AN: Wow guys, it's been ages since I've updated this story. I know, I know. Sorry! RL tends to get in the way, you know how things can be. Anyway, the inspiration is back, and although this chapter is a little short, enjoy it anyway. ;-)
Rabb Residence
Annapolis, VA
2054 hours local
I softly lay Tally down on her bed. She's been awake and jumping since we got back from the hospital earlier this afternoon. The funny thing is, she just adapted to being with her grandparents. As if she'd known them all her life.
Kissing her forehead, I turn of the lights, and walk downstairs. Mom is probably in the kitchen, making cookies or cake. Maybe even both. That is what she does when things get tough. She bakes.
Nothing has changed around here. My old room is still the same, the living room hasn't changed a bit, and neither has the yard. There are more pictures of the family around, but that is it. Mom has told me that the guy who was with Noa this afternoon was her fiancé, David. When Mom told me that, I knew that there was something familiar about him. But me being on an emotional roller coaster this afternoon, I didn't recognize him.
"Mom?"
My mother turns around. "What is it, honey?"
"Can I use the phone? I need to call some people in Miami, let them know what's going on." In other words, I need to call Harry.
She smiles. "Of course you can. You know where the phone is."
I nod. "Thank you."
Mom turns back around to the counter and I walk to the living room. Then out onto the front porch. Harry answers his phone after three rings. "Hello?"
"Harry? It's me." I'd texted him this morning to let him know that there was something going on, but he doesn't know what.
I can hear him exhale. "Thank god, Reen. What's going on? Why did you take the first flight out this morning?"
"I'm back in Annapolis, Harry. I'm back home."
It stays quiet on the other end of the phone. "Wow. That's huge, Reen."
Yeah, I know. Trust me, I know that that's huge. "I know. My father had a heart attack, yesterday."
"Is he all right?"
"He will be." I wipe the tears out of my eyes. My voice is cracking up. "I'm not used to this."
"Not used to what?" Harry asks. He sounds confused. "Not used to what, Reen?"
I sniff. "Noa is so mad at me… I know that I've hurt her, I really do, but she's so angry… Gabe is just his usual self, he's a nice guy and everything, he just took me back without asking questions, but Noa… I don't know what to do with her."
Harry exhales and pauses to think about what he's going to say next. "I think that Noa is disappointed that you left when you did and never tried to contact them, Reen. Which is logical, I guess."
"You know why I never contacted them, Harry," I say. Okay, so maybe the tone of my voice was a little too harsh. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."
"Of course you did," Harry says. "But I don't blame you. I know why you didn't contact them, and I don't judge you. You know that I'm the last person on earth who has the right to do that. Just give Noa a little time to adjust to the fact that you decided to come back. It can't be easy for her either, you know."
I sigh. "I know."
"Have you seen Shanae and Kai?"
"No," I shake my head. Not that he can see. "I haven't. Shanae had orders from my mom to stay at home today and Kai is out on tour. He couldn't come back before tomorrow."
"Mmm." Harry is thinking, I can hear it. "Are you nervous to see them?"
I sink on the swing. "Not really. I don't know, honestly. I mean, I haven't seen them in what? Six years? Things have changed. They have changed."
"They have," Harry agrees. "But you've changed as well. You've matured just as they have, Reen. Don't worry about that."
That's easier said then done. And Harry knows that. I'm scared to see Shanae and Kai. I really am. I don't know why. My little brother and sister were everything to me, and I've just left them. Let them down. Majorly.
Harry takes a breath. "Take it one day at a time, Shireen. You can't do anything about it now. Just take it one day at the time."
"Yeah, I know." It's quiet outside. That's what I remember about the house I grew up in. It's quiet around here. In Miami I live about two hundred yards away from a road, so there's always something going on. Here, everything is quiet.
"How's Tally?"
"Tally is great. She just adapted to everything without blinking twice. I wish I could be her, right now. At least my Mom and Gabe were okay with me walking in like that. And Dad was so happy to see me, Harry…" My voice breaks. Again. "I was so scared to see him, and then I walked into his hospital room and I asked him if he really had to have a heart attack just to get me back here, and all he said was that a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. It was just like nothing happened. Like the past six years didn't happen."
I take a deep breath. I'm babbling. "And that is just so weird. Because the past six years, did happen. They really did, Harry."
"It's all right," Harry sooths. "You're right, they did happen. But they took you back, right? Let you in without asking questions?"
"Yes…" My voice sounds small even in my own ears.
"Focus on that. Don't focus on what you've done or haven't done in the past few years; focus on the fact that you're there now." He pauses. "Are you going to be okay there? By yourself? Do you need me to come over?"
Again, I shake my head. "I couldn't ask that of you. The university needs you. We can't let the entire history section disappear to Virginia, just because my dad had a heart attack."
Harry sighs. "Honey, if you need me, I jump on the next plane down there, no questions asked. It's all up to you."
Although I can use a shoulder to cry on right now, Harry needs to stay right where he is. Him showing up would only make things more complicated than they already are.
"No, you stay put. I'll be fine."
He doesn't believe me, I know that, but it should be fine. He doesn't push me. "Okay. But call me if you need to, all right? No matter the time, just call me."
"I will, Harry," I say.
"You promise?" he asks.
"I promise."
"Okay." He's going to end the conversation now. "Give my love to Tally, all right? I'll talk to you soon. And don't worry about Shanae and Kai. Things will be fine."
I nod. Of course they will. Don't know when or how, but they will. "Okay. I'll talk to you soon."
We end the conversation and I sit out on the porch for a little while. I have to face the two younger ones tomorrow and I dread it. I really do. But I made the big step of coming back, already right? Everything else should just be a piece of cake.
If that could only be the truth…
TBC...
