Chapter 1 – Home Sweet Home

A mixture of farmland and forest swept out in rolling hills on either side of a narrow road. The blue sky touched the horizon and tops of trees miles away and the sun was shining brightly in the sky. Far, far in the distance mountains rose up to meet the sky as well. Alicia Summers surveyed the picturesque scene with barely concealed malice and loathing, while occasionally casting that same glare at her father who was driving the truck they were riding in. She looked pale and drawn, as if from not enough sleep or sickness from grief. Maybe it was both. Despite that she was a beautiful woman, with startling green-brown eyes and honey brown hair that fell done her back in loose curls.

"You can stop looking at me like that, you know. It's not so horrible; you're making it out to be a lot worse than it is." He glanced at her for a moment, taking his eyes off the road and narrowing slightly with irritation at her bitchy mood.

"Living with an estranged parent in the middle of nowhere, away from my career and friends, right after my mum died? That sounds pretty horrible to me, Robert," she replied. Then she turned around to watch fields and forests pass by.

Alicia heard him sigh tiredly from his seat, and the truck began to move faster in the truck as his foot pressed down farther on the gas.

The rest of the drive was silent, and both riders in the truck were glad for it. Alicia knew enough of the scenery from past visits to Rob's home that she knew when they were getting close to his residence. They pulled into a long driveway, making their way up to the home. Alicia surveyed the new changes with surprise, disgust and reluctance.

The first noticeable thing was the new construction going on. It wasn't construction on the old, tiny and smelly house that she was accustomed to. No, Rob was building an entirely new house just a short distance ahead of the old one. It was only about half done, but Alicia knew immediately that it would be a much more impressive house than he had before.

The small house was situated where it had always been. The gardens were almost nonexistent and the building itself not very attractive, the grey stucco walls unflattering and built in the 1930s, so that everything within was Spartan and drab. The windows were dirty and the curtains were closed. Two cars were parked there already, one that she didn't recognize and another that was a beaten up Chevy on the lawn beside the house.

Alicia hopped out of the truck as soon as it stopped, reaching into the space in front of the seat for her small bag and purse and quickly putting them onto her shoulder.