Seven of Diamonds

"Alright. Watch this closely." Trixie said, pulling out her hat and wand "Watch and be amazed as the Great and Powerful Trixie pulls your bow out of the hat!"

She takes the wand and traces it around the hat a few times, quickly using a slight of hand to snatch the bow from the back of Sunset's head without her feeling it. Sunset looked as if her head might explode.

"How did you do that mommy!?"

Trixie giggles

"That's a more advanced trick. You'll need to learn the basics first."

The sun was beginning to set outside the moving car. It was finally time to turn in. Unfortunately they were moving at a slower pace than anticipated and weren't able to get to the first attraction. Even Sunny was starting to get a bit sleepy. There wasn't much int the way of top line hotels so they just settled on a low brow motel. It was pretty comfy all things considered. It gave something of a farmhouse vibe with wooden walls, a moose's skull mounted to the wall and a rather ratty carpet. Trixie carried a sleeping Sunset in her arms to the room, placing her underneath the covers and tucking her in a bed beside the one they'd be sleeping in.

"I hope she doesn't have another nightmare." Trixie said

"If she does we'll be prepared for it."

Trixie pulled the covers back a bit and lifted up Sunset's shirt. Sure enough she had three long scars on her belly that looked as if they had been made by a whip. Trixie's face drops a bit.

"That poor thing." she said "Whatever did that to her wasn't gentle."

"She's in a safe place now Trixie. We can't change what she went through. But we can give her a happy and prosperous future."

"Right." Trixie let out a soft sigh "Well I think I'm going to follow Sunset's lead."

"You go ahead. I'm going to stay up for a while longer."

Trixie wraps her arms around his waist

"You're always so bad at going to bed on time. You'll be tired in the morning if you don't go to bed soon."

"I know. But I like this stillness. It's nice just to have some peace and quiet for a change."

Trixie giggles, resting her head on his shoulder

"You'll need to get used to this. Having a little seven year old is anything but quiet living."

"That's why you have to take these moments while you can right?"

"Alright. But when you wake up all tired and grumpy tomorrow, don't blame me."

"I won't babe."

They both kiss and Trixie goes under the covers, falling asleep before her head hit the pillow. Anon walked to the side of the window and opened the blinds, peering out onto the street. It was almost mesmerizing how still everything was, even the wind seemed to be taking a break. All that was outside was the sound of crickets and the long, winding road out of the town. Every now and again a car would pass by. Anon pitied the poor soul who was driving at midnight.

Anon felt someone shaking him slightly and his shot up. It was day now and the light burned his retinas. He turned around to see Trixie's smiling face. He must have fallen asleep without even realizing it.

"You ready to get going?"

He felt a tug at his sleeve. It was Sunset.

"Come on daddy! Let's go!"

Anon rubs the sleep from his eyes and gets out of the chair

"Finally awake?" Trixie giggled

"I will be once I get some coffee in me."

Trixie kisses his cheek

"Well hurry up and get ready. Don't want to miss the continental breakfast do we?"

"You're damn right."

"Anon!"

"What?"

"Don't curse around Sunset. We need to lead by example."

"My apologies."

That was going to be difficult. Anon was a fan of swearing.

"Well looks like mom is here to keep both of us inline huh Sunset?" Anon chuckled

Sunny giggles

"No, just you daddy!"

After a quick shower, he threw on some simple clothes and went down to enjoy the free breakfast. Trixie looked down at Sunset.

"What do you want sweet heart?"

Sunset sticks her thumb in her mouth and points to some fruit. At least they didn't have to force her to eat healthy. Trixie grabbed an apple before receiving a hard poke to the leg.

"Sweetie you have to tell me what you want." she said "Use your words."

Sunset got a little huffy

"Banana." she pouted

Nothing like a hungry seven year old to brighten everyone's day.

"What do we say when we want something?"

Sunset crossed her arms and stamped her foot a bit

"Sunset." Trixie said, a little more sternly "It starts with a P."

"Please." Sunset muttered

"Good job." she said, handing her the fruit

Anon crosses his arms and smiles

"And you thought you were going to be a bad mom." he said "Looks to me like you're a natural."

Trixie blushes a bit

"Well they don't call me Great and Powerful for nothing."

They sat down at the table and found Sunset was quite the messy eater. It was as if only 60% of the food actually ended up in her mouth.

"So I've got an idea." Anon said

Trixie was looking into her pocket mirror, applying some lipstick.

"What's that my love?"

"Since we only have a day left to get to Colorado, I thought we could stop at a place before the house. Unfortunately we'll have to do the road trip another time."

Trixie raised her eyebrow and looked at him skeptically

"What's the big rush?"

Anon gets a big smile

"It's a surprise. Trust me when I say you'll love it though."

She closes her pocket mirror with a satisfying click.

"I'll take your word for it." she said "What place do you have in mind?"

"I was thinking Rocky Mountain National Park."

"You are such a hippie. You think our little one here will be able to appreciate it?"

"Of course she will."

"If you want too"

"You don't sound all the excited."

She smiles, planting a kiss on his cheek

"Because I'm not a big nerd like you."

"Tell you what." he said "You let me do this and you can have complete creative freedom to decorate and remodel the house."

Trixie got a wide smile

"Not that I don't want complete decorative freedom," she said "but we can do the national park anytime. Why not just go to our new home? We can always do the road trip another time."

"I guess you're right. Sounds like you're pretty anxious to get there as well."

Anon turned to see Sunset playing with her hands like an airplane. He missed being a kid. That great age when your imagination turned your hand into a fighter jet and the table into an enemy base. Growing up was so overrated.

"Well if we're heading straight to our new house we better get going."

They wall get up and go back in the car, hitting the road for yet another long hall. Anon stared at Trixie's tattered old purse.

"We should probably get you a new purse huh?"

"Yeah. But I'd never think of throwing this one away" she hugs her purse "I think I'll put this somewhere. Hang it maybe. As a reminder of where we've been. Of how much we struggled and how we were given this lucky break. I'll never allow this money to corrupt us, or Sunset. We'll always remain humble."

"You don't actually think it will, will you?"

Trixie looks down

"Listen, lovely." he says "We'll never let this corrupt us. I promise."

"I know. But you know me. I'm a worry wort."

"Well I'll do everything in my power to put those fears to rest."

Most of the rest of the car ride was spent in silence, Trixie reading Rising Threat Volume 3 and Sunset sat quietly in the back. Anon watched the scenery pass as they went. Most of it was rather boring being mainly farmland. After many hours they passed through to Colorado, the Sun slowly dipping below the horizon. They stopped at a gas station a few towns away from their final destination. As Sunset sat in the locked car outside, the two of them went inside and wondered down the isles.

"Are you ready babe?" he said "We've got only an hours worth of driving left."

"I'm pretty nervous. This is just... so crazy. I don't know how I'm going to deal with so much space."

"We'll adjust."

"I know but..."

"But what?"

Trixie shakes her head

"Nothing. Let's do this." she said "I'm ready."

"That's the spirit."

They both walk back into the car and drive the remaining hour to their new house in the beautiful town of Telluride. And they were far from disappointed. The first thing that met their gaze was a large brass gate so heavy it needed to be opened electronically. Anon go out of the car to the small guard post at the front of the property and punched in the code. The gates slowly began to part, opening up the large cobblestone path up to the house atop a hill. Behind the house was a large forest. The whole thing looked like something out of a postcard.

The house was even more amazing. It was less of a house and more of manor. It stood four stories tall and was made of grey brick. The rooftops were blue shingles with ornate gargoyles on top of them. Each story of the house had four windows each. At the front of the house was a small roundabout paved with red brick and above it, held by white arches, was a small stone ceiling. On top of that was a small patio, complete with a brass table and matching chairs. The front doors were larger than he was tall and made of cold black iron.

To the left of the house was a garden surrounded by a greenhouse. Vines had slowly begun to crawl over the outside and the windows were so misty it was impossible to see inside. Anon drove the car to the large garage to the right of the house. It looked as if it could easily hold twenty to thirty cars. Both he and Trixie's mouths were agape.

"The house was impressive in the pictures," Trixie said "But this is ridiculous."

"No kidding. The garage alone is bigger than any place I've ever lived."

The two snapped out of the initial shock and got out of the car, Trixie going to retrieve Sunset. She unbuckled the sleeping little girl and held her in her arms. They walked through the side door into the main lobby where the surprises continued. The floor was a smooth, shining white marble and the walls were redwood. The walls had three paintings each depicting grand scenes of battle or breathtaking scenery. Above the front door was the head of a deer mounted on a plaque. On the opposite side of the front door were two staircases the angled toward one another to the next floor.

"Alright. So what should we do first? Set up shop or explore a bit?" Trixie suggested

"I think we should explore a bit. That way we can know where to put our stuff. Pick our room. But before that let's find a place for Sunset to sleep."

"Good idea."

Even with all this movement Sunset barely budged an inch. She was out cold. They walked up the steps to the second floor and looked down each hallway. Doors. So many doors. Each was made of the same redwood as the walls in the main lobby but the floors were now a red silk carpet.

"How in the world are we supposed to know which one is the bedroom?" Trixie whispered "There must be at least ten doors on each side!"

"Don't worry. I've got this one."

Anon pulled out his phone and launched an app with a complete map of the house.

"Alright here we go. The bedrooms, specifically a children's room, is located on the third floor at the end of the hall to the right."

"That's impressive."

"Yeah. We're certainly getting our money's worth that's for sure."

They walked up another set of stairs at the opposite end of the hall and got to the children's room. The style was absolutely perfect. The floors were made of redwood and the bed was large with pink, semi-transparent drapes surrounding it. To the right side was a large wooden chest, no doubt for toy storage. To the left was a closet the extended the length of the wall. On each side of the bed were two large windows that overlooked the side of the house. Trixie tip toed to the bed, parting the drapes and placing Sunset snugly into the bed. She kissed her forehead.

"Sleep well, sweetheart."

Anon gave his daughter a kiss as well, then tip toed back out into the hallway to explore the rest of the house.