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(Page 4 of 11) The Key by Liliana V.
 (8 ratings)
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She had recently become a widow and needed the support that Lauren's aunt and uncle were so good to provide. Carol always dominated the conversations which usually had a negative flavour. She talked mostly about herself but more recently the theme had been enlightened by the news of her only daughter expecting her first baby. Although since her husband's passing, the stories sometimes turned a grey tone (again) and depicted her late husband's illness and the distressful suffering.
Lauren retraced her steps and faced her aunt. ‘I'll have a shower first if you don't mind' she said as she kissed Rose on her cheek, a hint of a smile on her face.
‘Are you OK sweetheart?' Rose asked with inquisitive eyes, ‘is Mrs Parker all right?' Lauren nodded and headed to the stairs one more time.
As she went up she heard Carol's thin voice from the kitchen: ‘have you met that Mrs Parker yet? if you haven't it is time you do so –'.
‘We met her once briefly while doing the grocery shopping. She seems a nice lady and –', Rose tried to explain.
But Carol didn't listen and kept on talking over Rose's soft words, ‘— she's a stranger Rose. You cannot trust her because she is old and in a wheelchair, this doesn't make her less dangerous, you know?'
Lauren reached her room and shut the door behind her to muffle the sounds from downstairs. She didn't want to listen to Carol's annoying comments, why didn't she mind her own business? Lauren thought irritated.
With a tired movement Lauren took her jacket off and threw it on her bed. A small object fell off the pocket and landed on the carpet by her foot. She took it with curiosity, looking at the key wrapped in her fingers with a frown on her face.
She'd never seen this key before and certainly didn't have a clue as to what it was doing in her jacket. She turned it around on her opened hand looking at it with raised eyebrows, it was certainly a very distinctive key, but nothing came to mind as to where it could belong to, so without second thoughts Lauren left it on the bedside table and went to have a shower.
Dinner was boring and as usual dominated by Carol's non-ending chatter, which this time suited Lauren who was not feeling like doing much of a talking, especially when it concerned Mrs Parker. For some reason that Lauren didn't completely understand, she was jealous of giving away any details about her relationship with Mrs Parker, it was as if that mantle of secrecy made it more especial. Fortunately Rose was understanding and diverted the conversation each time Carol brought up the subject, making subtle gestures to Arnold to talk about something else.
Not bothered to have desserts, Lauren excused herself after her attempt to help with the dishes was dismissed by the two women who were engaged in an endless chattering; her uncle Arnold moved to the lounge to see his favourite TV show. They showed the signs of a middle age couple, who were happy with their lives and contempt with what they had.
Dragging her feet Lauren went to her room, she felt upset but couldn't tell why.
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