“See you soon!” She hangs up, and I take some time before I call Harris. I think a trip like this is exactly what I need. I’m just not sure it should be with him. Who knows what Kaleb has said to him; and I can only imagine the shit going through Harris’ head. Well, there's one thing I know for sure, Harris will say what's on his mind. He won't sit on anything too long, so I know if something did go on between the two of them, he'll tell me.
“Shit.” His phone goes directly to voicemail. He's probably either sleeping or fucking someone, who the hell knows with him. I hope he’s done both; he deserves both after what we've been through. I leave him a message, letting him know I'd love to join him for that road trip and that I’m bringing Mallory. Also, that I’m at my parents’ for a few days, he can text me the time and the directions.
By the time I hang up, I’m pulling down the old, familiar street. Everything looks the same as it did all those years I lived here. Flowers are blooming and the grass is green. My heart literally leaps from the thought of seeing my parents. The white house with the big backyard looks the same. Except for the swing on the front porch and a few potted plants on the steps, it’s exactly as I remember.
“Jade. Oh my goodness.” My mom exits the house before I’m all the way out of the car. I pause for a moment and just take her in. She looks beautiful. Her blond hair is now streaked with silver, but her skin is still flawless. She has aged hardly at all.
“Mom.” Slamming the door to my car, I run to her. Her arms encircle me the moment I hit the top step. I don’t care what anyone says, there's nothing like being in the arms of your mom. I suck in a sharp breath; she smells the same. Like cookies and vanilla. A weird combination, I know, but my mom always made cookies. She always tucked a few extra away for me to eat with her; with four brothers and my dad she had to.
“You look tired, honey. Come in. Your father is in the back.” I am tired, both physically and mentally, and being here causes an emotional pull I'm just not sure I should've rushed. It's great right here on the porch. I'm just teetering on the edge of jumping into the past. A past I walked away from knowing it was the best thing to do at the time. She lays her soft hand on my arm and lightly encourages me through the front door.
I smile when we step inside. The same photographs of me and all my siblings still fill the one wall. The same exact leather furniture sits next to my dad’s ratted recliner, which is still in the spot directly in front of the television. These are the signs that I know I’m home.
I don't have time to reminisce long before my mom makes my presence known to my dad. “Christopher! Look who's here!” She yells out to the man who is sitting in the sunroom watching a ball game from the sounds of the loud play-by-play announcements over his speakers.
“You have got to be shitting me? My girl! Well damn, it’s about time you pulled your head out of your ass and brought it home. Get in here and have a beer with your old man. The Marlins are playing, up 3-0 in the bottom of the third.” Some things never change. This is why I needed to come home. I needed to see they were alright. I won't lie and say the guilt of staying away hasn't been eating at me.
I sit softly on the edge of the couch near my dad and face the game, hoping he'll continue to allow this whole thing to not be a terrible idea. Coming home should not feel like I'm walking on eggshells, but it does. “I know you can’t talk about what's bothering you, Jade, just know this will always be your home. We’ll always be your parents.” My mom sits next to me, and we both sit back to relax against the back of the couch. I feel my body loosen up slightly. We sit like this for an entire inning and listen to my dad yell at the umpires for every bad call that's made. He's always been an avid Marlin fan.
I watch him. He has aged some since I left. Gray covers his head, and the rough stubble on his face excels with age as well. He’s still strikingly handsome, in shape, and the best dad a girl could ask for.
He eventually leans in closer to me and asks why I haven't called home. I’ve had my feet tucked under me, watching him and the game in silence, but his words snap me upright, and tears instantly well in my eyes.
“I’m sorry, dad, mom.” I shift my head to look at her. "I should've called. I just...."
“We're sorry too, honey. We're all to blame for the past few years, and I won’t have you taking all the blame. You need to know that your dad and I are very proud of you." Her words cause more tears to fall, and I just watch as she stands to say what she's obviously been thinking about saying as we sat there without a word between us all. She walks closer to me and stands face-to-face as she continues softly.