Chapter 1
Caitlyn Kiramman woke up early as she did every day. While most teenagers her age would be sleeping in on their first day of summer break, that was the furthest thing from her mind. She went about her usual routine. Wake, get cleaned up, get dressed, and then wait. Wait on the couch in the living room for the simple secret routine that brought her joy. It was exactly 6:50 when, like clockwork, the milk truck showed up in front of her home. The delivery person got out, went to the back of the truck, retrieved the two bottles of milk, and walked up to her door. She watched as the woman with redish pink hair put the bottles on her porch, gave her a wave and a wink, retrieved the two empty bottles, and returned to her milk truck. It was so simple, yet it brought her more pleasure than most things in her life.
Caitlyn had no idea why she got so much pleasure out of seeing the milk women. In fact, it was strange that a women delivered milk. Most women that worked, worked in factories. Caitlyn only knew that getting a wave and a wink from the stranger made her feel seen. Something she wasn't very used to at the moment.
Caitlyn moved into their home last year when her father moved her and her mother from England to a quiet town in America. At first the kids were fascinated by Caitlyn and her accent, but over time became bored of her. She didn't have any friends, and her mother was too strict to let her go out and make any, so most days after school were spent reading, doing homework, or practicing her instruments. But now it was time for her first summer break in America before her final year of high school. She had so many plans but wasn't sure how she was going to convince her very overprotective, paranoid mother to let her go experience any real joy. But she was turning 17 in three weeks and was hopeful her mother would finally begin to trust her.
"Caitlyn, what are you doing just sitting on the couch staring out the window again?"
"Just enjoying the summer morning mother," Caitlyn said as she adjusted her skirt and removed herself from the couch.
"Well bring in the milk, and help me start breakfast for your father"
"Yes mother". Caitlyn retrieved the bottles of milk from the porch, bringing them in before filling the kettle to make tea. She then pulled a few eggs from the fridge, bringing them to the stove to start breakfast.
"Morning Caitlyn" her father said as he sat down with the morning paper.
"Morning father" Caitlyn said as she brought her father eggs, toast, and tea. "Do you think I could go to the teen social this weekend?"
"What did your mother say?"
"Well, I haven't exactly asked her yet." Caitlyn said nervously as she smoothed out her skirt.
Her father looked up at her from his newspaper with sympathy. "I'll discuss it with her tonight".
Caitlyn smiled as she looked down at her father. "Thank you".
The rest of the day was filled with chores, as Caitlyn's father left for work. Her mother expected help around the house. Once the chores were done Caitlyn was expected to accompany her mother to the grocery store to gather groceries for the week. Once home she began helping her mother start dinner. "Mother, what time will father be home?"
"I don't know dear; he called earlier saying he was pulled into an emergency surgery".
Caitlyn sighed. Ever since coming to America her father had worked more hours. He definitely made more money in the States as a surgeon, but his hours were longer and more chaotic. She knew her father loved his job, but she missed spending time with him. That and he was always a good buffer between her and her mother. Not that she didn't love her mother, but they didn't exactly have the same view on things. Now that they were in the states, her mother didn't leave the house often, which gave her more time to criticize Caitlyn. 'Study hard, perfect your instruments, and marry a respectable young man.' Her mother would remind her daily.
Caitlyn always felt different from other girls her age. She was never drawn to the idea of marriage and kids. Not that she thought it was the worst idea, it just wasn't what she fantasized about. That's what she loved the most about her father, is the fact that he never pushed her to be what society expected of her. He always encouraged her to find her own way in this world, no matter how hard it might be for a young woman in the late 50's. Her mother was not so open-minded. In her eyes she had Caitlyn's whole life already planned out.
After dinner Caitlyn decided to confront her mother about the social that was happening this weekend. She knew it was probably better to wait for her father, but with his chaotic schedule she wasn't sure when that would happen.
"Mother," Caitlyn said as she entered the living room where her mother was reading.
"Yes dear."
"I was wondering if you would allow me to go to a social this weekend?"
Mrs. Kiramman looked up from her book. "What kind of social?"
"Well, some kids from school are getting together at one of the local barns to do some dancing."
"No," her mother said quickly.
"But mother" Caitlyn said, her eyes pleading for her mother to reconsider.
"Do you have any idea what kinds of things happen at those kinds of socials? I will not allow you to run our name through the mud. Now go get into bed".
Caitlyn watched her mother drop her gaze at her book feeling defeated. She walked through the living room without saying another word and went to bed.
6:45, Caitlyn sat the empty milk bottles on the porch. This time she decided to not retreat to her living room couch.
'6:50, right on time' Caitlyn thought, as she sat on the porch. She watched the very beautiful women pull the milk from the back of her truck and walk up to the porch.
"Hello, miss Kiramman," the women holding her milk said.
"Hi" Caitlyn said nervously as she played with the hem of her skirt.
"You know I've seen you every day in that window for almost a year, and this is the first time you have come out to actually talk to me".
"Um yeah" Caitlyn said as her cheeks turned pink.
"Names Violet, but you can call me Vi" the women said as she handed Caitlyn the milk.
"Caitlyn" she shouted louder than she meant to. "Ugh, call me Caitlyn".
"Well Caitlyn it's nice to finally put a name to the pretty face."
Caitlyn began to blush even more, unsure of why she was feeling so flustered. After moments of silence all Caitlyn could say is "Thanks" as she quickly stood, taking the milk and practically running through her front door into her home.
"Oh good, just in time for my tea." Her mother said, as Caitlyn leaned up against the door feeling flustered.
"What's wrong?" her mother asked, noticing the change in her.
"Nothing" Caitlyn quickly said, handing her mother the milk before running to the window to see Vi walking back to the milk truck. Caitlyn watched as Vi closed the back door to the truck, walked back up front, stopped, looked towards her and waved with her signature wink. Caitlyn's chest tightened at the gesture. She had no idea why her body was responding this way.
"I've got a few errands to run this morning, but your Violin teacher will be here in an hour. I should be back by lunch. Make sure you practice before he comes over. You know how much he doesn't like it when you're not prepared."
"Yes mother" Caitlyn said as she retreaded to the music room.
The rest of the morning passed with the usual routines. Caitlyn practices her Violin just before her hour-long lesson. At around lunchtime her mother came back home with some rather strange new information.
"Caitlyn dear, do you remember Mrs. Tallis from up the road?"
"Yes mother."
"Well, it seems her son is home from College for the summer, so I invited them over for dinner tonight."
'Great another set up' Caitlyn thought as she ate her lunch.
"His mother says he is a very smart, respectable young man. Studying Engineering I believe."
"Sounds great mother." Caitlyn said, although deep down she knew she was going to hate every second of this dinner.
Hours later, Caitlyn and her mother were just finishing preparing dinner, when her father strolled in through the door. "Thank goodness you're here dear. The Tallis's will be here any moment."
"Great, just give me a moment to clean up" Tobias Kiramman said, before pulling Caitlyn into a hug, and giving her arm an extra reassuring squeeze.
A few minutes later there was a knock on the door. Cassandra removed her apron, straightened her dress, and made her way to greet their guests. A tall older kind looking women stood next to her large husband, and they greeted the Kirammans, and thanked them before entering the door. Behind them followed their son Jayce. A tall young man with broad shoulders fallowed his parents in through the door. "Thank you so much for having us" he said as he greeted Caitlyn's parents, before standing in front of Caitlyn. "You must be Caitlyn. Your mother has already told us all about you."
Caitlyn looked at Jayce, before holding out her hand to kindly greet him. She thought he was handsome enough, but didn't feel like there would be any real connection, as that is how she always felt when her mother brought young men over to meet her.
Dinner went as usual, the adults talking about themselves with the occasional glance at the two young adults. Caitlyn continued eating, hoping the evening would be over soon. "So, Caitlyn, tell me a little about yourself?" The question caught Caitlyn off guard, as she was lost in her own thoughts.
"Oh, well I play the Violin, and piano."
"Sounds great, what do you do for fun?"
Caitlyn thought for a few moments, "I play my instruments". Jayce chuckled. "What?" Caitlyn asked, feeling self-conscious.
"Well sure those are hobbies, but what do you do for fun?"
Caitlyn looked at Jayce who was sitting across from her, starting to feel annoyed. "Well, I read."
"Well sounds like we need to get you out of the house a bit more." Jayce said with a comforting smile.
"Good luck with that." Caitlyn mumbled.
Jayce leaned across the table. "I can be very persuasive to mothers. Where do you want to go?"
"Theres a social downtown this weekend." Caitlyn said with a shy smile.
"Mrs. Kiramman" Jayce said, interrupting the talk between the parents. "I was wondering if your daughter could accompany me this weekend to a social gathering".
"Uhm well, I'm not sure."
"I think that sounds like a loverly idea." Caitlyn's father said, interrupting her mother.
"Really?" Caitlyn said surprised.
"Give you two a chance to get to know each other."
Caitlyn smiled. "Told you I could be persuasive." Jayce said with a huge smile.
"Fine, but that's only because my father is here".
The night passed with more boring conversations. Caitlyn was able to discover Jayce hated these setups as much as she did. After getting to know him a little more, she realized that maybe he wasn't such a bad guy. After saying their goodbyes, Caitlyn retreated to her room, finally excited she was going to be able to attend a social event.
The next morning, she woke up early as usual. Dressed in her pink poodle skirt, white button up shirt, and tied her hair up with a pink bow. She met her mother in the living room at 6:30. "Morning Dear," her mother said as she grabbed her purse and keys. "Your father got called in to the hospital late last night. I need to run him over his bag. I'll be back shorty".
"Yes mother." Caitlyn said as she made her way to the couch. She watched the clock on the wall click closer and closer to 6:50, as she watched her mother leave.
6:49
6:50
6:51
6:52, still no milk truck. It had only been two minutes, but she never knew her delivery to be late.
Finaly when 6:58 rolled around, Caitlyn got up from the couch and made her way out of the house to look for the milk truck.