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It had been twenty-four years since she’d last seen it, but the place looked exactly the same. The steps were still covered in ivy, the shutters were the same color navy, and the front door was just as inviting as it had been the last time Charlotte was there.

When Charlotte was a little girl she would always find herself here in the warmth of her grandmother’s quaint little cottage. Nestled in the trees, her grandmother’s house always smelled of hot chocolate and sugar cookies. Every time she went, Charlotte and her grandmother would play cards, bake, or Charlotte’s grandmother would tell her stories about when she was younger.

Charlotte lived in Brewer, Maine, and her grandmother lived right outside of town. Oftentimes Charlotte would just ride her bike to her grandmother’s house, but occasionally her mother would drive her over for a nice Sunday brunch, or just to visit. The reason Charlotte and her mother did not go over together often is because Charlotte’s mother worked very odd and unusually long shifts.

Among many things, Charlotte especially liked school. Her favorite subject was definitely history. Many days after school Charlotte would go to the courthouse and read files and records, and do projects on the history of them just for fun. Charlotte also really liked to draw. The previous Christmas her grandmother had given her a sketchbook, which was full of landscapes, portraits, and small sketches of whatever popped into her head.

Charlotte’s grandfather was a war veteran, and had died about two years before she was born. Her grandmother loved him dearly, and was devastated when he died. They only had one child, Charlotte’s father. He had also died in war, when Charlotte was about four. She truly loved her father, and thought she could never get over his death. Her grandmother really helped her through it though, like always.

When Charlotte was about 22(right after college), she got word that her grandmother was not very well. She immediately went back home to be by her grandmother’s side the entire time. When she got to her grandmother’s house, she was lying in the bed waiting. Charlotte’s grandmother told her that there was no way that Charlotte could help her. It was just her time to go. She told Charlotte she loved her, and Charlotte did the same. Then Charlotte sat down in the rocking chair next to her grandmother, until she took her last breath. It was then and there that Charlotte decided she could not go back to that house again.

 Charlotte’s grandmother’s funeral was one week later, and there was an estate sale afterwards, that Charlotte could not stand to go to. Her mother went instead to supervise, and when she got home, she showed Charlotte what she had bought. It was the chest that her grandmother had put all her games, and cards in. It was dark wood, with ornate carvings on the top, and the side. Charlotte was overjoyed when her mother showed her. She knew she could put it in her house one day and tell her children the meaning behind it.

When Charlotte was 24, she moved to New York City to try to become an artist. There she met Daniel Robertson. After one year of dating Daniel and Charlotte were married. Charlotte’s art career was thriving, and Daniel was a successful banker. When Charlotte was 28, she and Daniel had twin girls.  One was Helen, and the other was Harriet. They enjoyed school also, like their mother.

Charlotte missed her grandmother dearly, but she was able to make it through her days. She missed the little town of Brewer, but New York had many more opportunities for artists. Her mother was still in Brewer, but they talked on the phone frequently, and her mother came down to New York for holidays and important events.

When Helen and Harriet went to college, Charlotte made an important decision. She wanted to move back home. She had accomplished her goal of being an artist, and she and Daniel had made enough money that they could both retire. Charlotte was mainly tired of the hustle and bustle of the big city, but also just wanted to be able to relax somewhere outside of Brewer.

When Charlotte moved home, she and Daniel lived with her mother again until they could find a home of their own. Charlotte called the realtor about a week after they moved into her mother’s house. She told him that she wanted somewhere like her grandmother’s old house. Of course, the realtor did not know what this house was like so Charlotte tried her best to explain it.

“It smelled of cookies and hot chocolate, it was warm and cozy, and it was nestled back in the comfort of the trees,” Charlotte explained,”If you could just find me something just like that, I will be happy.”

The next day  Charlotte and Daniel met up with the realtor and looked at a couple properties. None of them were exactly what Charlotte was looking for. The realtor told the couple to give him a few more days, and he would try to find them something. Charlotte went home disappointed, and was questioning her decision to move back. She was afraid that she would not be able to find something that she likes.

The next day, the realtor called Charlotte,”I think I’ve found the perfect one. It is a quaint little cottage nestled in the trees, like you talked about.”

“That sounds just like what we are looking for,” Charlotte exclaimed, putting on her coat, “ We will be right there!”

Charlotte and Daniel got in the car and followed the realtor to the last property. When they arrived, Charlotte was bewildered! It was her grandmother’s old house. The realtor had talked to Charlotte's mother, and she told him where the old house was. He convinced the owners to sell the house, after all it was for a special woman. 

Charlotte walked inside the house and was in awe! It was just as beautiful as the last time she was there. She told Daniel that she could put her card chest in the same spot her grandmother had it! To her, it still smelled of hot chocolate and sugar cookies, and that is all that mattered.