Chapter 4: Coming Home
It was Saturday when the Parry Manor's occupancy sky rocketed to 9. All four boys had been staying in the house, calling on girl friends from school to help them make a cozy and comfortable room for Peyton.
Pogue had called his girlfriend Kate, but she wasn't much help. She'd always wanted to act and was cast as an ensemble character in some show up in Boston, so she spent all her free time there and not with Pogue. He didn't feel the loss of her presence but felt guilty that he should have needed her during this difficult time.
The boys were playing video games in Pogue's personal den at 11 in the morning when a voice carried through the mansion.
"Hello? Pogue?' Beatrice was home. Without saving their game, all four boys stood up and raced towards his mom. They found her in the kitchen dressed in jeans and a blouse. 'Hi darlings. We're back." That's when they noticed she wasn't alone.
"Aww if it ain't my favourite boys." Sitting at the island across from the standing Beatrice was Pogue's paternal grandmother, Gale. She had never told the boys her age, but for a grandmother she looked good. Tall and thin, Gale had brown and grey hair with big green eyes. She wore a hippie tunic and jeans along with many bangles and Birkenstocks. Even though she had just lost her only daughter, Gale still seemed to be happy and normal.
"Well don't just stand like assholes. Give me a hug for fucks sakes!" She stood and opened her arms wide. Though Pogue was the only blood related of the boys, Gale thought of them as her grandsons as well. She loved them all fiercely, and they loved her just the same. She cussed like a sailor, had no rules and no respect for authorities, was kind and caring, and acted like a best friend and a grandmother wrapped into one. It was hard not to love Gale. In fact, most found it impossible.
"Oh Gale." Beatrice playfully scolded then sighed at her.
Pogue was the first into Gale's arms and she squeezed the 6 foot giant grandson of hers with much strength. When he pulled away to look at his beloved grandmother she held him back to take a good look at him.
"My Pogue, you are so tall! Just like your daddy. And strong boy! Have you been working out?' He smiled at her compliment. Pogue was about to say thank you when her hands reached up and caught a clump of his long hair. 'Scissors Pogue. Heard of 'em? Use 'em. You ain't a girl." Pogue laughed and so did Gale. They had this fight everytime she saw him. He liked his hair long and secretly, so did Gale. It was just something fun to argue about.
"Gran, it's fashionable. I look damn sexy."
"I'm sure you do." Pogue stepped back to let the other boys take a turn with his grandmother. The covenant shared everything and Pogue loved that his brothers saw his grandmother as theirs too.
"I see baby boy's grown up to be a good looking man." Gale smiled and took Tyler into an embrace. He hugged her back with equal the enthusiasm that Gale put into it.
"I'm trying to keep up Gran." Tyler pulled away and Gran gave him a pat on the cheek with love.
"You're looking good boy. Keep it up.' Tyler stepped next to Pogue and took a long hard look at Reid and then sighed. 'Still hustling at pool Reid?"
"Yes Ma'am.' He pulled Gale into a hug and then lifted her in the air and spun around, receiving a whoop of laughter from the old bird. When he placed her down on the ground again, he placed his hands on her small shoulders and grinned. 'And thanks to you, I win everytime."
"I bet you still cheat." She ruffled his hair and when he moved away she laughed as he tried to smooth it down. Three of the boys stood next to each other, happy to see their Gran. But, it was the one boy who stood back with his hands in his pockets looking at the action before him with sad eyes that caught Gale's attention.
"Caleb." Her voice was sweet and soft, unlike the playful tone she had used with the other boys. He was the sensitive one, and she knew he felt empathy for the situation that had reunited them all together again. She walked up to him and took him gently into his arms. He hugged her back but it was more in comfort than in excitement.
"I'm so sorry Gran." He whispered the words into her ears and tears stung her eyes. She made sure to blink them back before she pulled away from the golden boy. Rather than respond, Gale cupped his face in her hands and gave him a strained smile, doing all she could to let him know she too was saddened, despite seeing her boys again. They stood there in another hug before Pogue interrupted.
"Gran, where's Peyton?' Caleb pulled away and Gale turned to face the other three boys that had now taken seats at the kitchen island. Caleb walked over to join his brothers, also eager to hear the answer to the question. 'She's here, right?"
Gran nodded then looked over at Beatrice. The look they exchanged told the boys to brace themselves for some news they weren't going to be happy with. Beatrice served both herself and Gale cups of tea, knowing the boys wouldn't be having any.
"Peyton is with your father Pogue. She and dad had to stop for gas at the station.' Beatrice explained lightly. 'We drove back in two cars so Peyton could bring her truck here. Your dad pulled over with her because we need to have a word with you boys... Gale?"
"Right.' Beatrice turned the floor to Gale who could explain the situation better having had been there since the beginning of the nightmare that had surpassed them this last week. Gale took a deep breath and had a deathly serious expression on her face. The boys knew to listen up and did so. 'Boys, what Peyton has been through... it's a lot. I mean, finding her mother like that... not to mention being alone with her until the police arrived..."
"Wait. She found Aunt Julia?" Pogue was shocked. Poor Peyton, poor baby girl. Nobody deserved to have gone through this, especially the sweet and innocent Peyton Pogue had known.
"Yes.' Gale nodded and grimaced. She looked like she was trying hard to hold back tears and so far she was doing a damn good job. Her bravery in this situation, one where her only daughter had been murdered and her only granddaughter had to find the body. only added to the respect and love the 5 other people in the room felt for the woman. 'She was alone with Jul...the body for a while before the police got there. They arrived to see Peyton covered in blood holding her mother. I got there as soon as I could but Peyton was still in shock."
The boys looked sad, feeling bad for what had happened. A situation like this was bound to change someone. But how would it change their once best friend? Gale took a deep breath and then looked at each of the boys, ready to explain everything.
"Boys, Peyton's going to be different now.' She started slowly, wanting the boys to understand the delicacy of the situation and the caution they'd have to use with Peyton. 'It's been two weeks now and she hasn't been talking. At all. It's like she's lost her voice or something."
"Is she deaf?" Reid earned a smack on the back of the head from Tyler for that comment.
"No, she's not. She hears and understands everything, just like normal, but she just doesn't respond. It's hard for her boys, so just be patient with her."
"Peyton's going to need our support more than ever, but she also has to grieve.' Beatrice could barely understand how her niece would be feeling right now, so the chances she could explain it to a group of boys wasn't going to happen. She just needed them to see that Peyton wasn't like she was. 'I think just being around you guys and being back here will make a difference."
"I agree. She's missed Ipswich. Missed you boys too." Gale smiled, recalling the thousands of conversations she'd had with her granddaughter about her childhood friends and home. Under other circumstances, Peyton would be thrilled to see Pogue, Reid, Tyler, and Caleb. Especially Caleb. But being an orphan after her mother had been murdered wasn't that circumstance.
Before anyone could say another word, the sound of the door opening then slamming shut a few seconds later stole the attention from the kitchen.
"Mom? Bea?" Wayne Parry's voice rung out in the house and all 6 people in the kitchen went to see him in the foyer, starting with the two he had called.
Beatrice walked right up and hugged her husband, followed by Pogue. He hugged his father tightly and then stood back with the boys while Wayne acknowledged their presence with comfort. After their reunion, all attention was turned back to the lone figure that stood closest to the door.
Wearing skinny jeans and a black hoodie, Peyton stood closed off away from the group. Gale stood next to her, an arm wrapped around the girls shoulders but this didn't move her intense stare that was aimed at the floor. Her arms were wrapped around her body, like she was trying to hold herself together. It seemed as if she let go, she'd fall apart, so she held on for dear life.
"Peyton,' Gale nudged Peyton into the room closer to the family she'd missed. 'Welcome home kiddo. You remember the boys right, sweetheart?"
That's when Peyton lifted her head. Her big illuminous green eyes took in the sight of the scene before her. She'd already seen Aunt Beatrice and Uncle Wayne, both of whom smiled at her assuringly.
Next, Peyton saw Reid, her partner in crime and fellow trouble maker. His blonde hair was still light and he still wore a lot of black. The same old smirk was on his face and he lifted the hand that was not wrapped around his middle up into a five fingered wave.
Tyler stood beside Reid and he tried to give Peyton a reassuring smile. His was still gentle and sweet, but baby boy had definitely grown up. He was no longer cute, but hot. Even grown up she could pick Tyler out of a crowd. He radiated goodness.
The tallest boy took a step forward. His long honey colored hair was familiar and she knew it was her strong older cousin before he wrapped his arms around her in a hug. She didn't unwrap her arms from her own body to hug him back, but she did press herself against him, needing the warmth he was giving her. When he pulled away she knew it was still the same old protective Pogue she loved and she gave him a tight and forced closed lip smile.
When he stepped back, Peyton looked to the last person and found the pair of eyes she hadn't known she'd missed the most. Big brown orbs looked back at her, wiping the tense fake smile off her face. She and Caleb just stared at each other, each taking in the sight of each other. And though it felt like it could go on for eternity, Beatrice interrupted their moment (which of course did not go unnoticed by Gale or Pogue).
"Pogue, boys. Why don't you show Peyton her room? Gran, dad, and I need to talk about some stuff. We'll have dinner in half an hour okay? Show her around until then alright?"
"Yea Mom." Pogue took another step to be near Peyton's side and reached down to take the two small old suitcases that laid near Peyton's feet. Besides these, the only thing she had brought with her was a backpack and her truck. It was all she had since all her money had gone to her piano and school. Tyler came over and reached for her beat up knapsack but Peyton grabbed it first and swung it over her shoulder and then crossed her arms again.
Feeling the boys had the situation under control, Beatrice, Gale, and Wayne walked off towards the study where they could talk in private. The five teens watched them leave and then returned their attention to the standoffish girl once the adults had cleared the room.
"Well, it's this way." Pogue started off towards the grand staircase that stood at the end of the foyer. He had handed one of the suitcases to Reid, who followed after him immediately, followed by Tyler. Soon, it was Caleb and Peyton standing in the hall. Caleb gestured with his hand that Peyton should follow first so she did, leaving Caleb to awe at the sad beauty who walked in front of him.
When Peyton entered her room, she took a moment to take it all in. The walls were cream colored, like a delicate soft yellow color. The room was shaped funny, with different nooks and crannies that mad out the shape. It was a large room, almost the same size of the living room, kitchen, and her mom's room at their home in L.A.
Parallel to the door, there was a large carved out window that overlooked the backyard of the Mansion. A tree's branches extended right outside her window from where it was planted to the left side of her room. The window seat was wide and cozy, as big as her old twin bed at home.
To the side of the window was a desk with a brand new laptop from Apple sitting on it. There was also a lamp and drawers to the desk which she had to assume were filled with things she might need.
A wall jutted out next to the desk but it was small, and acted as a divider from a 'study room' to the actual bedroom. There in the other section was a very large bed. It was antique looking, with a plush cream colored headboard and no footboard. It was covered in a lavender comforter with royal purple flowers on it. Large fluffy pillows leaned against the back in patterned sheets matching the comforter.
At the foot of the bed there was a long bench in the same cream colored fabric as the headboard. It was large, with an equal width as the bed and was in a solid square form. Clearly it was like a fabric covered chest and Peyton knew it would be a good place to keep some things hidden, like her music.
On the far wall perpendicular to her bed was a very large set of shelves. It was made up as little boxes to make up this large square that held many other squares. In the center was a large plasma TV, complete with a dvd player and tivo box. Books and magazines filled up the rest of the shelves, but a couple were left open for Peyton herself to fill.
Beside the door she used to enter in was another door, leading to a walk in closet. She didn't have nearly enough things to even fill a quarter of the closet, let alone the entire thing. Racks and hangers laid on either side with a large vanity at the very end. Like a movie star's dressing room there was a table and a sweet violet chair and a large mirror with lights circling it.
Across from her desk was another door which opened into a bathroom. It was a private bathroom that was the same size as the closet. In it was an antique claw-foot tub, a small countertop with a mirror and a sink. And then, in a little nook to the side of the bath was the toilet with a small window above it that faced the front yard. The bathroom itself was white and black, simple, and clean. Perfect for Peyton.
As she walked around the room, the thing that stood out to her were the framed photos scattered on each wall. They hung from purple ribbons in black frames and inside where pictures Peyton had long forgotten. They were snapshots of her and the boys from their childhood. She smiled to herself as she saw them, knowing they too had missed her like she had missed them. Other frames and spaces were empty on the walls, giving Peyton the ability to add her own personal touches to the room.
When she was done observing the room, she turned to the door to see all four boys sheepishly standing there, waiting for her approval. Still not speaking, she showed it was perfect with a nod of her head and placed her backpack on the bench at the foot of her bed. Reid and Pogue put the suitcases next to the closet door.
"My room is right next door. If you need anything you can always come get me. No matter what.' Pogue was gentle with his tone. Peyton nodded her head and silently wished she could be alone. Even with years of distance between them, Pogue could still read his cousin's mood and nudged the boys out of the room. He grabbed the handle of the door and turned to see Peyton staring at him, bewildered that he knew what she needed. 'Dinner will be ready soon. I'll come knock when it's ready. Get yourself settled in okay? Your home."
Peyton nodded as he closed the door. She took a deep breath and sat on the bed after grabbing her knapsack. Taking out a small silver frame with a photo of her mother and her at her last piano recital, she placed it on the bedside table and laid down, staring at it. All she wanted to do was cry but no matter how hard or sad she got, no tears would fall from her dried up eyes.
Hey there readers! Here's the second chapter of the day! Never thought I'd do that! Please do me a huge favor and review! I thrive on reviews and critiques so I promise a faster update if I get reviews! Let me know what you think...
xoxox Ash
