December 20th, 2019

They arrived fifteen minutes late.

It was Lia's fault.

"If Beth makes a fuss, I'm telling her it's you," Ian said, getting out of the car. The evening light highlighted the grays in his dark brown curls as he pushed them away from his forehead, a habit Nith had inherited. His five-o'clock shadow made him look even older. "Make sure the cupcakes don't get mushed up. We need them to keep Beth at bay."

"Yes, yes." Lia followed behind him, shutting the car door. Her hands swayed the cupcake box as much as she walked to the door. Acting like an eight-year-old who got scolded.

Nith parked the car in the driveway next to Kate’s old black truck. It looked washed and waxed as it glistened in the moonlight. There was a lavender garden in the back and the scent had the night air deluged. The garden lanterns were up, illuminating a soft golden hue. Making the house look royal. 

The Aurums didn't live in a normal house. No, they had a mansion that was five times larger than the Sage household, dating back to Kate's great-great-great-grandfather.

The Aurum's mansion … It always made Nith feel small. As if it was this huge wall he had to cross if he ever wanted to get close to her.

Nith sighed, pushing back his russet hair. The wall had gotten smaller but he still felt the same. He took the cakes - he made two. One big enough to serve 10. The smaller one was only for Kate - walking to the door.

The butler opened the door for them.

"Good evening, Mr. Sage and Miss. Lily. Sir, is waiting in the sitting room." The old butler motioned them inside. One of the maids standing next to him took the box of cupcakes from Lia's hand. Nith placed the cakes on top. Another took their coats.

Clide - Kate's father - was in the living room, sitting in the chair with a newspaper in hand. Nith had never seen the man without a paper in hand. His once blond hair had now turned a shade similar to salt and pepper. It was combed back. His eyes were a piercing shade of bright blue.

Kate had gotten her blue eyes - though hers were in a softer shade than Clide - and her chin cleft from him.

"Ian." He stretched out his hand when he saw the Sages walking inside.

"Clide."

"Little Lia and Nithan, long time." Clide inclined his head. Nith did the same. "Nick?" He was a big fan of Nick.

"Nick has a game on January 2nd, so the team is practicing for that." Clide nodded. "Where is Kate?" Lia asked.

"Martha," Clide called one of the maids, "where is Katie?"

"Miss is in the dining room. She insisted on setting the table."

"I will go and say hi." Lia slipped out of the room, giving Nith a light pat on the back.

Clide put his newspaper on the table. "Bar?" he asked, "Ian? Nithan?"

"No, I'm ok."

"Sure. Might as well get some now," Ian replied, following Clide into the bar, leaving Nith stranded in the hallways. The butler and the maids left with them.

Nith shook his head, walking further inside. "Like deja vu," he mumbled to himself.

The last time he was in here was when he was 18. A day before Kate left for college. He was at Aurum mansion to help her pack, promising her that he would meet her at the orientation next week.

When he went back home that night, he tore his acceptance letter to shreds before deciding to accept another one. One furthest away from Kate's.

It was impulsive and stupid, Nith knew that. But he did it anyway.

The place hadn't changed much since then. The color gold was used in abundance throughout the house - mansion - giving it a warm glow. Nith walked into the living room. One side of the wall was packed with books, ranging from journals, and cookbooks to novels he didn't recognize. Beth was notorious for only keeping good books in her showcase. Nith traced his fingers on the spins, reading the titles as he walked inside. When he was a kid this was where he could come whenever he was in a mood to read. Rows of books that reached the ceiling that he could never be able to touch. Back then it felt as if it would take a lifetime to finish.

The library at his home was inspired by this.

His green eyes flickered and at the top right-hand corner; he spotted Kate's favorite book. A worn-out copy of Pride and Prejudice that he gave her on her eighth birthday. Next to it sat a book with a green cover. The title was too little to read from the height. The color of the spine looked familiar but he couldn't remember where he had seen it.

Nith moved to the other side.

The west side of the living room was dedicated to pictures, featuring precious moments.

He found a picture of his mother, Ann, on top. She looked young with bright red hair and amber eyes - both of which Lia had inherited. She stood next to Beth. While his mother had a wide grin on her face wearing an old shirt, Beth stood poised in her ironed plaid skirt.

They became friends the moment they landed in the same dormitory. Exact opposites but bonded over their love for metal music.

He moved on to another picture. Kate and him on their first day of school. Nith and Kate as they climb the old iron gate of the Sage house. Them at the park, chasing a ball with Nick. He and Kate on their eighth birthday, Kate blowing out the candles.

Their last birthday together before the Aurums moved to Rens's for the next five years.

His eyes flickered down to the next one.

The picture under it was the one Nith was looking for from the beginning. He walked closer, hand reaching up to touch. It was one of Nith's favorites.

Taken on the day of their middle school dance. A bit blurry but if one looked closely they could pinpoint all the teary eyes behind those smiles. An impending doom that they were trying to mask with their pretend normalcy.  Taken in this very living room. Nith could still feel it, the warmth of the fireplace on that November day. The waves of laughter and the smell of carrot cake that had engulfed the whole house. 

Nith smiled at the picture.

Beth and Clide looked the same as always. Slick hair and ironed skirts with light smiles. Nick stood next to them wearing his freshman-year volleyball jersey. In the middle were Kate and Nith. Nith was wearing one of Nick's old tux with a light green tie. Kate, dressed in a blue dress with a golden ribbon; her short sun-kissed hair curled over her ears. A big smile on her face, showing off her crooked bottom tooth. Jay crouched down in the middle, a V sign and a wide grin on his face. Next to them sat Ann sat on a chair. Six-year-old Lia was on the side with twin tails and a big puffy pink dress. And Ian stood behind her, his green eyes on his wife.

The dress Ann was wearing was loose on her bony body. She was losing weight fast back then. Her once firefly red hair had fallen off, so the red turban took its place. Her bright amber eyes had lost their color. Her skin had an unhealthy yellow hue to it. She looked tired but her smile was big and wide.

Riley - Kate's date for the night, and for the next three years - was the one who took the picture.

Nith traced his finger over it. He had never said it out loud but he always felt grateful that Kate made a fuss that night and forced everyone to take this picture.

It was the last photo they had of Ann smiling.

It was the last photo they had of Ann before she died.

"She looked so happy that day," Kate said standing next to him.

Nith nodded, without taking his eye off the picture. "She was so excited. She really wanted to see us dress up."

"I still have that dress. Probably won't fit but ..."

"I wish she was here," Nith said without realizing it.

"Me too. She would have been so proud of us, you know?" Nith turned toward her. "Just like she said, we are all living our dreams. You are a famous writer. I am an A-class superstar - " She flicked one of her curls behind her shoulder as she said it. Nith chuckled. "Nick is still playing volleyball. Lia will graduate soon. Jay owns half of a publishing house, and probably makes more money than you with zero effort."

"True. He does make more," Nith agreed.

"Yeah! And he's married. And has a kid! Out of all of us!" She laughed, her hand on his shoulder. "The bakery is doing good. Ian is alright. My parents don't fight anymore. Everything she said would happen, happened. So ..." her voice shook.

"I know."

Kate nodded, more to herself than to him. "So don't look at Ann's pictures like you are about to cry."

"I wasn't going to cry." He finally looked at her. Ocean blue eyes meeting his dull green ones. A sad little smile graced her red lips. His heart thumped against his chest. Her pale sunset hair was set in perfect curls over her shoulder. And a tiny sunburst pendant sat perfectly on her collarbone.

"Is that ...?"

Kate glanced down, a smile creeping in as she understood what he meant. Twirling the pendant in her fingers, she looked back at him. "Hmm," she hummed. "Come, everyone is waiting." Intertwining her fingers with his, she gave him a pull.

Nith hesitated for a second. His heart unnecessarily loud in his chest. "Yeah, yeah let's go."