If you love me let me know

CHAPTER 3

SONG: AIRLINE TO HEAVEN BY BILLY BRAGG AND WILCO

"Right hear me out okay." Benjamin approached his sister and daughter as Harriet was doing Rosie's hair at the kitchen table ready for the day ahead. "New house, new beginnings."

"Am I supposed to have a specific reaction?" Harriet shrugged.

"If we move out of this town, new house, ne-"

"Yeah I got that bit." Harriet interrupted.

"Our family can start again, Hattie you can come live with us if you want, continue doing what you're doing here. We just need a fresh start, a clean slate. Make new memories."

"Well it's not the worst idea you've had. And you've had many terrible decision." Benjamin glared at his sister as she continued to smile and smirk at him. 

"Rosie what do you think." Harriet leaned down to her niece.

"NEW HOUSE!" she cheered with excitement.

"I've booked an estate agent to show us round some possible houses."

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

"Can't wait." Harriet smiled. 

- next day -

"It's a new day for you Mr and Mrs Mee." the estate agent spoke with excitement driving round the estate to many possible houses for them to buy.

"Oh I'm his sister not his wife." Harriet poked her head through the two front seats being in the back with Rosie, playing a card game as she was bored of driving round.

"My apologises. Anyway we have a full day of house hunting planned. And I think you'll be very excited at what's available."

"We just want new. We want new... New everything. New opportunities. New schools. Just new."

"Did he mention he wanted new?" Harriet spoke up smirking to herself ignoring her brother's glare smiling at Rosie's giggles and the estate agents chuckles. 

"In the current economic environment, you're gonna find that now, the buyer is now the king." the estate agent and Benjamin continued to discuss what Benjamin had in mind which led to driving by possible choices, Rosie sharing her opinion aloud, mostly negative opinions, which Harriet had to agree for, nothing felt right from what they saw. Rosie continued to look through the papers of different house, you peered over her shoulder looking at them with her. You both continued going back to this house in particular, and finally decided to give it to Benjamin. 

"We are now running out of options." The estate agent sighed as Harriet took the paper off Rosie and poked her head between the two front seats again passing the paper to Benjamin.

"Benjamin you gotta look at this place." Benjamin didn't look that satisfies with it but due to Harriet and Rosie being very determined the estate agent continued to take them there. 

"Hattie what are we going to do with 18 acres." Harriet shrugged. 

"I'm gonna be honest with you." The estate agent spoke up. "The Rosemoor property has some challenges."

"Well what doesn't." Harriet shrugged once again as the car turned onto a dirt, gravel path leading up to a big drive to the house. "Wait is that it," The estate agent nodded. "Oh Benjamin would you look at that." They both smiled, Benjamin's opinion changing in an instant. "Rosie look." Rosie joined her Dad and Auntie in smiling as they approached the property. 

They all got out of the car, Rosie instantly jumping into her Auntie's arms as she carried her catching up with Benjamin looking at the house in bewilderment. It wasn't the most lavish looking house, but it was the one. Rosie took out her disposable camera from her little handbag and began to take pictures as her Auntie but her back down on the ground. 

"You don't have to take a picture Rosie." Benjamin took his daughter's hand.

"Why not?"

"Cause we're gonna live here." Harriet smirked to herself at her success as she speed ahead of the three of them walking onto the porch of the house. The two adults ignoring the estate agent's statements that they shouldn't rush into things. They continued to take a look through the house, going upstairs counting the empty rooms. just enough. 

"This is perfect!" Benjamin exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell us about it earlier."

"Well, that's a bit complicated." 

"Well, complicated's oaky. Complicated can be great. We love complicated right?" Benjamin turned to the rest of his family who nodded eagerly. "What's so complicated about this place?" he asked as the estate agent struggled to get his words out, either not wanting to say it or not knowing how to say what was so complicated about this place. 

"It has complications to it, Mr Mee." he chuckled nervously. "And..." he was interrupted by a loud sound that startled everyone, Rosie hiding behind Harriet's legs.

"What was that? Was that a roar?"

"it's a zoo." he blurted out as all three Mee went wide eyed and jaws dropped. 

"A zoo?" Benjamin choked.

"It's a zoo." he repeated again. Rosie jumped up and cheered excitedly the estate agent getting excited with her aswell. 

"Harriet did you hear that?" Benjamin turned to his sister in pure shock.

"It's a zoo." The estate agent stated again.

"Holyy ffffff- fudge cakes." Harriet chuckled nervously but mainly excitedly. "Ohhhhh can we see the animals?"

"Follow me." Rosie ran ahead following the estate agent as Harriet fell behind with Benjamin. 

"You okay there man? Looking a lil pale."

"It's a zoo."

"Yeah we gathered that." Harriet patted him on the back and continued to follow the man and Rosie to see the rest of the property.