Chapter 10 - Jealousy, Resentment Or Guilt
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her father walking into the kitchen. It would be good if he could hear Rachels words she thought.
Lucy noticed her looking behind her mother and alerted her.
"Father, come sit and eat. You have been working hard all day."
Lucy came forward to grab her stepfather's arm but as usual, he patted her hand and let it go. She sneered inwardly he always kept her at a distance and although he didn't show any favouritism towards April he also never gave her the things she wanted.
He had money as they were a wealthy family but he would never buy her pretty things without her asking him. She had to rely on using Aprils bank as well as her own card to buy her bags, clothes and jewellery.
Martin sat at the head of the table and Rachel and Lucy followed both sitting at his side. Rachel had been left with no alternative but to stop sweet talking April for now.
This view of her supposed family disgusts April but she had to talk to her father about a job and moving out she stayed.
"April sit and join us for dinner." Her father requested.
"I ate with Tom already father but I would like to talk to you about something later if that's okay."
Martin hoped his daughter would join them for dinner but again she had refused, he didn't understand why. In the end, he was pleased to hear that she wanted to speak to him.
"Okay, after dinner I will be in my study come see me when you need to."
"Okay later then, Father enjoy your meal."
April smiled and went to the kitchen. She then went to the gazebo with Tom and ate dinner. The sun streamed through the trees beside the gazebo and she felt the warm summer heat as she ate peacefully. In two lifetimes since her mothers passing this would be her first of many meals she would enjoy.
"Tom, if one day I leave here do you want to come with me?"
Tom finished his food and wiped his mouth with a tissue. He had already given this issue some serious thought.
"Is this when you have your own family?"
"Possibly sooner."
Tom was in his late forties and was still young and capable, she liked his company and he had been true to her in her past life. She wondered if he was the only one to mourn her in her past life.
"I will stay here and look after your mother's paintings and keep an eye on the other two, they are too greedy and wicked. When you have everything that should be yours or you have your own family and you still want me, I will gladly follow you."
April smiled she had expected this answer, but she wanted to prepare him that she would be leaving soon. She also didn't believe in love after everything that had happened to her so she saw no need to wait to have a family to invite Tom to move with her. Her ambition was to gain all she had lost, keep what was hers and to also become self-reliant in this life.
"Okay, we will do that then."
They collected their dishes and went to the kitchen together. The maid Ms Kitty was doing the dishes and sneered upon seeing them together.
"Nice dinner?"
"Yes thank you." April cheerfully replied and smiled at Tom as she went to her bedroom.
Inside her bedroom, she got her bag from under the bed and took out her new phone. She discarded the packaging and plugged the phone charger into the wall and connected her phone to the charger. Although she had never owned a phone before she knew how to charge one up and use its basic functions. Her friend Sophie had shown her many times.
As she waited for her phone to charge she sat on her bed and started to sketch on a canvas with a charcoal pencil. First, she drew a pair of piercing eyes, followed by a strong nose and thin kissable lips. Before she knew it two hours had passed. She shook her head as she studied the canvas, who was she drawing? She then abandoned the unfinished sketch on the canvas and checked her phone.
Seeing it fully charged up she turned it on and connected it to the internet. She hurriedly scanned the job advertisements and then downloaded her email app and a messaging app. She had a CV in her emails already, using it she then uploaded her CV to the job site and applied for a few jobs.
Happy with her applications she has sent out she then downloaded a stock market app. She had few memories of the next two year so she could use those memories to get ahead financially. The only number she then added to her contacts was Marie's number.
Checking the time it was eight-thirty she decided to go to her father's study to talk to him. She hid her phone in her bag under the bed and then locked her door behind her.
She didn't see anyone in the living room so she walked straight upstairs and to her father's study.
Knock Knock
"Come in."
Hearing her fathers welcome she walked in. Her father's study had ten of the remaining paintings of her mothers hung up around the room. This was the only room he had her art in. The rest were sold in the name of charity by Rachel. She smiled at the paintings and then noticed an extra person in the room.
Rachel sat on the leather sofa and read while her father sat behind his desk. This gave April the feeling of a harmonious couple. Though she now knew that was far from the truth.
Rachel never came in here as she didn't like to see things that belonged to her mother. April didn't know if it was due to jealousy, resentment or guilt that she avoided her mother's things.
"Come sit." Rachel offered her the seat beside her.
April ignored her and went to the chair in front of her father's desk and sat down. Rachel was left out of the conversation and April couldn't even see her when she sat here.
"Father last year I promised to stay home and help with Lucy's studies which I did. I do the housework and I accompanied you to work to help out. I never asked for anything in return but I think it's time I got a job. I think this can help me grow as a person. Lucy has only a few weeks left in university, she may take a year out or get a job. I should do some things for myself now. So I had a look earlier and applied for a few jobs."