The Phantom Traveler

Chapter Two

        As Aria drove, she couldn’t help but glance at the blooming apple blooms, and lilacs coming to full bloom.  Robins' dances on the branches as they were preparing for their mating season.  The drive brought her to familiar surroundings.  The houses and buildings she recognized from childhood, she knew where her drive brought her now.  Aria slowed to a driveway leading to a white house with green trim., turned in, and put the car in park.  She then shut the engine off and sat there in the quiet.  She hadn’t told anyone her situation, and she was nervous on how she would look.  Aria took a deep breath and open the car door.  As she was stepping out of the car her father Arthur was coming out of the house through the back door heading towards the garage.

        “Well, this is a surprise” Arthur said.  “I know it has been a while” Aria replied with a soft laugh.  Her father greeted her with a hug has he headed in the garage to do some work and tinkering around.  “Is mom in the house?” Aria asked as she in-braced his hug.  “Yea, she is in the kitchen doing the dishes” Arthur replied.  “OK” Aria said as she went towards the house.  As Aria stepped through the door she saw her mother Anne at the sink.  Aria closed the door and greeted her “Hi Mom.”  Anne then turned her head, “Aria hi, didn’t expect you here today.”  “I know dad was surprised too,” Aria said as she sat down at the kitchen table.  Her mother finished the dishes, dried her hands, poured two cups of coffee then sat down.  She handed Aria a cup.  “So, what brings you here.”

        Aria proceed to update her mother on Jane, how she was doing in school, and what herself have been up to for the past few months.  Before anyone knew they found themselves in random conversations on just about everything.  Anne update Aria on her grandmother, her niece and her father.  Laughter started in when memories of the past came up.  Just then Aria began hearing footsteps coming down the stairs.  Her niece Enya ran into the kitchen yelling out “why are you here.”  Enya was a bright 12 years who had a very curious nature, she always needed to be in the know on just about everything, even if it didn’t involve her.  

Every-time Aria would come to visit Enya would run downstairs with the same question “why are you here?”  Aria would reply back “why are you here” with a laugh.  It was for the most part a back-and-forth game between the two. “I live here” Enya would say.  “I used to live here” Aria would reply back with laughter.  “Not anymore,” Enya would say back with a silly grin.  Aria then asked, “shouldn’t you be in school?”  Enya answered, “I have an appointment.”  At that point Darren her father Aria twin brother walked into the kitchen.  “She as an appointment that’s going to take most if not all day.”  “I see, must be out of town then” Aria said.  “Yea, we are just about to leave for it, oh by the way good to see you.” Darren gave Aria a quick hug, as he and Enya were heading out the door.  As they walked out the door Aria waved and said, Drive safe.”

“Aria,” Anne regained her daughter attention.  “It has been about six months since we have seen or heard from you, is everything alright with you?” Aria know in reality that she could hide from her mother.  She turned back around, stirred her coffee and took a sip.  She then looked down at the cup, stirred it again then watched it swirl.  With a sigh Aria let ever thought and every situation she has been through for the past six months come out.

“I lost my job six months ago,” Aria began explaining.  “I’ve been applying everywhere, trying to find work since then with no luck.”  “I would apply, but I don’t ever hear anything back.”  Aria could feel her mother's eyes on her.  “Aria why didn’t you tell us,” Anne said with care.  “We would have helped you.”  Anne reaches over for Aria hand.  “I am an adult, I didn’t want to be one of those adults that sill relayed on her parents.”  Aria looked up at her mother, with a sigh as she continued.  “I mean I have been fine up until now, I thought I could handle it.”  “But lately I don’t know? Lately I feel stuck, like I can’t get out of my own head.”  Aria sat back with another sigh.  Anne then asked, “does Jane know?”  “No,” Aria replied.  “She thinks everything fine.”  Aria covered her face with her hands attempting to hide her tears.  She told her mother how ashamed she felt about using Jane’s saving.  The savings she started when Jane was born just to keep things going.

Anne leaned back, took a sip of her coffee.  Silence filled the kitchen for a brief few moments.  Just then the back door opened, Arthur then walked in.  He went to the sink to wash his hands.  “So, Aria have you been staying out of trouble these past few months?”  Aria knew her father was joking.  She seemed to have a bond with him more then her other siblings.  “Yes, dad I’m like an angle.” Aria replied with a slight giggle.  The tension seemed to settle as she went ahead to include him in the conversation regarding her situation.  

“Are you getting unemployment at least for now?” Arthur asked.  “Yea, for now, at least bills are getting paid with that I guess,” Aria replied.  “Well honey, if you need anything, help with Jane and what she needs we're here,” Arthur assured her.  Anne nodded her head in agreeance.  “Thank you,” Aria embracing their support.  Before long Arthur started describing how hard it was when he was a kid.  Both her mother and father started to share stories about how money was tight while they were growing up and how the managed when they were raising Aria and her siblings.  The conversation would then shift to lighter topics.  

Before long, the afternoon had slipped away.  Aria glanced at the clock on the wall.  It was just about 1:30 in the afternoon.  “Oh wow,” Aria said.  “I have to go pick up Jane.”  Anne smiled as she stood.  “Well, you better get going,” Anne said.  Aria nodded with a small smile.  As she hugged both her parents she thanked them for their understanding.  “Thanks for the coffee,” she said.  “And… thanks for listening.”  Anne stepped forward and wrapped her daughter in warm hug.  “Anytime, she said softly. “You never have to go through this alone.”  Aria smiled.  “I know.”  She picked up her purse, headed for the front door, and stepped outside.  

As Aria stepped out the door she felt a change in the weather.  The afternoon air was cooler, and the sky seemed darker than earlier.  She hurried to her car, before the raindrops started to come down.  As she pulled out of the driveway she had a feeling of sight calm.  Knowing her parents were there for support seemed to put her mind at ease for the time being.  By the time she reached Jane’s school, the rain had started to come down hard.  Jane climbed into the passenger seat with her book bag slung loosely over one shoulder.  “Hey, Mom.”  “Hey, sweetheart.  How was your day?”  “It was good.  We started our science project today.”  “Oh yeah? What’s it on?”  “Weather,” Jane said with a grin.  “Miss. Hazel says we have to track storms for two weeks.”  Aria smiled as she pulled away from the curb.  “Sounds like you picked a perfect time to start.”

 They talked easily as they drove.  Jane filled the car with small, bright details of the day-friends, assignments, passing moments and the moments that made her laugh.  Aria listened, asking questions when they came naturally, smiling more than she realized she was.  Outside the car, the rain deepened.    By the time they were halfway home, it had become a downpour.  Wipers moved steadily across the windshield, keeping the road in view.  

When they turned into their driveway, rain hammered against the roof.  “Ready?” Aria asked.  Jane nodded.  They ran through the storm, laughing as they reached the front door.  Inside, warmth wrapped around them as Aria locked up behind them. Jane kicked off her shoes and headed upstairs to change, already half-distracted by her phone.  In the kitchen, Aria started dinner.  She wiped down the counters, rinsed a few dishes, and straightened what needed straightened. The house slowly filled with the sound of the rain against the windows.  For a moment, everything felt still.

You've been reading an early draft of The Phantom Traveler. The final polished version will be available soon with deeper edits and refinements. Thank you for being part of the journey. Enjoying the story. Get early access to the next chapter for $3.99-delivered straight to your email. You can also shop Amazon for witchcraft essentials like candles, crystals, grimoires and more through the likes on the website.