Chapter 3
The next hour the three of us talked about places we had been and things we had done over the past few years. I picked up that Emily's family lived another 45 minutes or so down the road from Ms. Laura. She would be driving out there to visit them, but staying with us. After hearing about the pool and hot tub I really didn't blame her.
We were headed south east towards Huston when we pulled off the highway. The road we turned on to was a two lane country road. East Texas was a lot more forested than I thought. The trees obscured all the houses from the road. I wouldn't have known we were even close without Ms. Laura pointing out the mail box by her disguised driveway.
Turning up the long quarter mile driveway I caught the first glimpse of the house through the trees. It was a large Spanish villa with white adobe walls and red clay roof tiles. The drive way eventually took us closer and I saw it was actually two building. One large one with two story high bay windows flanking its dark heavy wooden doors and a second single story one with no windows I could see. The gap between them was covered by a flat roof and it was where we found parking.
"We're here!" Ms. Laura said excitedly.
"Finally!" Emily jumped out of the car and stretched her long legs, "you always have such beautiful landscaping Aunt Laura."
"Thank you," she replied getting out of the car.
I was the last to get out and had a look around. The yard work was amazing. There was thick set of woods surrounding the house and yard, but what was lawn was perfectly manicured. All the hedges were trimmed, the yard was mowed, and pavement was edged.
"Yeah My gardener does good work," Ms. Laura started for the path around the front of the house, "now get your things and come around the front of the house. I want Johnny to see it from the front entrance first."
The trunk popped open as I neared and once again I took up the bags. Ms. Laura followed closely by Emily walked around the house towards the front door.
This door was double wide and at least eight feet tall. The little women were dwarfed standing next to it. When it opened my jaw truly dropped. The foyer had cathedral ceiling and it extended to the back of the house where a massive set of windows let in light. The floor was a polished marble inlayed with designs. To the right was staircase taking you up to a little bridge connecting either side of the second floor.
The whole place was decorated for the holidays too. Red ribbon bunting and green garland draped with tinsel were wrapped up the wrought iron railings. Hanging from the bridge were tiny sets of Christmas lights.
