Chapter 3 Moving In

"Mom, do I have to pack my books?"

Alex zipped up the suitcase she had been struggling with. "Yes baby, we're moving, not going to a refugee camp... books can come."

"But they're heavy!" Sophie groaned.

"Then maybe don't try to take all thirty of them," Alex replied in exasperation. "Just pick your favorites."

Sophie groaned dramatically. "This is emotional trauma mom."

"You'll survive Sophie," Alex said, stepping into the sitting room and seeing the mess of scattered clothes and boxes. She wanted to say something about them, but the door burst open dramatically, and Lucy marched in like a maniac.

She was giddy, and her eyes were wild with anticipation. Her phone was already on record for her vlog. "Okay, okay, tell me everything!"

Alex grinned. "Wow, that was quite a subtle entrance."

Lucy kicked the door shut, and then looked around at the mess they'd made. "I see you're barely packed, plenty of time for interrogation." she said mischievously.

Sophie zipped over to her in a flash. "Aunt Lucy!"

"Kiddo!" Lucy hugged her and spun her around. "I hear you're moving into a haunted mansion?"

Sophie gasped, and then looked at Alex. "It's haunted?!"

Alex sighed. "It's not a haunted mansion pumpkin, pay no attention to your auntie."

Lucy gave her a grave look. "Are you sure? Because from what you told me, it sounded like it was Dracula's vacation home."

Alex rolled her eyes and dropped onto the couch. "It's a luxurious home Lucy, it just kinda has an intense feel around it."

Lucy threw a bag to the floor and sat beside Alex. "Okay start from the beginning, I couldn't hear you clearly on the phone... Who let you in?"

Alex scowled. "Some ancient dude named Gregory; he looked like a science abomination gone wrong."

"Yikes."

"He barely said anything." Alex continued. "He just stood there looking at me like I had stolen his coffin or something."

"Sounds so exciting already," Lucy said, grinning.

"Then Madame Miller," Alex said. "She says she's the housekeeper, but she acted more like the queen of the castle... being overly nice and cheerful."

Sophie sat on the floor between them, and placed her head on Lucy's knee. "But what about the boy mom? The one you're teaching?"

Alex looked at her daughter, and thought about the poor boy. "Ethan."

"Is he nice?" Sophie asked.

Alex hesitated. "I... don't know yet honey, he didn't say anything at all."

Lucy leaned forward. "Wait, what do you mean by that?"

Alex looked at her. "He just stood there watching me, he didn't even move a single bit."

"That's so creepy," Sophie whispered, with fear and fascination evident in her voice.

Alex looked down at her. "Maybe he's just shy, or probably hurting... his father said he's been like that ever since the accident, it felt... eerie."

"Does he look like a ghost?" Sophie asked seriously.

"No, sweetheart. He's actually very handsome, although his eyes seemed so beautiful and sad at the same time.

"And the father?" Lucy asked eagerly.

"Julian Blackwood." Alex exhaled. "The man seems normal enough, but he's not the social type, and he doesn't smile."

Sophie's head bobbed up. "Is he handsome?"

"No," Alex said very quickly. Then she paused, wondering why she had snapped like that. "Okay yes, he's actually very handsome actually, but in a very annoying, arrogant, and cold kind of way."

Lucy giggled. "Ooooh, this is getting juicy."

Alex glared at her. "It's not juicy Lou, it's a terrible job, and I almost walked away from it."

"But didn't," Lucy said knowingly. "Something held you back, didn't it?"

"Money held me back Lou, he offered to pay the first month upfront, and you've seen the bills... I couldn't say no."

Lucy nodded slowly. "So... when are you moving in?"

Alex looked at the clock. "Actually, the cab should be here any minute."

"What?" Lucy jumped up. "You didn't tell me you were leaving today! I haven't even emotionally processed your haunted tutoring job!"

Alex gave her a faint smile. "It's all happening so fast."

Sophie stood and hugged Lucy tightly. "You'll come visit us, right?"

"You can count on that my sweetheart," Lucy said with a wink. "And I expect ghost stories and mansion gossip immediately."

"Deal," Sophie giggled.

Alex stood up and grabbed her coat, suddenly coming to terms with their departure. She looked around the apartment, thought about all the memories they had made there... midnight cereal talks, pillow forts, fights over bedtime. Now they were packing up their life for a different adventure, to a mansion full of mysteries.

Lucy noticed the emotion on her face. "Hey. You've got this."

"I don't know," Alex said quietly. "I don't know how I'm going to handle a kid who won't speak, or a man who looks like he eats his employees, a creepy butler and a housekeeper who might be a witch."

"But I do know one thing," Lucy said, stepping close and cupping Alex's face. "You're Alex freaking Reynolds, you've been through way more than this, and you've always fought your way through... this is just another adventure."

"I'm scared Lucy."

"Of course you are, isn't that what makes you human?"

A car horn broke the intensity of the moment. "Cab's here!" Sophie shouted, already dragging her backpack toward the door.

Lucy picked up the last suitcase and muttered, "God help the Blackwoods."

Alex found herself laughing despite the lump in her throat. "Or God help me."

They climbed down the steps, watching the cab driver loading their bags into the trunk. Sophie was dancing around excitedly, chattering about which room she wanted and whether ghosts could be friendly.

Alex took a look at the building one last time, then she whispered a quiet goodbye.

Lucy turned to Alex. "Call me. Text me. Scream into the void if you need to, I'll come running, ok?"

Alex hugged her tightly "Thank you for everything Lucy."

"No ghost or billionaire stands a chance." Lucy said giggling. "Give them hell."

Alex helped Sophie into the car, and then got in beside her. The cab pulled away, leaving their old life behind, and moving into the unknown future.

Sophie grabbed her hand. "Mom?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"I think this is going to be a great adventure."

Alex smiled softly... "I hope you're right."