When Lisa returned to her childhood home, it wasn’t for nostalgia. She had one goal: to bring her mother, Susan, back with her and move forward. But one question remained—why had her mother never gotten along with their late neighbor, Jeremy? Growing up, Lisa never received a clear answer, but the truth would soon unfold in a way she hadn’t anticipated.
As Lisa parked in front of the old house, memories flooded back. The garden still held a faint trace of lavender, the paint on the walls had faded, but the house stood as a reminder of her past. It had been years since Lisa last visited. Distance had always helped her manage her strained relationship with her mother, whose quick temper and strong opinions made it difficult to get close. But now, with Susan’s health declining, Lisa had come back.
Susan had agreed to move in with Lisa, but only after Jeremy’s passing. Jeremy had been their neighbor for as long as Lisa could remember—a kind man who had once gifted her a cherished teddy bear, Mr. Peebles. But Susan had always disliked him, telling Lisa to stay away and even punishing her when she didn’t. Lisa never understood why, but after Jeremy’s death, his house sat abandoned across the street, and the questions from her childhood began to resurface.
Inside, Susan was upstairs, packing, her voice sharp as ever. When Lisa offered to help, her mother snapped, “No! Stay downstairs!” Typical, Lisa thought, as she wandered through the familiar rooms. She stumbled upon old photographs and found Mr. Peebles hidden in a wardrobe. The bear reminded her of Jeremy’s kindness—and her mother’s bitterness. What had happened between them? Lisa couldn’t shake the questions, and finally, her curiosity led her to Jeremy’s house.
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