Home at Last
"Kay, here you go," Mindy said, stopping in front of the Blue Plate Special. The little diner was still running even now. Really, nothing ever changes in Ferryport Landing, Sabrina thought as she got out of the car and walked around to the trunk.
You have the usual things in a small town, your one traffic light, neighbours you have to drive to reach, and fairy tale creatures. Perhaps the last one didn't apply to all small towns.
"Hurry, I have to reach my mom's place in a couple minutes or she'll get angry," Mindy screeched out the window from the driver's seat. "You know how my mom is, always yelling at me about something or the other." Unfortunately, Sabrina did know, as Mindy's mother had been one of the topics of conversation in their car drives.
"I'm hurry," Sabrina yelled back and hauled her big suitcase from the trunk. She dumped it on the floor and shut the trunk with a bang. Mindy's car screeched away, leaving Sabrina coughing in the smoke.
"Good bye to you too," Sabrina grumbled and grabbed the handle of the suitcase, hauling it onto the pavement. She glanced around for her parent's car, but the street was almost empty.
Maybe I'm early, Sabrina thought and flicked her sleeve away to look at her watch. Nope, she's on time. Sabrina looked down the street once more, before deciding that her parents were just late.
Sabrina shivered, although it was summer, it was cold at night and she hadn't dressed warmly. After another glance at the street, Sabrina walked into the diner, thinking it would be better than freezing to death outside.
She was instantly met with the warmth of the diner, the friendly air of families and friends talking and laughing at tables. Sabrina spied the tables, trying to see if she recognized anyone.
"Sabrina," a voice cried and she turned to the sound. There stood Blue Farrah, a waitress and owner of the diner who also happened to be the Blue Fairy.
"Hi," she replied awkwardly, unsure what to say.
"I didn't know you were coming back," Blue said.
"Yeah, just for the summer. Then I'm going back to university."
Blue's naturally warm face, smiled at Sabrina. "Aww, that's a shame. I missed you here at the diner. I remember you always used to come here with your family."
"Yeah, it was Friday night tradition," Sabrina replied, smiling at the memory. "I loved it here, and not just because I didn't have to eat my grandmothers cooking."
Blue laughed, "You guys were such a lovely customers. Even when you and the faerie boy used to fight so much, you knocked a waiter's food all over the floor." Blue continues to snort with laughter, but Sabrina stopped, her chest tightening in pain.
"Yes, I remember that," she replied and then to change the topic, "I am just waiting here until my parents arrive."
"No problem dear, wait all you want."
"Thank you," Sabrina replied and huddled in the entrance, looking out the window for her parents.
The minutes ticked by. What was once five minutes, soon turned into 30 and Sabrina had to realize that no one was coming. Sabrina almost stomped her feet in annoyance, but then thought against having a fit in the crowded diner. Instead, she calmly pulled out her phone to call them.
It's dead.
Sabrina sighed, the universe really was not on her side today. No problem, Sabrina thought, just ask to use the diner's phone.
That didn't work out to well either. No one picked up on the home phone and Sabrina hadn't memorized any other numbers. It seemed she would be making the long walk home which she dreaded in the freezing cold.
Sabrina zipped up her sweater and set off into the cold. She scowled into the wind, sure that the universe was conspiring against her. No point in complaining, she reminded herself, that wouldn't get her anywhere. Although, Sabrina really wished to.
God, what is wrong with me, she wondered. Maybe the hormones had already set in. Dread filled her at the thought. It was just one more reminder of how very pregnant Sabrina is.
Don't think about that, she thought. But it was too late. The thoughts came spiraling in, one after another.
Pregnant, they whispered.
Alone, they added.
Sabrina brushed away tears, but couldn't change the fact that their rights. Pregnant and alone, that's what she would be forever known as. The poor girl who got herself knocked up, without any trace of the father.
Sabrina brushed away a couple more tears, accidently stepping in a puddle. Now, she really wasn't happy.
How could her parents forget her? Surely, they would have marked it on their calendars that their daughter was coming home. Sabrina guessed not.
oo0oo
Sabrina finally reached the house. It was now close to midnight and Sabrina was so cold, she was pretty sure she had lost a couple of toes to frostbite. She hauled her suitcase up the few steps and knocked quickly on the door, willing for someone to open it.
She didn't have to wait long. The door opened to reveal Daphne. She looked up at Sabrina, seeming to be momentarily surprised before a grin spread across her face.
"Sabrina!" she cried and launched herself at Sabrina who had to stumble back from the force. "I didn't know you were coming." Her voice sounded slightly muffled against Sabrina's chest.
"Really?" Sabrina replied when the girl had unattached herself from her. "I told mom and dad yesterday." Daphne opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by a voice from down the hall.
"Daphne, close that door!" Her grandmother yelled. "You're letting in all the cold air."
"Granny!" Daphne yelled back, turning from Sabrina to shove her face through the doorway. "It's Sabrina. She's here."
"What did you say?" Granny yelled back.
"Sabrina is here," Daphne yelled even louder and Sabrina cringed.
"Who is here?"
"Sabrina!"
"Who?"
"Sabrina!" Daphne was just about blowing out Sabrina's ear drums at this point.
"Sabrina? Well, why didn't you tell me?" There was a noise and a clatter as Granny Relda no doubt was making her way to the door.
"Her hearing still bad?" Sabrina asked Daphne.
"You could say that," Daphne replied with a grin. "You know how she is. So stubborn! Refuses to get a hearing aid because she keeps claiming she'll find a spell that can solve it."
"I'm going to assume she didn't find the spell."
"Sabrina, liebling," Granny said, and enveloped Sabrina in a hug. "Come inside, you're freezing." They all rushed inside, Granny shutting the door behind her.
Sabrina was led passed the entryway and down a hallway until they reached the living room. Granny Relda pushed her into the love seat beside the fire and was ordered to stay there until she got her a cup of hot chocolate. Sabrina obliged, happy to be home at last.
No one else was in the living room, but her and their dog, Elvis. Daphne had run upstairs, claiming to retrieve the rest of her family. The dog lifted his head at her arrival, but made no attempt to lift himself up from the couch, a position he would no doubt get into trouble with Granny very soon.
"No hello kisses?" Sabrina asked the door who whined and put his head back down of the sofa. Sabrina snorted and tucked her feet underneath herself.
She was happy to be home. She had missed her family so much, even though she had seen them only a couple weeks ago. Still, Sabrina couldn't deny the worry that churned inside her stomach. Now that she was here, it made her one step closer to telling everyone that she's pregnant. The thought alone made her want to throw up.
Sabrina pushed it from her mind as her family came down the stairs, all of them smiling at the sight of her. Her parents and her younger brother, Basil, were the first to reach her, each of kissing her on cheek. Then was her uncle who picked her up and spun her around like she was still a little girl. Sabrina received a gentle hug from Red and even a tentative one from Mr. Canis and Pinocchio, the boy smiling at her shyly.
That only left one person.
Although she didn't want it, she couldn't help but look around for him. To see if the boy had bothered to come for her arrival. Sabrina was sure he wasn't there until she spotted him by the door to the kitchen.
He was staring at her and their eyes momentarily met. He took a step forward, as if to reach her, but she quickly averted her eyes. Sabrina knew she was delaying the inevitable, but she couldn't help it. She needed a few more minutes to compose herself before she talked to him.
To be honest the sight of him sent waves of mixed emotion through her. Sabrina wasn't sure whether to kiss him or to shout and hit him. She supposed she couldn't do both and would have to go the mature root and be civil. The mature root sucked.
While Sabrina had been lost in her head, she had missed everyone's questions. She smiled guiltily at them, as they all looked at her for answers.
"Stop it, don't swarm her," Granny Relda said, appearing from the kitchen with a mug. Sabrina sent a grateful look towards her grandmother. "Here you go, liebling."
"Thanks," Sabrina replied, taking the mug from her grandmother. Granny Relda placed her hand on her forehead and shook her head.
"You're so cold. I swear Sabrina, you're the only one who can catch a cold in Summer!"
"I'm fine," Sabrina said and motioned for her grandmother to sit down. Everyone else had found their seats on the many couches and chairs all placed around the fire. "It probably didn't help that I had to walk here from Blue's Diner. Thanks Mom and Dad." She shot her parents a playful look, no need to make them feel guilty.
"Oh, I completely forgot," Henry said. "I'm sorry, sweetie."
"It's all—"
"I told you to pick her up," Veronica interrupted. She turned to glare at her husband beside her.
Henry glared back, "I said I'm sorry."
"This is the one thing I asked you to do."
"Yes, I know. But I forgot."
"I can't believe you forgot. Look how cold our daughter is." Sabrina shrunk into her seat, embarrassed that she had caused the fight between her parents. She looked around the room to see everyone looking anywhere but at her parents.
"Don't try and make me feel guilty. I already apologized and Sabrina said it was fine."
"That's not true. Is it, honey?" Her parents both turned to look at her.
Sabrina felt her cheeks warm. "It's fine, really."
"See?" Henry said and crossed his arms.
"Oh, she's just lying to make you feel better."
Her dad opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by Uncle Jake. "Why don't we all go in the kitchen for some more hot chocolate and leave Henry and Veronica to discuss." Sabrina didn't miss the pointed look Uncle Jake threw their way.
They all got up to go to the kitchen, leaving Sabrina's parents to their bickering. Sabrina was the last to leave and she couldn't help but hear their arguing.
"Did you just point your finger at me?"
"No, don't be so dramatic."
"Dramatic!"
Sabrina shut the door, glad to be rid of it. The kitchen wasn't very big and definitely couldn't fit everyone in there. Mr. Canis, Pinocchio and Red all headed back up the stairs, all claiming some excuse or the other. Much to Sabrina's disappointment, not Puck.
"How bad have they been?" Sabrina asked to Daphne.
"Pretty bad, worse since you were here last time," Daphne replied. Sabrina knew her parents were fighting more often, but she didn't know it was this bad.
"Girls, no need to worry," Granny Relda interrupted them. "Parents fight all the time." She pointedly looked at Basil who was listening to their every word.
Sabrina swallowed, "Of course." She turned to her brother. "Why don't you go get hot chocolate from Uncle Jake?" Basil nodded and walked off to their uncle.
"You don't think their going to spilt up, do you?" Daphne whispered.
"No, of course not," Sabrina replied. "Don't be silly." Although Sabrina wasn't sure who she was trying to convince, Daphne or herself.
The idea of her parents not being together was absurd. They were Henry and Veronica. Sabrina had always known them to be in love. After all, a couple of dumb fights didn't mean they were getting divorced. At least, Sabrina was pretty sure that's all it was.
"Hot chocolates done," Uncle Jake announced and everyone went to get. Sabrina was about to head for some more when someone tapped her on the arm. She turned to see him.
Puck.
Who just so happened to be the father of her child.
oo0oo
Review, follow/favourite the story for next chapter.
:)
