Imogene of the Pacific Kingdom (Excerpt)

 

“Look ahead, Imogene!”  Elsie exclaimed to her daughter.  “There it is, see?”  And then she pointed to the single, tree lined driveway that lay ahead of them, and to the left.  Imogene looked up quickly from her coloring book to see where her mother was pointing to.  The moment she saw the driveway, crayons flew from her chubby little fist and she squealed with five year old delight, “Yes, Mommy!  Is this really the place?”  And then she giggled a wee bit.  She had been considering how long they had been riding in the car, and it had been since early morning. 

 It was now well past the lunch hour and she had begun to think that if they drove for much further, they might easily just end up back home again.  That would mean the entire day had been nothing but a big waste.  But now she was relieved to learn that at last, they had indeed arrived at their final destination.  Finally, she and her mother were at Auntie Agnes’ estate!  Imogene had heard so many wonderful things about her mysterious Auntie, whom up until this point, she hadn’t even met.

“Yes, my love.”  Elsie answered, and she continued to stare straight ahead.  A little reserved then, she added, “This is it!”  She forced a smile, for her daughter’s sake.  She turned into the drive, and then parked her run down station wagon in the empty stall a short distance from the main house.  The two ladies exited the vehicle, and then hand in hand, walked toward the main doors.  This was a majestic Tudor style mansion; one that Elsie’s sister had inherited from her husband, who had died only the year before.  The grounds were immense, and at the back of the property, and running the entire length of it, laid the seemingly endless expanse of the Pacific Ocean.  Elsie knew with certainty, that her daughter would be safe here.  And she could only hope with all her heart and soul, that in time, she might even find happiness.