I sat in the kitchen as Richard spoke to my mother on the telephone. I can't imagine how mom felt when he broke the news to her, she must be tears right now while being worried about me.

"She's alright for now, but she doesn't have anybody else to look after her and she's not 18 yet to live on her own. That means you'll have to take her to London with you after the funeral." said Richard.

It didn't surprise me that I would have to go live in London with my mom and her husband since I'm not old enough to live on my own yet, I had a feeling that my dad was gonna leave instructions for my mother to take care of me for if anything ever happened to him. I knew that I would have to live in London since she doesn't have intentions to live in America again. I wished that I was already eighteen so that she wouldn't have to worry about taking care of me. I can live alone and take care of the lighthouse. But now, I have to be prepared for what the future holds for me when I go to London.

"What's gonna happen to the lighthouse, Richard?" I asked.

"I'll look after the lighthouse. I know that you wanna take care of it, but you're not old enough yet to live on your own." he said.

Even though I didn't want to accept it, I knew he was right. My father's death was the very first event that gave me the glimpse of reality. How it can be harsh sometimes.

The day after Sunday, my father's funeral was held. I was glad that my mother made it on time since I didn't wanna go through the funeral alone. I was even happier to see her again even though I wished that it was in better circumstances. We went back to the lighthouse to pack up my belongings since my mother and I have to catch a flight to London at the Bangor International Airport.

"Thanks for making it to the funeral on time, Mom. I was scared that you weren't gonna make it on time." I said as I was packing my clothes.

"Of course, darling. I immediately took the first flight to Maine after getting the phone call. I'm really sorry about your dad, he was a good man." she said.

I appreciated the sympathy she was giving me during this moment. But I was focused on my thoughts about living in a huge city like London since huge cities are different, I know that this place is gonna feel overwhelming and lonely for me. I was not ready, but I know that I have to be.

Before we left, I took one last look at the lighthouse as I said goodbye to my home for seventeen years. As we got on the flight to London, I was scared since I had never been on a plane before. My mother held my hand to support me, it helped me enough to feel calm throughout the flight that I managed to fall asleep since I was unable to sleep much after having to deal with my dad's death.

When I woke up, it was already Tuesday morning and we arrived in London. As mom and I took a cab to her house at St. John's Wood, I started thinking about what it should be like living with my stepfather and his son. I wasn't nervous about meeting Charlie since my mother told me that he's a very kind person and always wanted to meet me, I was more nervous about meeting Peter since we never had a chance to meet before even though my mom tried to reassure me that she has told him about me a lot in her letters and I wasn't sure if he was gonna be okay with his stepmother's daughter living in the family house out of the blue.

We arrived at her house and I couldn't help but admire its beauty the moment I laid eyes on it. Charlie and Peter came out to greet us as we exited the cab.

"Welcome home, Peggy. How was the flight?" said Charlie as he greeted my mother.

"Flight was quite good, everything all arranged for Mary Elizabeth?" said my mother.

"Yep, her room is all set up for her."

He turned to face me. "And you must be Mary Elizabeth, it's great to finally meet you even though I do wish it was under better circumstances."

He even gave me a comforting hug as well, which felt warm and reassuring. I appreciated how he was very kind and understanding, he reminded me of my dad with his kindness.

"Peter, this is your sister that we've told you about." said my mother.

"How do you do?" Peter asked as he held out his hand, I could tell that he wanted to shake my hand. 

"I'm doing very well, thank you." I said as I shook his hand.

It was actually very sweet of him to offer a handshake, it felt like a very good sign that he liked me and wanted me to feel welcome at my new home.

"What do you do for a living, Charlie?" I asked.

"I'm the landlord of The Duke of York pub at St Ann's Terrance. When you turn 18, I'll let you try your first pint, and it'll be on the house." he answered.

"Thanks."

Mom gave me the tour of the house while Peter carried my suitcase to my new room. The interior of the house was beautiful as I explored, there was a small library that looked really stunning and I might take a look at the books they have some other time. They even have a secret private garden that lies beyond the garden gate at the back of the house.

After the tour of the house, I was led to my room. It felt overwhelming by how beautiful it looked, especially with the window nook next to my bed.

"I'll give you some time to unpack and make yourself at home, I'll come get you when dinner's ready." said mom.

"Thanks." I said.

As my mother closed the bedroom door, I opened my suitcase that was sitting on my bed. As I was putting my clothes away, I stopped when I looked at my new sweater, my very last gift from my father. All of the sudden, the sadness came back to me. I sat down on the bed and started to cry as I clutched onto it. I missed my father so much, I wished that the day he died was just a nightmare that I could wake up from and I would be back at the lighthouse where he was alive and well. But now I have to accept that he's gone and I can only keep him alive in memory and in my heart.