I didn't waste anytime, I knew everything would take time to fall into place, but I was too excited. Gary convinced me to wait to sign papers until I went home and got everything ready there, it also gave time for my DNA to be processed, but Gary said regardless of the results I could keep the house. I flew home, quit my job and started packing, my friends thought I was crazy moving to the middle of nowhere Tennessee with no job lined up or anything. I didn't care, I was buzzing at the idea of getting back to Baxter. It took about a week for me to get my life all tidied up and I go back to Tennessee, this time I drove, bringing some of my stuff with me. I pulled up to the house with a bright smile and took in my suitcase, opening the door with my own personal key. i knew I had to clean out some of Delilah's stuff, but I didn't want to throw out anything that Kurtis or Bryce might want, so I waited. it only took a few more days until my DNA results came in. do i got to use the time to work with the animals until Gary came back to the house.
He handed me the envelope with the results.
"Have Kurtis and-..."
"No," he assured me. "No one has seen it."
I held the thick envelope with my hands and took a slow breath," No time like the present," I muttered and flipped it around to open it.
I skimmed the words,until they landed on a sentence highlighting that my DNA was a familial match to the sample provided.
"It's true," I let a new smile spread across my face. "It's true," I turned the papers towards him. "I really am her niece," I gaped.
Gary studied the papers for a second then smiled to me," Well, congratulations."
I held a hand over my mouth to stop the loud gasp," I... I cant believe it!"
"I'm sure Bryce and Kurtis will love to get to know their new cousin."
I nodded," I can only hope. Wow...it's true."
"I did bring the paperwork to sign, if you're up for it?"
"Absolutely!"
"So there were no problems back home?," he asked as be brought out a pen and a stack of documents.
"Smooth sailing," I giggled. "It's like the universe wants me here," I thought happily.
"We'll then let's get you settled."
It took about 3 hours to fill out everything, get all my questions asked and get done. When Gary was packing up, but before he left he stopped at the door and turned to me.
"So Miss Wellton, are you planning to get in contact with you cousins."
"My cousins," I smiled at the idea. "I should, shouldn't I? I don't even know how to tell them this."
"Well, if your obliged, I can inform them."
"Would you? Really, that would be... that would be great, thank you."
Gary chuckled," No problem Miss Wellton. Oh and, welcome to Baxter."
I waved goodbye to him as he drove down the driveway. This is mine. All mine! I went back inside and started to lay out my plan for this place. I wanted the animals, I wanted to keep them all. I wanted to spruce the place up, add new paint, maybe redo the siding and roof. I still had money left over from my parents death, I wasn't a big spender and my old job covered pretty much all my needs. I need a new job too, I have to apply around here. Hopefully Gary calls Kurtis and Bryce soon, I want them to come and get all the stuff they want.
I waited for 2 days until I called Gary, I was running out of options. I applied for jobs and was waiting for callbacks, I went to Nashville and bought some books on livestock, and even went to a hardware to pick out some new colors for the wall. I was antsy and wanted to get started. Gary told me he had called them and told them the news the same day he was at my house. I asked him to give me their numbers so I could try, but he was reluctant, I could the boys probably had not received the information well. After some convincing, he gave me Kurtis' number and told me Bryce only had a landline.
I called both numbers and left basically the same message that I wanted them to come y and look over the house for anything they wanted. It took another 2 days until Bryce came by.
"Surprised you came," I said as I opened the door to see him.
He took of his hat, his bright blonde hair was matted to his head with sweat. "Sorry for the wait, should have called."
"Want to come in," I gestured and he came into the house.
A silence rang between us, but I pushed through it," I know this is weird... like really weird, I get it. I don't expect invites to your BBQ or anything," I said it as a joke, but it was what I had wanted. "I just, I guess I want to make sure you guys get anything you want here. I don't want to throw anything away and find out it was some precious family heirloom," I laughed nervously.
Bryce nodded," You haven't changed much," he stated as he looked around the house.
"No... I wanted to wait."
He nodded again, I was getting the feeling Bryce was a man of few words.
"So, is there anything you really want? Anything stand out?"
Bryce started to silently look through the living room, then left out the door with a word. Did I upset him? Is he that mad? I went to the door to see, but Bryce came back through holding a box in his hands. He picked up the photo of his son from the shelf and a few other, like the picture on the wall. He then went down the hall towards the bedrooms. I debated following him, but in the short time I've known Bryce, I could tell he was probably not one for company. I sat back at the kitchen table and tried to focus on the paint samples I had got.
Dusty sunset? Maybe Golden Sunflower? That'd be pretty...
"When are you starting?," Bryce asked bring out a full box of random items.
"Starting what?"
"Renovating."
"Oh, I'm just waiting for you guys actually. Once I can clean the place out a bit, I'm ready to get started."
"Did you want the recliner?"
I looked to the living room where the faded tan recliner sat," Not unless you want it."
Bryce nodded," I'll come by tomorrow to pick it up," he paused. "I'll call Bryce. I know Savannah will want to go through this stuff."
"Sure, no problem."
Then Bryce was gone without another word. The next day I was ready for them, but there was no movement outside my door until around 4 pm. I went to answer the knock expecting Bryce, but it was a women I'd never seen before. She had tight dark brown curl that were only about tow inches off her head and thick rimmed glasses framed her eyes.
"Hello! My name is Mary Sicelle and I'm here to welcome you to Baxter," she held out her hands and I saw she was holding a pie.
"Oh... Oh wow, thank you. That's so kind."
"Oh, it's my pleasure. Just heard about you moving into the place, didn't think you'd been here for so long, sorry for my manners," her thick accent drawled.
"No problem," I smiled. "This is so sweet," I held the pie. "Would you like to come in?"
Mary smiled and came past the threshold and into the house. "Not gonna change anything?," she asked looking over her shoulder.
I walked past her to put the pie in the kitchen on the counter. "No, I can't wait to get some fresh paint on these walls. I just want to ... respect the grieving period."
"Oh yes, those Maxwell boys. They'd never show it, but the twos of them got hearts of gold, I tell ya. I was surprised to see they didn't take the house," Mary sat down at the table and looked at my plans of renovation. "Money problems I assume." Ahhh small town gossip, I smiled to myself. I'm sure this town is dying for the scoop of the strange new woman. "Whats your name darlin'?," Mary asked.
"Oh, I'm Caroline, Caroline Wellton."
"Well, Caroline, I knew Del like a sister, she was the woman who used to live here, she and I were very close. I live just down the road, you see, so we're neighbors," Mary smiled.
"Well, I'm glad I have such kind neighbors," I grinned. "Did you want some pie?"
"Oh no darlin', that's all for you. Is your husband around? Kids?"
"No husband. No kids," I plastered a fake smile and cut myself a piece of the pie. Cherry, yum.
"Well, I'll tell you what, we got some fine young men down here. Fine young men. Raised right, real southern gentlemen," Mary brought out a pack of cigarettes and lit one.
"I'm sure," I sat across from her, clearing some of papers away.
Mary picked up a color sample," Desert winds," she read the color out loud. "Not exactly a pretty color," she grimaced at the sandy tan color and then set the color down. "So Baxter, huh? What made you pick here? Del's house?"
Should I tell her I inherited it? I don't know...
"I just like the rustic style," I lied and stuffed my mouth with pie.
"You still have all her stuff here, I see," she glanced to the living room.
"I... I contacted her family so they could come and get what they wanted."
"Funny," Mary huffed. "Don't they usually clear the house out before selling?" I felt like this woman was testing me, everything she said seemed like a double edged sword. Luckily, Mary had a shorter attention span and moved on quickly. "You keeping the farm too?"
"Yes," I nodded. "I want to, I've never worked with animals before, but I'm hoping to learn."
"Well that is good for you," Marry patted the top of my hand and took a long drag. "Well my boy would be happy to help. He helped Del for a while, so he'd know it all. He's so good with the animals, I'll tell you it's like he can talk to them."
"Oh, that'd be great. Thank you." A knock came from the door," Excuse me," I stood up and opened it to see Bryce, Kurtis and Savannah. "Oh, hi," I instantly raised my hand to give a small wave.
Savannah smiled at me," You must be Caroline," she stepped up and hugged me tightly. "It's so nice to meet you."
"Oh...," I hesitated then hugged her back," Likewise."
Savannah stepped in and saw Mary sitting at the table," Mary Sicelle, how nice to see you."
Mary put her cigarette out and stood up," Oh Savannah, you look lovely," Mary took her hands. "Now I want to extend my true condolence for your loss, and both you boys," she turned to Kurtis and Bryce. "I know how hard this must be. You are all in my prayers and your mama still is too."
"Thank you Mary, that means so much to us."
"Yes, thank you," Kurtis nodded.
"Well I'll leave ya'll alone, things like this need privacy," she smiled and turned to me as she left for the front door. "I'll bring Thomas by."
"Oh yeah, Thank you again so much, Mary."
"Have a nice day ya'll," she grinned before leaving.
Then I was alone with my new blood relatives and judging by Kurtis' face he did not want to be here, he avoided looking at me entirely.
"I'm Savannah," Savannah stepped forward," Kurtis' wife."
"I'm Caroline," we shook hands, it was weird to greet her a second time.
"I know," she smiled sweetly," It's so nice to meet. Forgive me for not coming up to you during the funeral. That was," she cleared her throat," that was a hard day for me."
"I totally understand," I nodded.
Savannah shook her head and smiled in disbelief," I just can't believe it. You're a long lost cousin... stuff like this only happens in films."
"Well here I am," I giggled.
Then Savannah got down to business," Bryce tell us you have plans to renovate."
"I do, yeah."
"Well, don't think we don't notice how sweet your being. I mean it, we really appreciate you giving us the time to go through her things."
"No problem," I waved it off.
Savannah nudged her husband with her arm, while smiling at me.
Kurtis coughed and his jaw tightened for a moment as he struggled to say the words," Yes, thank you."
"Well, I haven't touched anything yet, except the spare bedroom. Uhm... anything you want you can have, I mean that, furniture, clothes, anything. I can always buy what I need."
Kurtis scoffed," Nice of you to offer us what's already ours," he muttered.
"Thank you again, Caroline," Savannah smiled, pushing her husband into the hallway. Before they were out of ear shot I could hear them argue," Why would you say something like that?"
"It's true, none of this should be happening."
Bryce had followed them back and I was alone in the living room, well she seems nice. Maybe I have a chance after all. I didn't like the idea of staying in the house, it would feel like I was eavesdropping, so I went outside to see my animals. Everyone was already fed, but the horses seemed restless.
"Hey there guys," I approached them cautiously in their stalls. They let me stroke their faces softly. "I've never ridden a horse," I admitted to them. "But I know I would hate to be cooped up all day too."
I went inside and got my book of livestock, before returning to the stalls and flipped to the horses section. I learned a lot about the creatures, I knew they were smart and could be trained, I had seen a sort of horse competition online. I don't know how long it had been when I heard Savannah call out my name, I got up and went to the house.
"You didn't have to leave," she told me.
"Oh, that's okay. I needed some time with the horses anyway."
"How are those old mares doing?"
"They're restless," I admitted. "Did you guys find all you needed?"
Savannah nodded and I followed her into the house, I saw that the coffee table, recliner and every picture in the room had been taken. That was okay, I was going to buy new furniture anyway.
"What are you going to do with the rest of her stuff," Savannah asked.
"Maybe sell it? Donate it? I don't know."
"Selling might not be the best option," Savannah told me. "You'll get everyone in Baxter up here, but no one'll buy, they'll just come to see the new comer."
I nodded," I've never lived in a small town like this."
"It' not so bad," Savannah told me. "I love Baxter, lived here my whole life and Kurtis too."
"Yeah I heard you were high school sweethearts," I sat at the table.
"You heard right, but not all gossip is truth," she added.
"Of course."
Savannah looked over to the door then back to me," Kurtis will come around, he's just processing it all, ya know?"
"I understand" I nodded.
Savannah smiled," Well, we'll have to drop by soon, maybe bring the kids. I know Carleen sure does love those goats."
"Yeah, that's be great." Savannah turned to go, but I called out," Savannah!" She looked back to me and I took a deep breath," I guess I should ask, how should I tell people I go the house."
Savannah was quiet for a moment," Bryce and Kurtis are still mourning the loss of their mama, but I don't want you to feel alone up here," she told me. "For now, maybe just say you're a family friend?"
It wasn't what I wanted to here, but I could understand it," Sure," I nodded.
"Thanks again, Caroline," Savannah said as she shut the door.
I had been blessed with good weather the past few days, but now all I could see was rain. It rained and rained and rained, making it hard to get anything done, but I still tried. I went to Nashville, rented a U-haul and brought it home to pack up the big things. Savannah and Kurtis did help a lot by clearing out a lot of stuff in Delilah's room. I liked her vanity, but it was so old and faded, I would have to strip it completely and repaint it all, just another thing to add to my list. I moved Delilah's mattress onto the truck and started to bag up her left over clothes. It was not easy, let me tell you, moving a mattress by yourself and in the rain, was not ideal. I managed to clear out most of the stuff and take it to the dump, but the overwhelming possibilities of what I wanted to do started to drown me.
Did I want to strip up the carpet? Put new carpet in? What carpet would match my new walls? What about the kitchen, do I wanted to redo the tile? Maybe that can be a later project or should I do it all at once? Will I move to Delilah's room or stay in the guest room? Should I make Delilah's room a mini library, that could be fun? Maybe a office? A guest room?
I had to take a break and just look out the side door to the pouring ran. I need to make a game plan.
