The house was not big nor spacious, but it's wide enough to contain a large nuclear family, it was a bungalow. As she stared at the house, she realized nothing had changed, it's still the same old house she had grown to know.
Except, of course, for the plants and trees -they have grown taller and the flowers that served as exterior decorations too. The faint smells from the flowers and with that of the plants rendered the air. Ciara sniffed it in slowly with a soft smile on her face, she had missed this familiar scent as it filled her nostrils.
She pushed the wooden gate open, gaining full entrance into the small compound, feeding her eyes with the sight of the surrounding again -memories of when she was younger came flooding in.
"Ah -look who is here, much earlier than predicted?" The familiar deep voice uttered in resonation, interrupting her calmed thoughts all of a sudden -without invitation.
Ciara turned abruptly to the source of the voice, her gaze settled on him, immediately her lips broke into a wild smile as she rushed forward to him into his embrace. It was a silent invitation since the arms were widely spreading, calling her in. Itwas a warm embrace and soothing too; that moment Ciara unconsciously forget all of her worries, savoring the brief moment as much as she can.
"Uncle Kent..."She called out slowly as she disengaged the hug, feeling apologetic at the moment.
"Ciara..."His deep manly voice was soothing, her name sounded surreal on his lips with his Irish accent and wrapping it all up with his warmest smile. "You came."
"Yes..."She cited simply. "Itwas a promise on my part, why shouldn't I keep it?"
"I see, you still haven't changed." He enunciated with small and worry free laughter. "-even after all of those years of being apart. Well, I'm glad you came, I miss having you around."
"Well, I know right, but I miss you more, uncle Kent." She uttered, initiating his quick and short laughter. "If not, I'll be running down here as soon as I can."
"It's a good thing you are here -at the right time." He told her. "Derrick is around, he'll be spending his weekend here with me. With the both of you around, I certainly won't be as lonely as I used to before now."
"Ah -Derrick." She sounded more like she was trying to memorize the name; as if it's her first time hearing such a name. "Is he in at the moment?"
"Yeah, taking his nap, I guess." He nodded in reply as he stares at her multiple times like he was inspecting her, before speaking. "Your baggage, where is it? Don't tell me you intend to spend only a day ortwo with me."
Ciara chuckled at his choice of words. "Of course not, I'm spending as many weeks as I can with you, uncle Kent, if not months." She renounced, drawling on herwords. "My baggage is in the car, I left it behind."
"Oh, right. Wait here, let me go get it for you then." He said, rushing his words as he turned to leave, but Ciara was quick to grab him on his right wrist before he could move, stopping him on his track.
"You need not to worry, I'll go get it myself later on. It can still stay there in the car for now. She told him, feeling awkward to hear his offer.
"No, I can't let you stress yourself over little things, especially in this condition of yours, Ciara." He replied to her, slowly taking off Ciara's grip on his wrist.
Ciara was stunned at his words, what did he mean by her condition? What condition is he trying to insinuate? Her curiosity was at its peak, and it was reflecting clearly on her face, unable to hide it.
"You can't possibly overwork yourself, not even with the slightest work, your baby won't be safe if you do." He furthered, stunning her more than she was before.
'Your baby...'the words echoed in her, no matter how much she tries to push it off or endeavor to understand. There is no way he was supposed to know about it, right?
Ciara stared down at her stomach, though it was slowly bulging out, but it was not that big enough for her uncle to detect it that quick -not with the type of clothes she was putting on at the moment.
She wasn't planning on hiding it from him, in fact, that's one of the reasons she had decided to reside with him for a while; to get away from the prying eyes of the world and to find the peace that used to be within her but now too far away from her grasp.
Uncle Kent finding out about the pregnancy on his own was the least she could expect. This wasn't how she had planned for him to know, she wanted to break the news to him herself, the same way she would have broken it to her parents...but now?
"Don't be too surprised, Dwayne told me about everything and the pregnancy inclusive." Uncle Kent enunciated like he was reading her thoughts.
"Dwayne did...？" She echoed with a frown, feeling like her brother had just snitched on her. Ciara felt she should have known better. The sibling is always a chatterbox when it comes to their favorite uncle, Kent, telling him everything. Well, it seems like Dwayne hasn't grown over that habit yet.
But still, he should have been more patient and had her do the telling all by herself. She was partially mad at him as she frowned her face more, tightly in displease. Ciara couldn't help but think about how much he must have told him.
Uncle Kent smiled, much wider than his usual smile as he draped his arms over her shoulders just to comfort her with the thought that she was embarrassed. "There is nothing to be ashamed of, all babies are said to be a blessing from above, you know..."He uttered.
Ciara wasn't surprised that uncle Kent did not condemn her nor scold her, rather, he accepted her predicament with open arms. She was glad they still had him around after their parent's tragic death.
Staring at him with his smile still broad on his face -she could see the father figure in him. He would not do less than their parents had done to them, filling in the space as the parent they won't be able to see again...