Aveline could finally breathe again. She didn't know what it was about Nadia Sinclair. But every time she was around her, breathing proved very difficult.
"Hey, smile okay? Wait until you see what we have in store for you in the big room," Riley said to her.
She nodded, relaxing her shoulders as they walked into the room.
The size of the room was the first thing that stole Aveline's breath away. It finally dawned on her why it was referred to as the big room.
"Wow, it's huge!" She gasped.
"Oh darling, you haven't seen anything yet," Freya said.
She clapped, and in a twinkle, different people walked into the room with different items.
A cover was taken off, revealing the large mirror that stretched from one end of the wall to the other end.
Railings neatly arranged on both sides of the room, began to fill up with different hangers hooked in clothing bags.
Aveline looked around, hoping to understand what the hell was happening.
"Good afternoon miss Freya. Where is our bride?" A beautiful woman with a flamboyant looking man beside her, walked up to them.
"Good afternoon Lady Lana. Sorry for keeping you waiting. Here's our bride."
Riley pushed Aveline forward. "Hello," Aveline waved shyly.
Buddy, the man beside lady Lana gasped loudly. He moved past lady Lana, stopping in front of Aveline. "Your hair is gorgeous! How do you keep it so long and shiny? Who are you?!" His eyes widened, as he moved around her like she was a magnificent monument.
Aveline's face turned red with embarrassment.
"She's such a gorgeous girl, Frey. Wow!" Lady Lana covered her mouth in shock.
"She is. Now I need you to make her even more beautiful for the wedding, that's why we need to find a dress that suits her today. Size, length, everything must be perfect. She's a Sinclair bride after all. Can I trust you with that?" Riley asked.
"Miss Riles, with the kind of face and body the girl has, we have to come correct. Don't you worry, miss Riles. I came very prepared," Lady Luna said, still staring in awe at Aveline.
"Girl, come on, tell me your secret?" Buddy, who had stopped in front of Aveline again, bounced from toe to toe, as he appealed to her.
"Nothing? I just brush it," she said, still not sure what they were seeing that she didn't see.
"Your genetics must be godly then. Oh you will definitely be the talk of the entire country on your wedding day. I already have some ideas. A messy pinned up-do. But messy in a perfectionist way." He turned Aveline around, catching her off guard.
"Oh!" She jolted in shock, as he moved her from side to side.
He suddenly paused, and clapped. "Let's get to work, people. Bring out the dresses," he paused again, and turned to Lady Lana. "With your permission of course, my lady."
Lady Lana grinned. "I'm just as enthusiastic as you are, Bud. Let's get this party started!"
Aveline threw a panicked look at both Riley, and Freya.
In sync, they gave her a thumbs up and an encouraging nod.
She breathed out loudly just as Buddy grabbed her by the shoulders, and pushed her to the center of the big room.
It was evening when Aveline found herself able to breathe without being pushed, shoved and touched all over.
After going through about thirty different dresses, they had finally found the one. Unfortunately, she didn't get to see it because they wanted it to be a surprise for her wedding day.
"This is the big garden, Ave. I'm quite certain we will be using it for the wedding," Freya said, as she led her into the garden.
Riley had left to go get them some food, leaving Freya to continue the tour that began from the big room.
"It's beautiful." Aveline looked around, stunned by the different kinds of flowers and sweet scenting herbs littered all over the garden.
There were two fountains placed at both ends of the garden, enhancing its magical look.
Aveline's gaze rested longingly on the fountain, wanting to go to it, but holding back.
"You can go to it if you want to," Freya said, catching her gaze.
Her eyes lit up. "Really?!"
Freya laughed. "I know you're still getting used to everything, but this is your house now too, Aveline. You have the freedom to do whatever you want to do, okay? Now if you love the fountain, go to it." Her phone beeped just then.
"Is everything okay?" Aveline asked, when Freya frowned on reading the text she had just gotten.
"Nothing I can't handle. Do you think you can stay here for a few minutes? I'll be right back," Freya said.
"Okay," she bobbed her head. "I'll just be at the fountain."
Freya's smile returned. "Have fun Ave."
Aveline waited for her to walk away, before she began to walk towards the fountain.
Although the evening was still early, she could see the early birds returning.
They chirped with every step she took, as if calling out to her.
Aveline began to hum. She had always loved nature, despite the fact she suspected nature did not return her love.
All of her misfortunes in life were tied to something made by mother earth. Despite these facts, she couldn't help herself.
She arrived at the fountain, and quickly sat on its steps.
Her hand stretched to the water, and immediately she felt the warm drop on her flesh, she giggled.
"Aveline, leave the water!" Her mother's voice rang in her ear.
Driven by nostalgia, and a memory resurfacing, she closed her eyes.
This time, she was eight, and the water was rain.
"Mummy, it's so cold. I love it!" She screamed back to her mother as she bathed in the rain with Laura.
"You two are going to get sick. Come into the house now!"
Her mother ran out to chase them in, but as soon as they sensed her intent, they fled.
"Come back here you two!"
They laughed, as they ran around in the rain, basking in the simple joy their young naive minds conceived.
Aveline, completely caught up in her memories, stiffened when she felt a hand brush her legs.
Her eyes immediately flew open, and she jumped to her feet in search of what could have touched her.
When she didn't see anything, her shoulders that had suddenly tensed up, began to relax.
She was about to return to the step, when she heard a tiny voice.
"Lizzy is gone."
Aveline's heart dropped to her stomach, as her head moved down. She found a little boy staring up at her.
"Did I scare you?" The scrawny boy that didn't look a day over six asked.
Aveline breathed out, as she crouched to the ground. "You did," she confessed with a smile.
"I'm sorry," he quickly apologized.
"Oh you don't need to say sorry. I was just caught off guard. I'm Aveline." She stretched her hand to him.
"I'm Daniel," he replied, placing his bony hands in hers.
She shook it firmly. "So Daniel, who is Lizzy?"
The sadness returned to the boy's eyes. "My pet bird," he pointed to the cage made out of woven leaves. "Mummy said I couldn't keep it in the qua–" he scratched his head.
"Quarters?"
"Yes!" He bobbed his head.
"Why?"
"Mummy is just filling up for aunt Diana. She doesn't really work here. Daddy will hit her if he finds out," the little boy said.
Aveline's heart twisted, feeling a pang of pain. "Oh you poor thing. I know what we should do. Let's perform a funeral for Lizzy. Would you like that?"
He looked up slowly. "Yes please," he nodded, his eyes glistening with tears he was obviously fighting off.
Aveline sniffled. "It's okay to cry, Daniel. If it hurts, cry."
"But daddy says—"
"Daddy is wrong. Daddy's can be wrong. Boys cry too. It's okay to cry."
In a split second, a hiccup escaped from Daniel's throat, and it was swiftly accompanied by heavy tears.