When Alexis’ parents forced her to marry Robert, she had no idea what she was getting herself into. Later, Alexis broke the one rule her husband gave her and entered the room he warned her about, unleashing secrets she wasn’t prepared for.
I couldn’t understand why my parents wanted me to get married before I found someone myself.
“Alexis,” my mother said, “Robert is a catch. He’s a wealthy man who will take care of you. You wouldn’t even have to work.”
I couldn’t refuse. My father had made it clear.
“You marry Robert, Alexis,” he said, puffing on his cigar. “Or you can figure out your own living arrangements.”
In a sense, Robert was my prince charming. Our family had a bakery, which was losing customers because we had no gluten-free options on the menu.
“We will continue to bake what we know,” my father insisted.
Our marriage was definitely an arranged one. Robert’s demeanor was cold, and he refused to let me get to know him properly. I don’t know how my father arranged our connection.
Our wedding was a spectacle of Robert’s affluence, nothing short of extravagant. Robert’s wedding planner had thought of everything.
My wedding dress was a custom piece that he commissioned for me. But even through our wedding planning, we barely spoke.
“I’m looking forward to being married,” he admitted one evening, a few days before the wedding.
“But I don’t know what I’m doing,” he added.
That was the closest Robert had gotten to letting me in.
Two days after our wedding, I moved into our new home.
“Come, I’ll show you around,” Robert said.
He took me around our home, a mansion boasting luxuries I’d never imagined before: sprawling golf courses, a shimmering swimming pool, and a fleet of staff at our beck and call.
“It’s beautiful,” I said when we got to the kitchen. “Everything is beautiful.”
“Now, Alexis, this house belongs to you too,” he declared with a hint of pride.
I smiled at the stranger standing in front of me. Maybe we were going to make something of our marriage.
“But one thing, Alexis,” he said. “There’s one rule. The attic. Never go in there.”
I nodded at Robert. I couldn’t fathom why I wouldn’t be allowed anywhere in the house. But I also recognized that I didn’t know my husband well enough yet. So, I had to obey.
A few days later, Robert went to a meeting, leaving me alone in our massive home.
Driven by curiosity stronger than any warning, I found myself ascending the stairs to the attic. My heart pounded with a mix of fear and excitement. I knew I didn’t have a lot of time.
A quick in and out, I thought to myself.
Pushing the door open, I was met with a sight that sent me to my knees, tears streaming down my face. I didn’t know why I was crying. I didn’t know why I felt confusion and relief at the same time.
The attic, dimly lit, seemed to be a vault of my husband’s hidden memories. Childhood toys lay scattered, each carrying untold stories. Old postcards and photographs of Robert’s life before me. Among the relics were letters from a young boy to his father, a soldier away at war.
“How dare you come in here? Now, I have to change the locks in my own home because my wife does not respect my requests?”
Robert’s face turned red with rage.
“I just want to understand,” I stammered. “I just want to know you, Robert.”
Slowly, his rage dissolved, and he seemed to see me as a companion in his world, instead of the intruder he had made me out to be.
“Alexis,” he said, “Come, let’s sit.”
Robert led me to the living room.
“My father was a stern man. He was a soldier and he believed in keeping emotions locked away. These are the only things I have of a time when I felt loved,” he confessed.
My heart caught on his every word as his voice broke.
What followed was a revelation of his soul. Stories of a lonely childhood, of a boy yearning for his father’s approval, unfolded in our home.
In those vulnerable moments, I didn’t see the distant, cold man I had married but a boy who had never stopped seeking love and acceptance. He just didn’t know how to go about it.
In those few hours, things changed. Robert started letting me in. And now, years later, our home is filled with the cries and laughter of our daughter, April.
Through our daughter, Robert healed. He healed for himself, and for our daughter.
We’ve packed away everything from the attic, so it is no longer a shrine to Robert’s past but is now my little reading nook.
Unwanted Guests in Your House: The Troublesome Insects
Being a homeowner requires you to live with some unpleasant guests. Don’t worry, we’re not talking about strange people hiding in your crawlspace. In actuality, we are discussing annoying insects that you might encounter. Let me begin by stating that, although I’m sure a lot of you share my sentiments, I personally detest having earwigs, spiders, or ants live in my house.
Still, there is nothing we can do about it. These small critters don’t see it as a planned home invasion, at least I hope not. It’s just where they should be. Even though I’ve learned to tolerate the most of the insects that have taken up residence in my walls, ticks are one pest that I simply cannot stand.
I’m willing to bet that no one finds ticks enjoyable. These are truly disgusting bugs that propagate disease quickly. This makes it essential to know how to identify tick egg clusters and what to do in the event that you find them in your grass. Thankfully, we’ve gathered some useful information to help us respond to your urgent questions.
Identifying Tick Eggs
Tick eggs are roughly the size of a poppy seed and are so little that they are almost invisible to the human eye (0.5mm in diameter). They are translucent and frequently have an oblong or pear shape. They are usually seen in clusters attached to plants, leaves, or other surfaces close to the ground.
As they age, these eggs become more opaque and smoother. They feel shiny and may be light brown or pale yellow in hue.
What to Do If Tick Eggs Are Discovered
Panic ensues when you find what looks like a clutch of tick eggs. Unless I’m alone, tick eggs are a major issue. Because ticks can transmit illnesses like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, it is best to safely remove the eggs.
Consult a local veterinarian or a professional pest management specialist for correct diagnosis and guidance on what to do next.
Keeping Your Yard Tick-Free
Nobody like finding tick eggs in their backyard or any other yard, it’s a fact. It is therefore essential to take action to lessen the possibility that they will be present.
Since ticks love to feed on deer, being preventive includes getting rid of plants that attract deer. These kinds of plants include tulips, azaleas, and hostas. You can also grow herbs and plants that repel ticks, such rosemary, mint, and chrysanthemums.
It’s also important to keep your yard well-groomed and remove any foliage that could serve as a tick hiding place. Additionally, keep wood piles off the ground since ticks like to lay their eggs in moist, dark places.
Using natural tick repellents and adopting preventative measures to keep small mammals like mice and rabbits out of your garden will also help you achieve tick-free yards. If required, insecticides are an alternative, but proceed with caution at all times to preserve the habitat.
Did you know what tick eggs were? Please share this information with your family and friends if you believe they would benefit from it.
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