Chapter 2: Moving Day
Moving day. Mom's been super stressed out, but who could blame her? Dad had to go back to Seattle to finalize things with the team and to find a house for us. Mom went up there about a week ago to check it out and make sure it was right for us. I haven't seen it yet, but I know it's a big house on the edge of Gig Harbor, close to Olympia. Dad's going to take the ferry over to Seattle for practices and games. Unfortunately, Mom has never coped with stress well, which left me to make sure that everything got correctly packed and labeled. Dad took care of school, selling the house, and moving vans and stuff.
Speaking of school, Mom at least got one thing her way. We had to hurry with the move so much that it turns out we'll have left before my family tree is due. However it also meant that I'd still be left in the dark when it came to my sister. I've only ever seen one picture of her. I found it in my Mom's night stand when I was younger. She caught me looking at it and I haven't been able to find it again. One would think that a grieving mother would want to keep some photographs or mementos to remember their loved one but not Renee. It was as if all evidence of her existence had been wiped clean. She never even added her to the history on the computer it just has her name and date of birth:
Isabella Marie Swan
September 13, 1987
I know she must have kept things, she just couldn't bare to see them, to be reminded that she had indeed lost her only child at the time.
From the short glimpses I had of that photo I knew my sister had my same brown hair and a softer face. She had brown eyes and really pale skin, like mom. I had mom's blue eyes and I got Dad's slightly tanner skin. There was a similarity, but we definitely didn't come from the same father. That was still all I knew.
I took a couple last photos of the empty house to remember it by, before loading my last into the moving truck, and hopping into the car with Renee. We sold my car with the intent of buying a new one once we got settled in. That way we only had to ship Dad's car and could drive Mom's. Phil was already there permanently as of last week, much to Mom's displeasure. He claimed he was needed for preseason practice, but we both knew he just didn't want to be stuck in a car with Renee for a week. I knew I didn't, but I was being a good daughter and sucking it up.
Mom gave me a sad smile as we pulled away from the house in her white lexus. She had the sunroof and all the windows open to capture all the sun we could while we had it.
"Can we stop at the beach before we hit the highway?" I asked.
"Sure," she sounded like she wanted to say goodbye too.
We pulled to the side of the road when we got to a good spot. I jumped out barefoot and ran down to the water with my camera. I snapped a few of the crisp turquoise water and waded in up to my knees.
"Not to far Sophie," Renee called to me, "You don't want to have wet clothes for the drive." I snapped two more shots, one of Mom on the sand and one of my feet in the clear water, before joining Mom on the sand.
"Okay, I'm ready," I smiled.
"You know they have beaches in Washington Soph," Mom said.
"Yeah, but they are cold, not like Florida beaches," I explained taking yet another photo of the underneath of a palm tree.
"Come on, I want to be in Alabama before nightfall," she said putting an arm around me. I nodded and we climbed inot the car again with the windows down, and headed for our new home.
Renee drove through Georgia while we stopped for the night at a cheap motel. The next day was my turn to drive. We loaded up with junk food and Starbucks and drove West. We stopped in Kansas for the night, but stayed up late watching an SNL marathon on NBC, so we got a late start the following day.
I documented our travels with photos and cheap key chains from gas stations. Every few hours we'd stop to walk around and take a bathroom break, but when we neared the end of our travels, our stops became longer and more frequent. Mom was anxious and dreading arriving in Washington, and I was sick and tired of being in the car.
It was the morning of our last day when at long last, I spotted the "Welcome to Washington" sign. I took a dozen photographs of the sign, and Renee, and the car, and I had Renee take a couple of me and the sign. I was just so happy to be almost done driving. I patted Mom's shoulder as we drove into the one state she wished she'd never have to visit, let alone live in.
We got to our new home just after dark and received a warm welcome from Dad. He hugged us saying he missed us and asked If our drive went well. I even cried a little when I saw him. I don't know if it was because I was so relieved to be out of the car and have some space.
"Ah, my girls, I've missed you," Dad said as we walked up the stone path to the house. He was paying close attention to Mom though. I went on ahead, excited to see the house. I didn't bother with the outside, since it was dark, I could see that in the morning.
On entry I was surprised to find that the movers had beaten us here. All our stuff was sitting around in boxes with the couches and chairs awkwardly placed around the room. Phil definitely wasn't a decorator. Off the entry was a nice sized living room with a grand staircase curving up the other side of the entry. The kitchen, family room, bathroom, and office were at the back, past the dining room, with a bed/bath off to one side, by the stairs. I instantly claimed it was mine. It was somewhat hidden and very private. Halfway upstairs there was a den type place with bookshelves and a built in dark cherry desk. The rest of the bedrooms were upstairs, including Mom and Dad's.
I mapped out where I wanted my things in my room for a while before getting the one bag I had taken with me in the car, containing ,my pillow, pjs, and some clothes and toiletries. I got ready for bed and grabbed my pillow and a blanket and set up a bed on the family room couch. I could distantly hear Phil trying to soothe Renee. We all knew it would be hard for her and take some adjusting. Personally, I was excited. I loved Florida, but I never felt complete there. I looked at the move as a chance of finding that missing piece; a new adventure; a new beginning.
I know it's short, but the chapters should get longer, and the story will pick up soon. Thanks to those who look at it, please review. Oh and thanks to teennanny101, or my sister, for editing and typing it out for me.