Chapter 13: Newfaux

Newfaux.

Many considered it an autumn destination because of the dramatic transformation that autumn brings throughout the city — Shades of yellow, red, and orange leaves and overwhelmingly peaceful blue waters.

A placid breeze picks up on the beaches stretching along the coastline, making the temperature incredibly perfect. Fiery tones of oaks and cherries embellished the centuries-old canals with their colorful reflection, and these were a few of the many things that attracted tourists at that time of the year.

But as true as all these were, Lina couldn't resonate with the beauty widely staring her in the eye.

For her, Newfaux represented something entirely different, something ages away from beauty and tranquility, something more tilted towards pain, betrayal, and deep hurt.

There's a kind of hurt that's blinding and excruciating, so much the pain steals away every beauty laid before the eyes. That was the kind of hurt Newfaux gave to her.

Her worst memories had been formed in this place, and no matter how she tried, she couldn't see it differently than a place she hated the most.

Lina was sure her grandmother knew this before pulling her back into this dark hole she had crawled out from. But why she had thought it best to bring her back, she didn't know, and she didn't want to know.

She had told herself she wouldn't ask questions or concern herself with anything other than the assignment given to her, and that was running the bake shop. Maybe she could grow it and even expand to somewhere other than there.

But now that she was there, she'd focus on caring for her child and giving her the best care and life she deserved while working at the bakeshop.

Lina held Serena's tiny hand in hers as she ran her eyes over the little old house still painted in cloud gray— the same color it had since she was eight, but now, it was more faded with age. She looked up at the huge maple tree standing proudly by the sidewalk. It was all the same.

She had been there a few weeks ago with Sharon, but none of it had felt as depressing as it did now. Maybe it was the thought of knowing this would be her home now.

"Ma'am, that's all." Lina snapped out of her thoughts when the taxi driver drew her attention to her luggage, now placed on the sidewalk.

She quickly scanned them and paid him off before turning to her daughter, silently staring at the house — their new home.

"Come on, baby. Let's go in." She said and started leading the little girl towards the house while pulling a suitcase with her.

Lina carried all their luggage to the porch before opening the door. Her eyes toured across the small two-bedroom house that looked every bit the same since she first came here to live with her grandmother after her parents died.

The age-stricken couch still had her late grandfather's book on the armrest, with his radio still waiting on the coffee table. The little box TV was still angled to face the rocking chair, just by the small dining table. Her grandmother loved that chair. She'd sit and listen to the radio while she knitted those stockings she made all year long in preparation for Christmas.

She'd stuff them full of cookies and cakes and candies and would give them all out during the Christmas season.

It's a season of love, she'd say. 'And Lina, every show of kindness, no matter how small, could make someone's day.' She'd add with that smile that always crinkled her eyes.

Lina realized she had been lost in her thought when she heard the sharp note of a piano key. She looked over and saw Serena by the old piano, which seemed to be out of tune.

"Mummy, look, it's a piano." The girl chirped with glee, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she pointed her tiny finger at it.

Lina nodded with a smile. "Yes, it is. Would you want to play?" She walked over, and the girl readily nodded, her eyes emphasizing her enthusiasm.

"Can I?" She expectantly asked as Lina crouched in front of her and, with a smile, kissed her fluffy cheek.

"Of course, baby. But not now. We still have to unpack and clean grandma's house."

"And then I can play?" The girl asked with twinkling eyes.

Lina nodded. "Then you can play." She concurred, and Serena's face lit up with a smile.

"Yaay!" She squealed with excitement, and Lina laughed, seeing how happy she was. She seems to have a thing for pianos and flowers.

Holding Serena's hand, Lina led them to the bedroom, which still had everything as it used to years ago.

She moved their bags to the room and soon started cleaning. Lina didn't know how long she had spent cleaning till she heard a knock on the door.

Her brows furrowed as she looked at the time. It was almost 6 pm, and she was yet to order some food for them. She glanced over at Serena, who was immersed in watching one of her favorite animes on the tablet.

Lina wondered who could be at the door as she walked over. It had only been a few hours since they arrived, and she was surprised anyone would know someone had moved into the house.

But opening the door, Lina's eyes went wide with surprise when she saw the gray-haired woman standing on the porch.

"Ellie?" She called out in surprise.

"Evelina, it's you!" The lady's eyes sparkled with equal surprise, equally taken aback to see her. "I saw the lights on, and I wondered who could be in, but then I figured it could only be you."

"Of course, it's me. Come on in." Lina widely opened the door for the beautiful old lady, who seemed not to have aged since the last time she saw her and ushered her in.

They stood just by the door, both clearly too pleased to see the other.

"Woah, I never thought I'd come in here again," Ellie said as she coursed her gaze around the familiar apartment she had always come to share a cup of coffee with her old friend. "It's only been a year." She said, her voice thinning down.

"Yeah, I know." Lina sighed as the mood suddenly took a quick shift, but Ellie soon revealed one of those smiles that showed those crinkles beside her eyes and made her wrinkles more prominent.

"It's been how many years now? six?" She said to Lina as her eyes trailed over her.

"Five." Lina corrected with a smile.

Ellie's smile tipped wider. "You've changed." She observed, her eyes giving Lina a once-over. "You look more grown. More of a woman. More different than when you left, but very beautiful now." Ellie said with a proud smile.

"And you too, Ellie. You look the same." Lina gestured to her with her hands. Ellie was probably in her mid-sixties, but she looked just like she did a few years ago.

"Not the same. I have more gray than black hairs now." She said, gesturing to her hair.

"Really? I didn't notice. I could have sworn you wore a wig because of how sexy you look." Lina said, and they both burst out in laughter.

Their laughter died down, and Ellie's countenance suddenly became serious as she looked at Lina. "I'm so sorry I couldn't make it to the funeral. I tried to come back, but the doctors—"

"Yeah, I heard. How are you feeling now?" Lina asked with a tone of concern. She had been informed about Ellie's health and how she had been taken out of the city for treatment during her grandmother's funeral.

Ellie shrugged. "I'm fine. My old bones are still aching when it's cold, and winter is coming soon. So I guess It's just me and the cold."

Lina lowered her eyes to her knees and glanced back at her face with a smile. "I'm sure you'll be fine." She said, and Ellie nodded.

Ellie's eyes suddenly lit up when she remembered something important. "Did you bring her? Your daughter." She said, and Lina stepped aside to reveal the little one sunk into the sofa, completely immersed in watching her movie.

Ellie gasped as she saw her. "Oh my! She looks so serious." She said, and Lina laughed.

"You haven't seen her when she's watching her favorite toon." She said and turned to Serena.

"Ena, come say hi to grandma Ellie." She called, loud enough to distract the little girl, and Ena reluctantly set down the tab and walked over.

"Say hi to grandma Ellie," Lina told her.

"Good evening, grandma Ellie." Serena obediently greeted, and Ellie bent over with a lovely and warming smile splitting her face.

"Good evening, angel. How are you?"

"I'm fine, thank you." She answered, and Ellie lovingly smiled. She was already in love with her.

"She's an angel," Ellie said to Lina.

"That she is," Lina affirmed. Serena was more than an angel to her. She was her entire world. She placed a hand on her shoulder and held Serena to her side while Ellie looked back at her.

"So, are you guys visiting?" She asked as she coursed her eyes around the living room again.

Lina shook her head. "No, we're not." Ellie snapped her eyes back, surprise gleaming behind her dark eyes.

"You're staying?" Ellie asked, surprised. She was even more surprised when Lina nodded.

"She asked me to look over the shop, so here I am," Lina replied with a shrug.

Ellie silently looked at her for a while, her countenance making a subtle change. "Are you sure?" She worriedly asked. "You hated it here, and it was understandable why you did. No girl as sweet as you should have gone through what you did, yet you did." Ellie sadly sighed.

Lina's expression shifted, but she was quick to reclaim the calm and smiling look she had been wearing. "I'm fine now. It's all in the past." Lina said with a smile, which barely touched her eyes.

Ellie skeptically gazed at her, but she nodded and took her words for it. "If you say so."

She regained her smile and looked at Serena. "I'm happy to have you back, and I'm glad to meet your daughter. I hope to see more of her face."

"I'm sure you will, and it was nice meeting you too."

"If there's anything you need. Do let me know, okay?" Ellie seriously told her, and Lina nodded.

"Sure, I will."

Ellie gave her a quick hug before waving them goodnight. "Good night, Ena. Hope to see you guys around." She said as Lina walked her to the door.

Lina's countenance changed as she closed the door, but meeting Serena's gaze, she pushed the dreary mood aside and smiled.

That's right. She couldn't be sad anymore because she had Serena. She'd live through each day with her baby at heart, and soon she'd forget she had once been battered and bruised.