Stepping across the overgrown lawn, stopping once to shove a beetle off the side of my leg, I reached the front door. It was large and ornate, old Celtic inspired carvings dug into the wood. The scratches in the varnish, the worn down wood where the old lion knocker had beaten a dent, and the faded metal that had once shone gold were clear signs of how old the house was. I grasped the knocker and let it pound against the door, then again, and again. "Maiméo! I'm here!" I shouted, trying the doorknob and confirming my suspicions that the door was locked. The corgi laid there, watching me with an almost laughing expression on its face. I stuck my tongue out at it, sending it a ruder gesture mentally (the middle finger, if you didn't pick up on that). As I was distracted, the door had opened so when I turned back to knock again, I was staring at a crazy-eyed old woman in the face. She had wild blue eyes, cloudy and storming and her red, unruly hair was faded and misted over with a thin layer of gray (Not going to lie, I was a little scared for my life). "Hi, I'm-"

"I know who you are." The woman snapped, grabbing my free arm with bony fingers and yanking me through the door. "Get in here." She threw the door shut, the whole house shaking as it slammed. Then taking my suitcase, the woman waddled (yes, waddled, like a duck) down the vestibule.

"Maiméo, where's Jessica?" I asked curiously, once again regretting getting on the airplane.

"Jessica who?"

"Your caretaker." My grandmother barked out an ugly laugh as she stopped at the base of the stairs.

"Oh yes, her. She's not real. I made her up so Brigid would let you come."

"What?!" I let my jaw nearly hit the floor as I stared at the insane woman in front of me.

"Shut that mouth of yours before a fly flies in. Be down for lunch in twenty minutes. Your room is at the end of the hall." She shuffled down to the end of the hall, and I noticed her bright neon pink crocs and suppressed a giggle. I grabbed Paul by the handle and dragged him up the stairs, making my way to my room.

"This is gonna be a long summer, Paul." I set him and patted him (don't judge me, I'm allowed to talk to whoever I want) I tried to open my door but the handle was stubborn, refusing to move or even wiggle. I grunted, shoving my shoulder into the door and finally getting it open. The room was a pale tealish color with white trim. I rather liked the coloring as it reminded me of the ocean that I had just flown over. My bed was to the far right, plain blue covers and pillows, with the except of one that was white with the word sea on it. I dropped Paul and threw myself onto the bed. It was the most comfortable thing I had ever been on. I wished I could wrap myself in one of the fluffy blankets at the foot of the bed but instead, I decided changing out of my crappy airplane clothes was best. I threw on a pair of shorts and a loose fitting shirt, pulling my hair up and out of my face into a messy ponytail.

Glancing over at the clock, I realized it was 11:20 which made sense with all the time change. It was shocking, jet lag wasn't hitting me all. I just thanked whatever in the universe had given me the gift of jet lag immunity and moved along. I grabbed my phone out of my backpack and skipped downstairs, trying to be as positive as possible.

Just as I hit the bottom of the stairs, my grandmother screamed my name, and I bolted into the kitchen. "I'm right here!" I exclaimed, my socked feet (I had taken my shoes off in my room) sliding on the floor before I was able to stop myself using the counter. Sitting on the counter, right in front of me, was countless cartons of Chinese food. I dug through them, satisfied with the several options I was open to, considering my vegetarianism. I grabbed egg fried rice, vegetable lo mein, shrimp in garlic sauce, and wonton soup and walking through the only other exit to the room.

I nearly dropped my food as I noticed who was sitting on a cushion at the table (which was only raised about nine inches above the ground). It was the cute guy from the plane, he was sitting across from Maiméo, eating beef lo mein with chopsticks. "Holy shit," I said, barely able to say the words I was so shocked. The two jerked their heads over to me and the man's own hazel eyes widen, presumably realizing what I had. I had flirted with my cousin. Disgusting.

"What did I tell you about leaving your mouth hanging open, you muppet, get over here and introduce yourself to Joey, it's been years." I nodded, composing myself the best I could. I set my food down on the table, not so gracefully lowering myself onto one of the cushions and grabbing a pair of chopsticks.

"Actually Grams," Joey said calmly, poking at his lo mein and looking a little bit sick, "We've already met. I'm gonna go up to my room if you don't mind." He got up before he let her answer, walking out of the room, bringing his food with him. Well, this was a rocky start to a sucky summer, I thought to myself as I pulled open a container of egg fried rice.

---

After letting in the original corgi, Asahi (who was the standard corgi custard color), and then discovering the other corgi, Bohemia (who was more of an ebony color), when she almost tackled me after running from a hidden place, I headed upstairs. Bohemia followed me eagerly while Asahi lazily wandered behind us. I tried not to look into Joey's room as I passed the, but I couldn't resist. We met each other's eyes before Joey looked back down at his copy of Twilight. Pulling my eyes back to my door at the end of the hall, I kept walking, keeping my head up.

Pushing my into my room, I grumbled to myself, wishing one thing would go right for me and I nearly tripped over Asahi who had settled himself on the floor. "Stupid dog." I spat at him and he just gave me a doggy smirk. I sent Asahi another one of my rude mental gestures, before bending down to pet Bohemia. "What should I do, babes, unpack? Read? Explore?" I stroked her ears, surveying the room again. "Or should I see if there's anything expensive I can borrow from that pretty little jewelry box?" I stood up, abandoning Bohemia's ears to grab the music box sitting on the shelf above my dresser.

It was beautiful. It was carved out of wood and was in the shape of a treasure chest. The clasp of the chest was a bronze Celtic knot. Topping the small wooden chest was a wooden mermaid, perfectly carved down to the last detail, except for her eyes. Her eyes were the only thing about the box that wasn't ornate. I shrugged, undoing the Celtic knot latch and lifting the lid of the chest. A song began playing, the song unfamiliar but the tinking sound of the song was the same as any other music box. On the lid, there was an old clouded mirror that reminded me of my mercury glass lamp back in New York. The base was lined with a grey-blue crushed velvet which looked like it could be even older then Maiméo. To my disappointment, there was nothing inside except for an old silver cuff link. 

AN: Well, what do you think of Aofie's Maiméo? What about Joey? Also Asahi is my fave and Bohemia is my dorky little babe. What's this jewelry box all about? And this cuff link? Hmm 🤔 Well anyways I hope you liked it 

My story recommendation of the update is See Her by @Jane_Conquest and Coffee Shop by @-interstellars

 Love, your favorite wet sock,

 Laurel ❤