CHAPTER 20 Welcome Home
*Joy*
*Present Day*
I got out of my red Mercedes-Benz and fluffed my wavy ash blonde hair which sat below my shoulders. Then, I fixed my white halter top and smoothened the wrinkles off my beige linen pants before closing the door of my car. It was the start of spring and it was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, the leaves of the trees were green and the birds were singing.
I looked up at the white two-storey colonial house. Not much has changed. It still had the same blue shutters and blue door. But now, there were black railings along the brick stairs that led to the door and a matching brick pathway. That just used to be a cemented walkway when I was a child.
The blue door of the house suddenly opened and out came my real estate agent with a basket. She was so happy that finally someone bought the house. It had been on the market for quite some time. There were rumors that Joy Taylor's ghost roamed the hallways of the house.
*How nice*...*they all thought I was dead*.
"Renovations are done and your interior designer is just putting up the finishing touches. Here... to welcome you to the neighborhood," she said, handing me the fruit basket.
Lisa had grown into a beautiful woman. She was wearing a beige long sleeved silk blouse tucked in skintight blue jeans. Her long light brown hair was styled straight and parted on the side while her bright brown eyes twinkled as the sun shone on her small face.
"Why, thank you, Lisa," I said. Lisa was a friend of mine back in high school. Unfortunately for me, the friendship was one-sided. She took my arm to guide me to the steps of my new home.
"So, I heard you visited that commercial space in town. The one right beside the grocery store. Are you looking to rent, lease or purchase?" Lisa asked. Apparently, I was being watched and talked about. Well, this was such a small town and I was the shiny new object everyone had their eyes on. "So I can start with the paper work and get your business going."
"Maybe rent for the time being. I'm not sure if the town has a taste for my designs. If things go well, then I might go ahead and lease the space," I answered as we walked up the brick steps.
I opened the door and a wave of nostalgia hit me. I couldn't believe I was back in my childhood home. It brought so many happy memories. Sadly, it brought painful ones too.
Lisa saw the sadness in my eyes and coughed, looking confused. "Is there something you don't like? I can have the interior designer change it for you," she said. I blinked and smiled at her brightly.
"No, everything is perfect. Just sad my parents aren't here to see me move into my new home," I quickly said as an alibi. Well, actually it was partly true.
"Well then, you can always invite them for a visit. You do have a lot of space. Since you're single, you never know you might meet someone in town. Probably you'll get married and have a family of your own," she said, taking my basket and placing it on the newly installed kitchen island. "It's a beautiful home. It has so much character."
"Are you married, Lisa?" I asked curiously. I knew she was, but I had to act like I was ignorant.
"Yes, to a wonderful man named Cris. You'll meet him at the town's Spring Parade. Maybe even sooner knowing this town is so small," she answered.
"Any kids?" I asked.
"Nope. Although we want to have kids. I just don't think we're ready," she replied, blushing. I also knew of her fertility problems and Cris' extracurricular activities but I acted as if she was right to wait.
"Of course. It's hard to have children. You need to be prepared. Look at me, no husband, no children. All I have is myself. Maybe I'll adopt a puppy to keep me company," I said, giving her a small smile.
*I may not have a husband*, *but I do have three wonderful partners*. Of course, she didn't know that.
"Well, if you do get a puppy, you better keep him off the expensive furniture. Ah, here's Nicole. Nicole, are you done fixing the bedrooms?" Lisa asked.
Nicole looked the same except for her collagen-inflated lips and her blue contact lenses. She had the same platinum blonde hair, same big breasts and curvy butt. She was wearing a white bodycon mini dress cut deeply in front which showed her cleavage. Her hair, styled in a messy bun on the top of her head, made her appear tall while her three-inch white pumps helped accentuate her short legs. She tried so hard to look like Pamela Anderson, but she came up short...real short.
"Yes, everything is just perfect," she answered in her high-pitched nasal sounding voice. "If you need anything else, don't hesitate to call me. I'll find you what you need. Lisa, we need to go. Liam called. He needs me to fix the newly renovated office on the first floor of the town hall." Nicole grabbed Lisa's hand and tugged her to the front door.
"Here are all your keys, Virtue. If you have nothing better to do, it's women's night at the local pub. Come. We'll be there after dinner for a few drinks," Lisa said, stumbling down the brick stairs as Nicole continued to yank her arm.
"Sure. I'll come by." *Well*, *after I tell my partners*. I waved good-bye and slowly closed the door.
It has been ten years. Ten long and painful years. My face was totally ruined by my rapists. Since the doctors of New Salem were ill-equipped to fix my face, my parents sold everything and we left for California, in the hopes to have my face restored. After many painful and expensive surgeries, I looked as beautiful as one of those celebrities in Hollywood.
After the two women drove off, I walked around and inspected my childhood home. I lovingly touched the railings of the staircase, the mantle of the fireplace, and ran my fingers along the newly painted walls. I had so many wonderful childhood memories in this house. I knew it was really difficult for my parents to leave our home, but they did... for me.
I wish I could call my parents, but I had to keep this a secret. To them, I was Joy Taylor.
However, to New Salem, I was Virtue Sullivan. It cost several thousand dollars for my new identity, but it was all worth it.
After inspecting the house, I sat down on the gray L-shaped sofa perched against the tall windows in my living room and peered outside, hoping to get a glimpse of my neighbors. I doubted if any one of them could recognize me, but I still had to be careful. There was one neighbor in particular who I was hoping to see, but there was no need to rush. When you rush things, that's when accidents happen.
I went to the kitchen where I had left my purse and took out an old photo envelope from a secret compartment of my bag. I opened it and pulled out an old photo of mine. Back then, I was a tall, skinny girl, who had chestnut colored hair, a long pointed nose and pink pouty lips. Sure, I wasn't exceptionally beautiful, but I had captivating aquamarine eyes, framed with thick luscious eyelashes, which I believed was my most striking feature.
I quickly put the photo away. Looking at it, here, where I grew up, unexpectedly made me feel queasy.
I went to the powder room, splashed some cool water on my face, then stared at myself in the bathroom mirror.
There was no denying it. I am a completely different woman from the young girl in the photo.
Now, I had ash blonde hair, a small cute nose and a sultry mouth to match my small features. I also had high cheekbones and a cute feminine chin. Clearly, there was not much left of the Joy Taylor everyone in this town once knew.
However, my eyes remained the same. I wanted to undergo laser surgery to change my eye color, but Cristos, Sebastian and Xavier were against it. They figured I had been gone for so long, no one would notice my eyes. Anyway, my optometrist prescribed me tinted contact lenses which changed my eye color's hue to blue-gray.
New Salem is temporary... a means to an end. For the time being, I would set up a small shop selling and renting gowns. When I was young, I dreamt of designing and making my own gowns, clothes and accessories. I could still live the fairy tale, even for a short while.
Fairy tale. I had to learn the hard way that life isn't a fairy tale and happy endings are few and far between.
Yet, in life, there are such things as fairy tale moments.
I suddenly heard my phone ring, breaking me from my thoughts. I walked over to my purse, took my phone out and smiled as I read the caller's name on my phone's screen.
"You guys miss me that much already?" I asked, giggling.
"Every second away from you is painful, but hearing the wonderful sound of your voice helps ease the pain," a husky male voice answered.
"In short, we really miss you, baby. But it's time to get into character because someone is about to ring your doorbell," another sexy male voice said.
Who could be coming to visit me so soon?
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