Taking it all in, Ava couldn't help but feel amazed her parents were full of surprises. This room, it was her chance to make enough money to properly stock up on not just the essentials but on things that could make life so much easier. Ava wondered when they had started this collection, she always knew her mum was well informed about antiques, art and jewellery but she never realised she collected any of it. She wondered if this had been their retirement plan or a potential backup plan for her if she needed one. Her heart filled with love and joy for her parents but also resentment at the fact she didn't see any of this in her last life meaning her aunt's family took it all. Thinking of all the rough days they would have to go through and the horrors they would have to endure without her help, brough some solace in this moment and relieved some of the building pressure she had been putting on herself since being reborn, seeming to lighten more when she surveyed the room again. Her brows finally smoothing out she started moving the antiques and paintings into her space ready for later.
Her body was still weak and with little stamina, still recovering from her grief-stricken body which hadn't been helped with the irregular meals and lack of sleep before her return. This would have to be one of her main goals over the next few weeks; to improve her overall health but mainly build up her strength and stamina so she can take on the harsh realities of the upcoming disasters. Though right now she didn't have the strength to keep pushing her body any further. Thankfully, she was mostly finished with what needed to be done in the house, even though it had taken her most of the day. The sheds, kitchen, living room, bedrooms, attic, bathrooms and basement were emptied, apart from the stuff she put aside for the bin, the stuff for the second-hand salesman and the required furniture for herself while remaining in the house she was pretty much done. The whole place could do with a quick clean and when she was ready, she could move on to selling it.
Finally collapsing onto the living room sofa while breathing hard Ava felt pleased with her progress. She stashed everything she could in her space, while also keeping out some more worn and inconvenient pieces for the second-hand dealer to take away. As her space was somewhat limited, she didn't want to take everything, but she took all the important things and even all her parents belongings that were boxed up so she could look through when she had the strength later. She didn't want to just discard everything as if they hadn't existed, this was the stuff was safe but put away to be dealt with later. The other benefit of having someone come and remove the rest was it was safer for her as the neighbours would see stuff being removed and taken away. If she just came back did seemingly nothing then sold an empty house anyone would thing it was strange, and she didn't want unnecessary attention drawn to her when this was an easy enough remedy for noisy neighbours.
Just as she caught her breath, the doorbell blasted loudly making her jump. The noise ringing louder in the empty rooms. Wondering who it could be she dragged herself to the front door; she figured it was maybe one of the neighbours or parents friends as they may have seen her return and it was only her second time back here since the funeral of her parents, so she wandered over and unlocked the door. Swinging it open she noticed 2 people on the porch.
Hand raised as if ready to knock on the now opened door, Ava came face to face with the people she least wanted to see her uncle George and cousin Jude, were stood directly in front of her. This being the first time she had seen them since being reborn she quickly scanned them and noticed their aloof attitudes, gaudy clothes and smug faces. She couldn't believe she was so blind in her last life. Staring straight at them without saying anything she waited for them to make the first move.
Her uncle looked annoyed and huffed while Jude was tapping her foot and looking around the front of the house. Suddenly a woman's voice came from behind her uncle. "Hi, Ava, we tried calling and even went to your apartment but there was no response, but we bumped into your landlord, and he said you had moved out so we thought you might be here." her aunt said. Making it clear her annoyance of having to run around the city and try and find her niece. Ava stood in the doorway blocking their sight into the house, not letting them get any closer to the inside.
"Why are you here, I thought my not answering the calls was enough of a hint that I wanted to be left alone." she clearly stated to her Aunt, uncle and cousin who all looked as if her not inviting them in this very second was the hight of discourtesy.
In the afternoon heat tempers were easily frayed and her uncle spat out "you ungrateful child how dare you say that to us, we run around looking after you and checking in and you repay it by ignoring us and now being rude". Huffing his red face was scrunching up, Lillian reached out as if to soothe her husband "Darling I'm sure it's not like that, Ava knows how much we love her and have done for her. It's probably just the grief. We are family and shouldn't fall out."
Laughing on the inside Ava had to admit this performance was seamlessly acted by them. Her Uncle her mother's brother seeming overbearing and gruff to Lillian's gentle movements and platitudes while manipulating everything around her. She couldn't even tell if her uncle knew he wasn't in charge just playing Lillian's game. But that didn't matter she just wanted rid of these leeches as soon as she could.
Drawing a deep breath, she looked her uncle straight in the eye "Uncle, i have not asked for, nor do i require you or your families concern for me."