Only five days have passed since my chess game, but they seem more like five centuries.
Only five days have passed, and I've already taken two night shifts in between.
Only five days have passed, giving me numerous opportunities to check Crimley's information, but never finding the strength to do so.
Perhaps, it's the dread of its confirmation or maybe its escape that I do so.

A brutal wind gorges through Edenfield's gardens, making everyone's clothes thrash in the wind.

All of us stand on the edge of the cobblestone pathway leading to the gates.  Wilhelmina, Grandmother's poodle, traces her hem as Grandmother talks to Mother.

Though, I stand still as my eyes keep gazing at the peacock blue flowers around us.

Mother and Grandmother embrace one another, the former almost dissolved into the latter's sturdier figure.
"We will miss you, Mother," my mother says to her own.

Grandmother only pats her cheek.
"I don't doubt it." She smiles.

She moves to father, who takes her hand and kisses it.
"Your stay was most pleasurable for everyone, but I wish it could be longer."

I look away at the exchange, trying to find the beat of my heart racing and fists clenching.
But to no avail.

"Oh, I can't. Someone has to be the ghoulish lady of the Granville Cardiff estate." Grandmother clicks her cane, hauling herself forth.

My parents only smile, their postures unusually stiff.

Then someone else with bright brown eyes comes into my mind.

After what your father did to her mother, you still...

My head shakes.

Grandmother narrows her eyes at Isabelle and Timothy whispering to each other. But they stop after noticing her.

Isabelle steps forth to embrace Grandmother. Like our mother, she's buried in Grandmother's arms.

Through the embrace, Grandmother waves her cane at Timothy.
"Be good to my granddaughter."
The two break apart.

Timothy blinks his large brown eyes but bows without complaint.

As Grandmother moves past, she says out loud.
"And don't you two make your own gutted den for those thieving botanical observations you do."

The adolescents grumble lightly.

Grandmother smiles at Miss Evanna standing at Henry's side and they make light conversation. But then the conversation turns to the nearly absent Ingram parents.
"How is your father now? And mother?" Grandmother asks.

"Grandmother..." Henry interjects.

"They're all right."
Miss Evanna's smile falls for a moment.
"Father's lower limb paralysis is better, but he is still indisposed," she sighs,
"And Mother... she's less withdrawn." Miss Evanna tries smiling again.

Nodding, Grandmother takes a few steps back. She regards the Ingram siblings for a few moments.
"You two are always here, as if Edenfield were your own home."

Miss Evanna and Timothy glance at each other, blushing.

Henry turns to me for help. I can't look at him.

Grandmother smiles at them both, her hand brushing against Miss Evanna's cheek.
"I only mean it as a good thing, loves."

Grandmother then turns to Henry at my right. Before he can say anything, she does the same to him as she did to Isabelle.

Henry makes a choking voice, one louder than those drowned outside of Noah's ark would have made.
He still bows and says the same formalities as Father after Grandmother releases him.

She then moves to me, frowning. Wilhelmina barks from beneath; Grandmother glares and the poodle pouts.

My head tilts to the side.

Grandmother gives me her hand, and I oblige, "they yearn for what they fear" ringing in my ears like sirens.
"Yes, I shall miss you too, Grandmo--"

The hook of her cane wraps around my neck-- I yelp-- as Grandmother draws me in for an embrace as well.

You... haven't done this ever to me ever since I was a child...

"Take care of yourself, lad..." Grandmother utters.

Before I can answer, Grandmother gives me one last shoulder dislocating squeeze.
"You look so much like your mother... and Matthias..."
Smiling wistfully, she trudges towards the gates with Wilhelmina.

Mother and her late twin, Uncle Matthias...

Whatever was sinking within me earlier, drowns even deeper.

Mother and Father walk with her, while something sinks down in me.

The rest look at me after the embrace-- their backs curved-- but my lips press into a straight line without my consent.

Even they thought Grandmother embracing me like that was out of character.

Miss Evanna and Henry exchange a look, but say nothing.

Isabelle and Timothy only shrug.

The horse of Grandmother's carriage neighs, as Edmund helps her into the carriage.
"And I suppose you're actually an above average butler."

Our butler blinks, but exaggerates a bow.

Grandmother laughs, and waves one last time, before the coach driver pulls the reins.

A single drop of water descends from the skies.

Mother turns around, clapping her hands.
"Inside everyone, no need to form a circus in the rain."
She shooes at the adolescents, Isabelle and Timothy mumble something about observing the Hyacinthoides non-scripta before the rain.

Henry only eyes me. Miss Evanna says something , something about respecting privacy.
Sighing, Henry looks at me over his shoulder but heads inside with the rest.

Only Father and I are left, with the drops starts accelerating downwards.
Without glancing at him, I step towards Edenfield.

"Matthew?" Father calls out, only making me stop my feet. But not looking back.

"Sometimes, I think my own deeds..."

Your father and her mother... together...

Whatever words he may have wanted to say, die on his lips before they even make their way to the cradle.

"The sins of the fathers shall follow your heirs to the grave."

Something is amiss... but what?

With eyes still on the anything and everything peacock blue and leather bound brown, my father and I part ways.

I can't believe I actually like this song

Also, the chapter's title may or may not be because because I'm reading The Night Circus atm
*toothy grin*

I know this chapter's a bit of a filler, but I promise it's necessary xD

Anyway, this chapter's dedicated to EMCastellan for being a lovely reader ❤️
Please check out her story "Lily in the Shadows" about a mute flower girl solving a mystery in Victorian London!

Don't forget to vote! ❤️

Have a great day!
Love,
MS Zame