Forgotten Memories - Jennifer Newman (fiction book recommendations txt) 📗

opposite of what Mum had described the house to look. That was when I realised I had taken the wrong path meaning I had to walk back the way I had come leaving me completely lost. Just like the city girl I am my Aunt had said once I had finally found my way round to the back of the house amazingly not breaking anything. Thanks to that I had seen the garden. It really was beautiful.
Organised chaos would be Mums word for it. But for someone who loves to take pictures. It is my dream. Amazing grass land with there was a pond that could not be deeper than the length of my arm. The spray of the fountain in the middle sent droplets of water flaying high into the sky. And oh the flowers. Well that was a whole other story. Whereas the pond has been carefully sculptured to attract the eye the flower beds however have been spotted here and there with colourfully flowers standing out from the green of the leaves. Glorious sculptures of dancing couples in huge ball gowns and tuxedos. Neatly played out on smiling blocks of marble all still here from the period the house had been built in.
I had managed to see all this in the dark with only the light from the house and the moon over head. I had only been able to catch glimpses of the detail and work that has been put into this beloved garden. This is what I could imagine the garden I had run off to. I really was looking forwards to seeing the garden at its full glory. Even in the rain it would look glorious and magical. Last night the garden had given off a mystery vibe. Now in the light and thundering rain what would it be?
“Come on let’s get this city girl into the house with a warm cuppa huh?” I was bought back to the pebbled drive with a splash of cold water to the nose. well at least this I was used to if you live in London you tend to get used to the changing weather and craziness of the rain as it sets into winter or plummets down on those lucky enough to have had a few spare minutes of sun with the youngsters running wild around them. A teen laughing as the rain soaks their friends new out fits leaving them screaming. Taking the sun away for that day. Leaving me stuck inside taking picture after picture of inanimate objects. Well that’s my excuse for having amazingly pale skin anyway.
I shook my head quickly leaning away from the door and fast walking after my Aunt who assumed I would follow. The rain was still leading its way down from the sky. Making puddles at my feet as I click clacked my way up the drive and towards the house I was now staying at for the rest of this year. Well if I didn’t think it was a long time with I arrived here I sure did now. Sighing as the door swung shut behind us I continued to follow my Aunt into the kitchen where she went straight to the kettle the only modern thing in what I think was the whole house. No wait that doesn’t count the dish washer though. I liked the old fashioned theme here it was a totally change from my parents city apartment in the middle of London. The room I would now call my own for as long as I was going to stay here had beams running across the ceiling. Walls painted white but the wood is still its natural colour.
“One or two sugars?” once again I was snapped out of my wondering and back to the kitchen below the room I am staying in.
“One please.” I reply knowing full well that she would put two in anyway. I glanced around the room that had been my first view of the house last night. Huge brown beams running across the ceiling. Much like the ones above in my room. The paint however had a more cream tinge to it than my pure white ones upstairs. The light wooden furniture along the walls was elegantly cut with amazing handles on all the draws. The table right in the middle was the heart of the room.
I could just imagine a large family of five sitting round the table as maids and cooks hurriedly scrabbled around to get their dinner on the table on time. Flowing evening skirts billowing out from under the table as idle gossip was exchanged as the sound of clinking bottles and the prayers from the man of the house were said. Maids standing on hand as they watched their masters tuck in. knowing full well that they would have at least a whole three hours yet before they themselves could get a bite to eat.
I could imagine the hunger in their eyes as they forced themselves to smile as they were rudely called over for more wine. The younger members of the house. The ‘young lady’s’ would be smiling now but planning secretly how they would sneak out of the house that night. Get away from the ever watchful eye of their parents and the heavy weight of promises that if they had their way would never have been made, let alone kept. However they didn’t have their own way; soon they would be made into proper ladies of the house with a husband of their father’s choice at their arm.
I took the cup of steaming hot coffee in my left hand as Aunt Tess took a seat at the table I had just been imagining a whole different family to be sitting. I looked the room once again imaging what it really would have been like with the steam coming in from the downstairs stove.
“So what are you planning to do when the weather lightens up?” Aunt Tess asks looking up at me from her seat at the grade table. It was obvious she was just trying desperately to make conversation. We hadn’t seen each other in years, I cant actually properly remember when I last saw her...
“Not sure. Do you recommend anything?” she seemed to light up with radiance like she had been waiting from me to ask just that. Is it too late to take it back?
“Well you could go for a tour round the town. You saw some of it when we went to the post office today but from a car the view is never the same! Oh! I could get John to take you! That would be great wouldn’t it?” yeah the thought of going round the town had been on my mind but this John? That sort of put me off. I had no idea who he was but the way my Aunt was looking at me I could tell what she was implying; trust me on this when I say it is not going to happen.
“Umm sounds great but..... I’m not really.... umm well ready for introductions.....” I had really started to sink from I high status of being the only one to be calm in situations. The presents of so many strangers and the prospect of meeting more in a short period of time was slightly overwhelming me. I almost slapped myself since it was so obvious from what I had said. Nora get a grip on yourself!
“Well then I could show you round myself......” I knew already that she had work and could not really afford to take the day off to show her pathetic niece around town when there are others perfectly fit for the job. Now be kind and say you will let this John person show you round.
“No, no don’t bother I’m sure one introduction won’t hurt. I guess” I added as an after thought
***
As soon as I was upstairs in my room I flopped very un-lady like on to the bed with my face staring up at the ceiling. Grabbing a book I had left open on the side table this morning. The only thing apart from new clothes I had bothered to take out of my trunk this morning.
While pretending to read the book I held in front of my face the words blurring as I concentrated on the muffled voice down stairs as Aunt Tess rang up this John guy. I really wasn’t sure about being shown around town by one of my Aunts middle aged friends but what the hell, it kept me out of the house making it harder to let my imagination get away with me. Also I might be able to find out something about this town since the only research I have been able to do so far is on the internet and that was before I even came here. So what could it hurt to get some info from the actual people here? Plus it kept me out of my Aunts way making me seem less of a nuisances of myself.
“John. Oh Hun do you think-“ I couldn’t hear the end of what she said because her voice had drifted into another room. Making it impossible for me to eaves drop anymore. I gave up pretty soon after that and quickly got changed into sweatpants and a vest top I'm not a PJ’s type of girl. Curling up in bed I pull out the picture I had found at home only days ago now. Before I had hopped on a plane and flown my way out here with my mother’s gratitude on my side.
I drifted off to sleep pretty quickly after that. The picture safely hidden under my pillow as I slipped into a deep sleep after my ‘adventures’ second day out.
 
Chapter two: Thursday 8:20am
I woke the next morning to the smell of sweet pancakes and raspberries. The breeze blowing in from the window I had left slightly opened last night. Sweet summer air rushing in swirling round the room leaving the pages in the book I had started to ‘read’ last night blowing open half way. Page after page being pushed by an invisible source softly slowing to a stop about half way through only to pick back up again when the breeze increases. Well my page was lost.
I sat up in bed rubbing my eyes as I listened to the sound of birds outside in the grand garden. Wait birds? Back in central London you would be lucky if you saw any other bird apart from pigeon which were slowly taking over the population. As I stumbled sleepily over to the window to gaze out. The sight of blue cloudless sky flowed out for miles and miles in front of me. The musical tune once again playing out from the flower beds below. I turn my gaze down catching glimpse after glimpse of the magnificent birds. The sun catching each individual feather as they spread their wings soaring high in the trees allowing my gaze to shift upwards.
Early morning light cast over the watch fountain. Sparkling glimmers of water shone high into the early morning sky the rainbows soaring as high as the birds. Trees rusting in the breeze as the leaves tumble down to the ground making way for new life to begin.
The garden I had described as beautifully magical last night held the enchanting appeal of awaiting amazement. It was a scene you did not get anywhere near London and for this I was glad. I was far as I could get from there without going overseas. The tall tower blocks standing high above anything else. Bustling streets packed full with tourists and eager shoppers. Compeered to the