The Arrival

After quick hellos and the cab driver helping Emma stow her suitcase in the trunk, Emma settled into the back seat of the cab. The ride was spent dreamily staring out the car window watching the buildings, then trees and fields, whip by as they exited the city for the countryside.

Emma smiled to herself, recalling the few memories she had of the lake house. Her and her cousins splashing in the lake, running through the fields, late night games of hide and seek and kick the can.

Then flashes of memory showed her Mother and Father laying out by the lake, cooking out, staying up late playing card games with the children.

Emma blinked back tears and tried to focus just on the fun she had with her cousins. It had been far too long since she had seen them. Or her Uncle. She barely recalled Edward, except that he had seemed huge when she was small.

The rhythmic rocking of the cab soon had her drowsy and drifting off to sleep. Her fatigued mind drifted into the black depths of sleep, bypassing any dreams, as her worn out psyche got some much needed rest.

The slam of a car door brought her back to the waking world.

"We're here, Miss," the middle aged cabbie shouted from the rear of the car as he pulled Emma's luggage out of the trunk of the car.

Shaking off the last of her deep sleep, Emma stepped out and grabbed her suitcase. The cab fare had been arranged and handled by Aunt Maude beforehand so Emma made no move to pay the man.

The cab driver hesitated just a moment, then made his way back to the driver's seat. Emma bashfully smiled, assuming the driver's hesitation was him taking a moment to catch a glimpse of her backside. The tight jeans she wore had gotten her many compliments before, from friends and strangers alike.

Emma reached up and pushed the button for the doorbell. A loud series of chimes, muffled by the front door, echoed through the house.