days cleaning yards, planting flowers, plants and trees, pulling weeds and trimming hedges for twos, threes and fours. While her family never starved, food was just so plain and sometimes never tasted like anything, but when Bentley was able to work for a two he would get money to by more tender tasting food.

As Michelle started to walk upstairs to her room, she heard her mother muttering something. "Sehr schrekliches kind!" she huffed. It didn't take Michelle long to realize her mother was talking about Emily. Denise was German descendant, so she had a habit of talking in German at times. She had taught Michelle German.

Michelle went to her room. It was painted in robin egg blue and pastel purple and the sheets on her bed were in periwinkle. On the bed post was Michelle's favourite picture, it was with her parents and her on the day she was born.

Michelle loved romance stories, but her favourite was how her parents got together. Bentley had spent most of his life living alone, he had preferred to be alone, his mother had past away of respiratory failure and his father left when he was a baby so ever since his mother died he became independent. Denise had formally been an eight she had immigrated from Germany.

One winter night, Bentley had been sitting at home alone and heard a knock at the door. It had been Denise asking for shelter for the night. Bentley attracted by her agreed and let her in. He had taken an instant liking to Denise, so when she was about to leave the next day, he offered to let her stay for a few days saying it was too cold for her to wander outside. As her stay grew longer and longer their love blossomed, they were eventually married.

What made Bentley even more happy was when Denise told him that she was pregnant.

Michelle kept a few romance books around her room, whenever her parents had extra money, Michelle would buy a new book. She opened her case which kept her collection safe. She moved her hand over the line of books deciding which one to pick out, although she read all of them over a dozen times, she loved reading them over and over.

She grabbed her newest book in the collection Cookie love triangle by Cassandra Volansky. It was about two rival female bakers who enter a cookie baking contest to win the heart of a recently widowed president of a real estate business. The main character in the book Brooklyn made Michelle wonder if she was similar to her as she could be mousy and independent like her and her rival Evie was vain and self centered like Emily.

Michelle was so lost in her book she forgot about the time. She had just read all the way up to chapter 5 when she heard Denise calling.

"Michelle dinner!"

Michelle went downstairs. Her father Bentley had arrived home he had a smile on his face.

"The family of twos who's lawn I cleaned today were so pleased about the work they paid me double, so I bought this for dinner."

He held up a loaf of garlic bread. He explained he bought it from an Italian restaurant that had high prices. Bentley and Denise were an example of a perfect couple, they rarely argued and whenever they did fight, it was only over small things and they were quick to make up.

They sat down for dinner, Denise had made a salad out of vegetables and they each had a slice of garlic bread.

"How was school today Michelle?" asked Bentley.

"It was fine dad" muttered Michelle.

Michelle was glad her parents respected her decisions to keep her problems with Emily and the rest of the quartet to herself.

"I'm glad you did good with selling flowers today Denise," said Bentley. "Everyone seems to love the bouquets you make."

"Thanks Bentley" giggled Denise.

Michelle had never given much thought of who'd she marry. But she hopped to find love like her parents did.

"You always seem lonely Michelle," said Bentley. "You never invite friends over."

Although Michelle enjoyed being alone, she liked it, she wished she could have some friends, but she didn't. It seemed she would always be the outsider at Singer High.

"You know a woman who I was selling flowers too today told me that the prince might have his selection soon" said Denise taking a bit out salad.

"I think you'd like to enter Michelle," said Bentley smiling. "I can see the prince falling for you Rosebud."

Although Michelle felt tempted by the fact if she entered it would probably like being in one of her romance stories, but it didn't seem possible. What she mostly planned on was getting out of high school and working in gardens.

It was what she preferred to be around flowers and to be in her room reading books.

"I don't care who I marry dad," she said. "As long as he loves me."

Bentley and Denise nodded in agreement; they knew how their daughter loved romance stories especially their own.

But little did they knew was that Michelle would eventually embark on a journey to love.

Author's note; I got the idea for the romance book Michelle was reading after a Hallmark movie called Cookie cutter Christmas.