Welcome to Cedar Springs

The air was hot, in a humid, sweaty way that beat out the harshest Seattle summer without even trying. Spared by the grace of AC, you and your husband Greg stared out through the windows of your ‘98 Subaru toward your new home. Greg, just starting to show a few grey hairs at his temples, smiled back at you, “So this is the place. A few hours to unpack the basics and we should be ready to call it a night!”

After three days of driving, you were both exhausted. You'd given up your job and your friends for this, but gained so much in the exchange. A new house and a new life full of opportunity. Cedar Springs sounded more like a deodorant scent than a Midwest town, but you'd driven through a surprisingly bustling shopping center before drifting into your own neighborhood. The two of you could make a life here, once you figure out a job.

Looking ahead of you now you could see the home your husband had inherited. It had been something of a surprise when his uncle left him a house, but Greg had been a single child, and the closest living relative of the old man.

Two stories tall, it stood proudly in the suburb, a monument of off-white siding and brown trim. The neighboring homes were similarly kept; you could spot a man down the block mowing his lawn and a woman across the street who nodded a greeting from her porch swing.

Eagerly you jumped out of the car, glad to stretch your legs after the long drive. Greg was slower getting out, and you could feel his eyes on you, appreciative, as you climbed the front steps and peered through the windows.

It was bright enough outside that you could see little beyond your own reflection. After so long in the hot car, your dark brown hair was pulled into a sweaty ponytail that came to mid-shoulder, hanging limply over an old System tee-shirt. The shirt clung to your chest uncomfortably, making your small chest seem more prominent than it was. You were wearing your favorite jeans (Greg called them your butt-jeans) and old sneakers.

After a moment he joined you, bags and keys at the ready, before you both stopped inside. Your things had been taken (after your meticulous packing) from your old rental to the new home, but this place was easily twice the size of your old 2- bedroom apartment, and the furnishings seemed out of place in the new space. The house itself was gorgeous, with an open floor plan and prominent windows that let in lots of light from the evening sun. Now that light fell harshly on the cardboard boxes that constituted your lives together. Unpacking would be a long chore.

As you looked around at the task ahead of you, thoughts of tracking down sheets for the bed and setting up an internet connection and taking a shower started to creep into your head “I guess we should unpack…” you started, but then stopped as you noticed two neighbors approaching the door.

You caught little more than a vague shape before they were at the door, and could hear Greg behind you as you went to answer it. Opening the door you immediately tried to ignore a judgemental voice in the back of your head as you took in the two women on your doorstep.

The first stood a bit taller than you, wearing a tanktop and shorts that were both a bit too small for her curvy frame, in the hot evening air. She was in her 20s, like you, and a permed head of long blonde hair framed big eyes, a tiny nose, and a wide grin that immediately split into a squealing greeting. “Oh my God! Welcome to the neighborhood!” she cried, stepping up and throwing her arms around you in a tight hug. Taken aback, you patted her back gently, looking to Greg for help as you were smothered in plentiful cleavage and cloying peach perfume. “My name is Aimee and this is Carli and we wanted to say hi and bring you some cookies! I made them this afternoon and then we saw you pull in and Carli said - didn't you Carli? - that we should bring some over for you!”

Greg rose to your silent cry for help, taking Aimee’s hand and introducing you both, which gave you a chance to catch your breath and get a look at Carli. Carli was shorter than you, with a pixie cut and glasses, and had a slim frame that made her look younger than she probably was. She smiled quietly with the long-suffering tolerance of somebody who was dragged along against their will. She held up a small plate of cookies drizzled in pink frosting as though warding you off.

As you turned back from her and vaguely gestured the two into your home, you realized (with an uncharacteristic spark of jealousy) that Greg was still holding Aimee’s hand and nodding bemusedly as she blathered on about local restaurants, the neighbors, and the mall. They were standing very close, and his eyes were glued to her chest. Before your thought much about it, words leapt out of your mouth: “Aimee, you mentioned a mall? Tell me about it in the kitchen?”

Malls weren't really your thing, but you wanted to lure this woman away from your husband before he did something to ruin your first night in town. As you disappeared into the kitchen with the rest strangers, Greg called from the door, “Alright, you girls have fun, I'll just start unpacking I guess…”

Aimee immediately started to chatter again as you entered the kitchen, “It's SO GREAT to have a new neighbor again! And you're both still young and alive! The last person who lived here was OLD and kind of weird, you know? He was gone all day and then the place was so quiet at night. But you two -- I have a good feeling about you both! I think we're going to be great friends! You asked about the mall though! We should go together tomorrow! I need some new shoes and I can show you all the best boutiques! Carli, will you come with us?”

Looking startled, Carli just shook her head before muttering, “I have a book signing. Maybe next time.”

You suffered through all this in relative silence, opening boxes and directing the other two as you made short work of a few kitchen boxes, before you were struck by a wave of dizziness that spun the kitchen around you. Your vision swam a bit and you lost your balance before it resolved into Aimee’s cleavage, and the heady scent of peaches again. Dully you brought your eyes up, seeing concern and surprise evident in the blonde’s eyes. Looking around you spotted Carli disappearing into the house, yelling for Greg, and then another wave of nausea hit you as everything went dark.