Chapter ONE
I was ten years old when my daddy passed away quietly in his sleep to join my mother in heaven. My sister, Maggie, was sixteen and moved in with her then boyfriend, whatshisface. I on the other hand moved out of Atlanta and into Los Angeles with my aunt Carol. Eleven years came and went and now I am going to be on my way back to my home town. I enjoyed my time in LA but once I turned 16 I got a part time job and I've been saving up to move back home. Back to my sister whom I have kept in contact with over the years. I can't wait to surprise her and finally get to hug her and meet her husband Glenn.
I am moving into a house just outside Atlanta with my friend's sister, Andrea. Amy was so tired of hearing me babble on about my dreams of moving back to Atlanta that when she heard her sister needed a roomie she offered to buy me a plane ticket. I'm going to miss Amy and our wild nights on the town in good ole' Hollywood. She promised she'd visit and text me every day or so, and without further delay I am off to my old/new city ready for a new chapter in my life.
I had a great early morning flight, I slept almost the whole way through it. I took a cab to meet Amy's sister and settle in a bit before the movers get here with my belongings in a couple days. As I was heading over to Andrea's I received a text from her.
Hey Beth, I am so sorry I won't be able to meet you as soon as you get to OUR home ;) I have to go into work to cover shifts. I can't wait to finally meet you in person when I get back home tonight around 8. So get settled in and be ready to celebrate later ;) ps. seriously get ready I'm throwing you a welcome back home party!
Her home was about a mile off the main road and nearly into wood territory. It was a lovely off white 3 bedroom 2 ½ bathroom medium sized house with a porch that wrapped around it, blue shutters, a red front door, and open land. As I entered the house my eyes quickly noticed the bright red duct tape shaped like arrows on the floor. The arrows led me to my room that I'd be staying in. It was away from the other two rooms so she and I could still have some privacy. My door had a paper taped to it that read Welcome Beth! My room already had dressers and a king sized bed so I unpacked the few bags of clothes and shoes I had with me and called up my sister.
"Hey Bethy! What's going on?" "Maggie! I miss you so much. How have you been?" "I've been great. Just being an awesome wife. *giggles * How about you sissy?" "Oh I bet you are Mags. What are you going to do today?" "I'm going to grab a bite to eat in about an hour at Bob's diner all by my lonesome self then head to work." "Oh wow Bob's diner is still around?" "Girl, yes and better than ever!" "Alright, Maggie I will talk to you later have the burger special for me love you!"
I didn't mean to cut our conversation so short but I only have an hour to freshen up and head to Bob's Diner to surprise my sister. Ah! I am so excited. As soon as I got to the newly remodeled diner there she was seating in a booth reading a book. I snuck up on her and spoke with a deep voice, "Excuse me, Miss, but is that book you're readying any good?" She turned to answer me and screamed her lungs out seeing that it was me. "Oh my goodness! Are you really here? Am I dreaming? What are you doing here? When did you get here?"
"Yes I am really here. No, you're not dreaming. I just moved here I really wanted to surprise you and I got here a few hours ago."
We both starting crying tears of joy, hugged, and ate the burger special while catching up on lost time. I only got to see Maggie for an hour and a half before she had to go into work at the hospital where she is a nurse. She said she would call me tomorrow so we can get together again and I could finally meet Glenn.
I spent the next few hours walking downtown job hunting. I had enough saved up for rent for 6 months but I like to get a head start on things. Such a beautiful out I almost forgot how wonderful a spring day was here. After the job hunting I went shopping for a new outfit for the party Andrea was going to throw for me. I found an adorable yellow halter top, dark denim skinny jeans that made my butt look big, and brown cowboy boots. I hurried home not realizing it was almost seven o'clock. I still had to shower, straighten my hair, and put my make up on again.
When I got home Andrea was there to greet me.
"I got home early to get things ready. I hope you don't mind me throwing you a party on your first day here. It's Friday and the weekends are made for having fun!" she giggled and pulled me in for a hug. "No not at all. I'm excited to meet new people. Thank you so much for everything! I feel so welcomed. I miss the southern hospitality. You don't get much in LA." "Well that's a damn shame. I'm glad you left that place then. Go ahead and rest I will get everything ready don't you dare try to help." She said as she pushed me to my room.
I was just about done getting ready and I heard the doorbell ring. Finished putting on my cherry lipstick and made my way to guests who arrived.
"Beth! I want you to meet my boyfriend, Merle and his brother Daryl."
"Hello, it's nice to meet you. Thank you for coming." I shook both of their hands.
"Andrea told me you were a cute lil thang. Guess she aint ever wrong bout anything." He took my hand and kissed it.I looked over to his brother Daryl and grabbed the bottle of rum out of his hands. "Is this for me?" I asked with a wink. He just "mmhmmed" me and nodded. He seemed shy and reserved. All the more intriguing.
As the night progressed more and more people showed up and a little drunker I got. I'm a happy drunk. Also a tired drunk. I got to meet a lot of new people at the party who were all really kind to me. I went outside to get some fresh air and Daryl was sitting on the patio chair smoking a cigarette.
"Hey. Mind if I sit here with you?" I asked politely.
