You Can't Go Home Again
Chapter 1
"Package for Stringfellow Hawke," yelled a young man as he pulled up and got out of a delivery van.
Hawke stood up and wiped his hands before walking over to him. "I'm Hawke," he replied.
"Sign here," the man said as he shoved a clipboard into his hands.
Hawke signed his name and was handed what looked to be a large picture frame all wrapped in paper.
"Have a good day," said the man as he turned and climbed back into the van.
"Hey, is that Cait's gift?" Dom asked as he came out of the back office. "She said it should be coming today."
"Yeah, she did," Hawke replied remembering that Caitlin said she was leaving them something to remember her by.
Hawke sighed as he slowly unwrapped the large frame.
"Don't look so glum," said Dom as he studied the portrait. "It's a good picture of all of us. Caitlin was hoping I'd hang it here in the hangar."
"Yeah," Hawke said softly. "Good idea."
"String, she'll be back," replied Dom.
"In two years Dom," said Hawke. "Two years is a long time."
"It's great opportunity for her," replied Dom. "Not only does she get to travel around the world doing air stunts but she's getting a part in a blockbuster movie."
Hawke tried to smile. "I know Dom," he replied. "I really am happy for her. I just really doubt she'll ever want to come back here after all of that."
"I'm going to miss her too," said Dom as he put his hand on Hawke's shoulder. "She's been a big part of our lives for the past two years."
"Yeah, she has," he replied. "I guess I've gotten use to having her around."
Dom smiled. "Hey, she even gets to do a scene with Ernest Borgnine," he replied. "Some people say that he and I could be twin brothers."
Hawke grinned. "Really?" he replied. "I don't see it."
Dom shook his head at his friend and laughed. "Okay, well I'm heading out. Caitlin's going away party is in two hours so I want to go home and freshen up first. Are you coming with me?"
"Oh, yeah," he replied while still studying the portrait of the three of them. "I need to stop by this little shop on the way to pick up something I ordered for her as a going away present."
"Alright, will do," said Dom. "Let's close up and get going."
A few hours later they met up with Michael and Marella at a lavish restaurant not far from the studio.
"I wish we could have given her our own private going away party," said Hawke as he looked around the restaurant. "It looks like the studio went all out to send it's cast and crew on their way."
"Might be fun to party with the Hollywood crow," Michael said with a smile. "It's not often I can do that kind of thing."
"I thought you like to keep a low profile?" smirked Dom.
"I do," replied Michael. "Why do you think I left the white suit at home tonight?
"You look great," said Caitlin as she came up behind them. "Thank you all so much for coming and seeing me off."
Hawke put his arms around her and gave her a tight hug. "I wouldn't miss it," he replied. "But I'll miss you."
Caitlin gave him a crooked grin. "I'll miss you too," she replied. "But they said we would have breaks in our schedule during the holidays so I promise I'll be back to visit."
"I know," he replied.
The group partied for hours along with the cast and grew of the movie. Caitlin introduced her friends to some of the people she would be working with.
"This is Lisa," said Caitlin as a young brunette joined them at their table. "She and I will be roommates throughout the filming."
Lisa smiled. "I'm one of the make-up artists," she told them. "I'm so excited that I finally get a chance to travel and work on a real high budget movie."
Hawke extended his hand to her. "Nice to meet you," he replied. "Good luck with your job."
The group ate, drank and socialized until little by little the crowd started to thin and the partiers were starting to leave.
"I guess I should be heading home," Caitlin told them. "I still have some packing to do. We leave tomorrow night."
"I'll walk you out," Hawke told her as he got up with her.
Caitlin hugged Michael and Marella before giving Dom a tight squeeze. "I'm going to miss you," she said to him. "I love you."
"I love you too sweetheart," Dom replied. "You take care of yourself."
"I will," she promised. "We have one of the best air stunt coordinators in the business. It'll be fine."
"I know," he replied with a grin.
Hawke put his hand on her back and escorted her out to her car. When they reached it, he reached inside his pocket and pulled out a little white box and handed it to her.
"What's this?" she asked.
"I couldn't let you leave without giving you a going away present," he told her.
Caitlin smiled as she opened the box. Inside was a heart shaped locket pendant. "It's beautiful," she said.
"Open it up," he instructed her.
Caitlin opened the locket to reveal the photo of her with Hawke and Dom.
"It's the same photo I had enlarged for you and Dom," she exclaimed. "It's perfect! Now I'll always have you two close to my heart."
Hawke smiled as she gave him a hug. "I'm glad you like it," he said. "It's still hard to believe you're actually leaving. It won't be the same around the hangar without you."
"It was a big decision. I sure hope it was the right one," she replied as she pulled her car keys out of her purse. "Are you and Dom going to come to the airport tomorrow and see me off?"
"Of course," he replied as he opened her car door for her. "We'll be there."