AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dropping her bags on the pink shag carpet, Tanya headed straight to the bed and splayed herself on the duvet like a starfish. She gazed up at the canopy and let out a long, contented sigh.
“I could sleep in this bed forever. It’s so yummy!” She randomly cuddled one of Anabel’s stuffed animals against her chest. For a moment, my mind played a trick on me. I was seeing Anabel instead of Tanya. I blinked the mirage away at the sound of her accented voice.
“I can’t believe you designed this room especially for me. With everything I could possibly ever want.”
My chest tightened. I chewed on my bottom lip. “Actually, it belonged to my other daughter.” A painful pause. “Anabel.”
Our new family guest sat up, her long legs dangling over the side of the bed. Clutching the stuffed animal, an adorable koala, she looked at me, surprised.
“I didn’t know you have another daughter.”
“Had,” I corrected, tears stinging the backs of my eyes. “She died a couple of years ago.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry!”
“I should have told you…”
“How old was she?”
“Sixteen.” Sweet Sixteen.
Tanya clasped a hand to her mouth. “Oh my goodness! That’s so young. Is it okay if I ask how she died?”
My heart stuttered in my chest. “I’d rather not talk about it.”
“I understand. It still must be really hard for you.”
Appreciative of her sensitivity, I willed the horrific memory away and refocused on our new resident. “Dear, I want you to make yourself at home here.”
Tossing the koala onto the bed, Tanya jumped off it and surveyed the room. “Can I change things around a little? You know, like add a few things of my own?”
In hindsight, I should have put away Anabel’s personal things. Her photos and posters as well as her treasured plush animals. The latter held bittersweet memories for me; each year, I’d given her one on her birthday. Sadly, the koala was the last.
“Yes,” I replied, “as long as you don’t move the furniture around. You can put some of your clothes in her set of drawers; they’re empty. And the rest of them in her closet. I hope you don’t mind that many of her clothes are still stored in it, but there should be room for yours.”
“No worries. I didn’t bring much. Would it be okay if I borrowed some?”
I hesitated, then said yes. I didn’t want our exchange student to think I was an obsessed nutjob. Truth: I was. “You’re probably the same size. Just take good care of them.”
“Of course.” She shed her baseball cap and raked her slender fingers through her long platinum locks. “Natalie, maybe you could take me shopping later this week. I could really use an LA wardrobe.”
I smiled. “I’d love to do that. Why don’t we say tomorrow after school?”
“Cool! Thank you. Oh, and, Natalie, one more thing…I really need to use the loo.” She giggled. “I mean, bathroom. Could you tell me where it is?”
I pointed to another door. “It’s right through there. It connects to Paige’s room.”
She scrunched her face, her jet-black brows knitting together. “What! Seriously? I have to share it with her?”
The tone of her voice was slightly disarming, but maybe she was just tired and needed some reassurance. “Yes, dear. But don’t worry. There are double sinks. And Paige is very neat. I’m sure the two of you will work things out.”
“I suppose.” Her face relaxed, but without a smile.
Anabel had never been good about sharing the bathroom with Paige. Most of the time, she’d hogged it. I hoped things would be different with Tanya.
“Why don’t I let you settle in? Take a shower and a nap if you need to, but please join us for dinner in the dining room at six thirty.”
“Perfect!” The smile returned. “I can’t wait.”
