Chapter 20


    Linda Warner


    “Is that everything?” Melissa said to Roxanne, who put arge bag in the boot, grunting as she


    exerted herself.


    The bag was quite heavy.


    Other than therge bag, there were two boxes which weren’t sorge and fit into the boot of the


    car.


    “Pretty much” Roxanne said dryly.


    She walked past Melissa and entered the car, refusing to make eye contact with her mother.


    Melissa remained standing as she signed to herself.


    “Looks like she’s still mad, uhn?” She reasoned within herself.


    But, she wasn’t going to give in just yet. She had to remain strong and keep up the serious and


    strict mother vibe. Roxanne would let go of everything soon enough, but for now she needed not to


    show any weakness in front of her daughter.


    She closed the bumper of her car and went to the driver’s seat to start the engine and begin their


    journey to see Roxanne’s grandmother in the woods.


    “I’m counting on you… Mom” Melissa thought to herself.


    Roxanne stared at her mother as she started the engine, though subtly.


    “She’s not going to try to apologise again? Or try to plead with me? Is this really my mother”


    Roxanne thought to herself.


    Her mother was always gentle, kind and understanding. It was her father who was sometimes


    rough with her, but even then he always showed restraint. The fact that her mother maintained minimal


    conversation with Roxanne and even gave her a somewhat cold shoulder shocked her. But…


    “This is perfect. If it continues like this, we’ll never make up until I’ve spent enough time with


    grandma.” Roxanne smiled within herself


    Unknown to the other, the both of them wished for the same thing, Roxanne spending time with


    her grandmother. As the awkward drive continued, there was an ufortable silence in the car. Of


    course, Roxanne had her phone with her, allowing her to chat with her friend, Betty, who was still trying


    to convince her toe to the party by hook or crook.


    “Just apologise to your mom already. You’re both adults” Betty pleaded in text format, going further


    to put two pleading eyes emojis as a bonus.


    Roxanne let out a littleugh as she shook her head.


    “Not. Gonna. Happen.” She responded.


    Melissa nced over at Roxanne ever so often as she drove and felt a tad frustrated. Unlike


    Roxanne, she had to focus on driving, and the entire journey was too boring for her. She could try the


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    radio, but she was never one who enjoyed it in the first ce. In fact, their entire family disliked the


    radio, and so during drives they all talked to keep the otherpany. But that wasn’t possible this time.


    “It''s fine Melissa. It’s fine” Melissa muttered to herself in order to cool her nerves. She had the


    temptation to talk to Roxanne, but that would defeat the entire purpose of her act.


    The drive didn’t take more than an hour, but for Melissa it was so stretched that she was already


    exhausted when she got to the woods. Since there were so many clusters of trees, and people hardly


    lived around there, a makeshift road was the only path that existed for them. It was too bumpy and


    small for a car, so from thereon out, they moved on foot.


    Melissa parked the car at a corner and came down from it, Roxanne also followed suit. She


    opened the bumper, revealing thepact luggage they had to carry. In a way Melissa was happy


    Roxanne packed such a little load. If it was more, she wasn’t sure how they would cope.


    Roxanne carried herrge bag, while Melissa carried her two boxes as they both walked down the


    path together, with. Melissa leading the way.


    After a walk of 20 minutes, breaks included, they finally arrived at the cottage where Roxanne’s


    grandmother lived.


    On top of the exquisite wooden house, a que which read ‘LINDA’S HOUSE’ was evident. That


    was her name, Linda.


    “Finally” Marissa huffed, with cold smokeing from her mouth.


    Out in the woods the weather was much harsher than in the town where they lived. The snow was


    more, and the heat supply was non-existent. Unlike the electrically powered firece, one needed


    firewood and manualbour to be able to generate enough heat to keep warm. There were no electric


    cables connected to the cottage, so for a moment Roxanne panicked, thinking of how she would


    charge her smartphone.