The rest of the week passed by in a similar manner. Jack and Michel left for work early in the morning and came back for dinner, sometimes even later. I spent most of the day in the garden with Lisa or baking inside the house. Gradually, the initial urgency I had felt to find my mother began to ebb away and I started to truly enjoy the routinely work day after day.

On Saturday evening, Lisa announced that we'd be attending a ball on Monday evening at the Parkinson's, our neighbors. The boys seemed disinterested and continue talking amongst themselves but I had already caught Michel's glance at me when his mother mentioned the ball.

"Would you like to accompany me to the market tomorrow morning. We can both get new dresses for the ball," asked Lisa.

"Yes of course." I replied. I realized I would be able to investigate about my mother tomorrow. Both Jack and his mother already knew the reason for my visit so they wouldn't stop me. For some reason however, the thought didn't make me as happy as it once did. I excused myself from the table and went back upstairs, realizing that for the first time that a part of me wasn't too keen on finding my mother.

The following morning, I chose to wear a lace green dress that just ended above my knees. It was one of the more fancy dresses in my wardrobe but I still chose to wear it. Making my way downstairs, I noticed Jack eating breakfast at the dining table.

"Don't you have work?"

"We took the day off," said Michel in my ear as he paused directly behind me. His breath tickled my neck and my heart stopped when his fingers grazed my neck and connected the clasp of my necklace. The air felt thick as I placed one hand over the pendant of my necklace

"It was about to slip off," whispered Michel in my ear, his lips grazing its tip lightly before he slipped around me and headed towards the dining table. I followed him and took a seat across from him, before hesitantly meeting his gaze. He grinned at me before filling his plate.