Grace took in the smell of the airport. She was finally home. How she missed the smell of pure home. Her mom, her dad...everything that made home, home.
It had been over 3 years since she's back. She had been on her own in the big city for so long, she couldn't imagine how it would be like to wake up and have breakfast ready on the table, or her clothes ready and have her family greet her in the morning and have her family say goodnight when she goes to bed. She hailed a cab, just like she used to do in New York. The cab driver glanced at her.
"Where to, miss?" He asked her. Grace looked weirdly at him. This was something she had to get used to all over again. Polite, civilised human beings in a small town like this. She gave him the address of her parental house and within a couple of minutes she stood there in front of a house where she had good and bad memories of. She found herself smiling. How she missed all of this. Rick had obviously not painted the front porch yet, unlike what he promised three years ago.
She took a few steps until she stood in front of the door. Her bags beside her. "Not the time to chicken out Gracey-poo" she thought to herself, before snickering at the word 'Gracey-poo'. She closed her eyes as she reached for the doorbell.
"I'M COMING" she could hear her mom yell. Grace gripped her bag she had in her hand more tightly as sweat started forming on her forehead.
Lily opened the door and literally froze. A young lady similarly looking like her oldest daughter was smiling upon her. Her brown almond shaped eyes. Her small lips. They were all the same but the rest...Her once short brown hair was replaced by long curly brown locks and she had a little make-up on. Her little girl had make-up on.
"Hey mom" Grace muttered out loud. Lily who was still frozen, couldn't stop gawking. She just gawked and gawked.
"Mom? Are you all right?" Grace asked worriedly. Lily shook her head awake and reached out her arms to Grace. She grabbed her and held her tightly as tears rolled down her cheeks. Three years of not seeing her daughter was terrible and now all of a sudden her daughter was back. She was happy but mostly shocked. When reality dawned to her she pulled away from the hug and looked at her daughter demandingly.
"Wait a minute..what are you doing here when you're supposed to be in college?" Lily asked her daughter, silently praying that she had a good explanation. She looked at her scaredly. With that look only mothers could give you.
"Did something happen? Did someone hurt you? Tell me what happened?" Lily franted. Grace bit her lip and rolled her eyes. She giggled and placed her hands on her mother's shoulders.
"Mom, I'm fine, nothing bad happened but right now I'm tired, I'm hungry and I smell. Can I at least freshen up and have something to eat before you can grill me?" Grace begged. Lily obliged as she helped her daughter carry her bags inside. Grace looked around her and jumped up and down happily. Everything was exactly the same. Not a single thing moved. This was her home.
"I made some apple pie" Lily said as she covered her mouth with her hands. She still couldn't believe that her daughter was back. A sob tried to escape but she remembered that her Grace didn't like to get all sappy. But to her surprise Grace put down the bags and rushed to her mother, embracing her once again with all her might.
"I have missed you so much" Grace uttered as a sob escaped from her mouth. She could smell her mother's parfume that was so comforting and so warm. She took a big sniff before she pulled away and went upstairs. She looked at the pictures that were plastered against the wall of the staircase. Herself in younger years and a lot of the rest of the family. Then she saw one of her step-brother, Eli with his band making weird faces. For a split second she touched the frame and grinned. How long has it been since she last saw him? They've spent a weekend together when he, Zoe and Jessie visited her in NY the first year she was there. She couldn't believe that three years passed by just in a blink of an eye. Her eyes moved to a picture of Justin on his three wheeler, smiling unto the camera. She smiled and suddenly regretted missing all of the memories of her little brother. She only knew him from pictures her mom sent her and vice versa.
Quickly she took a shower and sat on her old bed in her old room. Aside from a few new posters that belonged to Zoe, nothing has changed. She looked around and smiled. First she was hesitant to go home but now she's here, she couldn't be happier. As soon as she put on some clothes and dried her hair she went downstairs. The smell of her mother's apple pie couldn't come in a better time.
She stood in the midst of the staircase and gawked at the enormous crowd that collected themselves during the short time she went upstairs. Her dad, her sisters, her brothers, her stepdad, her aunt, and her stepmom were all waiting at the end of the stairs for her.
"Gracie" Her dad sighed out happily and amazed at the young beautiful lady that was in front of him. It had been three years since he had seen his little girl and except for Lily, nobody could understand what was going through his heart and mind.
"DAD!" Grace screamed out and immediately stormed into her father's embrace. Her father gladly hugged her tightly and kissed her head. After that it was all about hugging and crying and more crying of happiness. Lily was absolutely thrilled about Grace's homecoming. She even cooked 6 different courses for everyone to eat. The Sammler household was once again loudful and crowded. It was passed midnight and it got too crowded for Grace, she just came home and thankfully she had dodged every question about the real reason she got back or why she left for that matter. She sneeked out to the veranda and just sat there, enjoying the warm summer breeze and the bright stars. In NYC all you heard was traffic, police sirens and people screaming. This was one of the things she missed. Silence.
"Penny for your thoughts?" A voice interrupted her thoughts, she turned her head and smiled when she saw Eli standing next to her before he sat down.
"I was just enjoying the stars" Grace said softly.
"It's nice isn't it? I'm glad you're back Grace" Eli said truthfully. Eli nudged her arm with his elbow and grinned.
"Yeah so am I. So what's new in your life?" Grace asked as she turned to him. He just shrugged his shoulders.
"Nothing much, still with my band, finished school. Now advertising manager at dad's company. You know...I got my own apartment now. You should see it sometime" Eli said proudly. Grace nodded impressed. She looked at Eli and saw that he had grown up a lot after three years. Lily told her over the phone that Eli had picked up college again and graduated. After that he got himself a place at Rick's company and moved out. He achieved something in his life. And to think that the whole family was scared that Eli would end up nowhere.
"I'm happy for you Eli." Grace said softly. Eli looked at her while Grace focussed on the stars before he too concentrated on the stars. When they were just teenagers, Grace did have a serious crush on Eli and it felt impossible to just sit next to him, calmly and sanely. Now grown and mature she almost laughed at herself for ever feeling so much for her stepbrother.
"Aren't you going to ask me why I'm back? What trouble I've gotten myself into? Who broke my heart? What classes I failed?" Grace summed up all the questions that were thrown during dinner and after. Eli just grinned the way he always does.
"Naw, you'll tell me when you want to." Eli just simply said and Grace smiled. This was the Eli she knew alright.
"Hey did you check out that motorcycle of mine?" Eli nodded towards a beautiful Harley Davidson parked in front of the garage. Grace looked at it with adoration and jumped up before rushing to it with Eli trailing along.
"ELI OMG! When did you bought this?" Grace shrieked as she touched the freshly waxed motor. Eli hopped on the motor.
"I got this from Lily and dad as a graduation gift. Well half of it I have to pay for my own. They paid half. I didn't know you had such an interest for motorcycles" Eli asked amused.
"Are you kidding me? This is not just any bike this is a Harley Davidson! Like one of the most historical..." Grace stopped when she looked at Eli and realized she was babbling. The two of them cracked into a laughing fit.
"Now that, Grace Manning, is one of the things I have missed about you" Eli said in between laughter. After the laughter subsided Eli asked her what she hoped he would ask.
"Wanna take a ride?" Eli asked. Grace's eyes lit up and looked excitedly at the motorcycle. Before she could say yes, she could hear the front door and not long after that her mother appeared.
"Grace, Eli come inside. It's getting a bit chilly. I made some tea" Her mom ordered.
"Since when did my mom become so householdy?" Grace muttered to herself softly.
"Since she doesn't want to lose any more kids" Eli said seriously. Grace was kind of shocked that Eli had spoken so harshly but after seeing the regret on his face, she decided not the get into a fight. Instead she just smiled and walked towards the house.
"Guess I have to take a raincheck on the ride E" Grace simply said and went inside.
It had been over 3 years since she's back. She had been on her own in the big city for so long, she couldn't imagine how it would be like to wake up and have breakfast ready on the table, or her clothes ready and have her family greet her in the morning and have her family say goodnight when she goes to bed. She hailed a cab, just like she used to do in New York. The cab driver glanced at her.
"Where to, miss?" He asked her. Grace looked weirdly at him. This was something she had to get used to all over again. Polite, civilised human beings in a small town like this. She gave him the address of her parental house and within a couple of minutes she stood there in front of a house where she had good and bad memories of. She found herself smiling. How she missed all of this. Rick had obviously not painted the front porch yet, unlike what he promised three years ago.
She took a few steps until she stood in front of the door. Her bags beside her. "Not the time to chicken out Gracey-poo" she thought to herself, before snickering at the word 'Gracey-poo'. She closed her eyes as she reached for the doorbell.
"I'M COMING" she could hear her mom yell. Grace gripped her bag she had in her hand more tightly as sweat started forming on her forehead.
Lily opened the door and literally froze. A young lady similarly looking like her oldest daughter was smiling upon her. Her brown almond shaped eyes. Her small lips. They were all the same but the rest...Her once short brown hair was replaced by long curly brown locks and she had a little make-up on. Her little girl had make-up on.
"Hey mom" Grace muttered out loud. Lily who was still frozen, couldn't stop gawking. She just gawked and gawked.
"Mom? Are you all right?" Grace asked worriedly. Lily shook her head awake and reached out her arms to Grace. She grabbed her and held her tightly as tears rolled down her cheeks. Three years of not seeing her daughter was terrible and now all of a sudden her daughter was back. She was happy but mostly shocked. When reality dawned to her she pulled away from the hug and looked at her daughter demandingly.
"Wait a minute..what are you doing here when you're supposed to be in college?" Lily asked her daughter, silently praying that she had a good explanation. She looked at her scaredly. With that look only mothers could give you.
"Did something happen? Did someone hurt you? Tell me what happened?" Lily franted. Grace bit her lip and rolled her eyes. She giggled and placed her hands on her mother's shoulders.
"Mom, I'm fine, nothing bad happened but right now I'm tired, I'm hungry and I smell. Can I at least freshen up and have something to eat before you can grill me?" Grace begged. Lily obliged as she helped her daughter carry her bags inside. Grace looked around her and jumped up and down happily. Everything was exactly the same. Not a single thing moved. This was her home.
"I made some apple pie" Lily said as she covered her mouth with her hands. She still couldn't believe that her daughter was back. A sob tried to escape but she remembered that her Grace didn't like to get all sappy. But to her surprise Grace put down the bags and rushed to her mother, embracing her once again with all her might.
"I have missed you so much" Grace uttered as a sob escaped from her mouth. She could smell her mother's parfume that was so comforting and so warm. She took a big sniff before she pulled away and went upstairs. She looked at the pictures that were plastered against the wall of the staircase. Herself in younger years and a lot of the rest of the family. Then she saw one of her step-brother, Eli with his band making weird faces. For a split second she touched the frame and grinned. How long has it been since she last saw him? They've spent a weekend together when he, Zoe and Jessie visited her in NY the first year she was there. She couldn't believe that three years passed by just in a blink of an eye. Her eyes moved to a picture of Justin on his three wheeler, smiling unto the camera. She smiled and suddenly regretted missing all of the memories of her little brother. She only knew him from pictures her mom sent her and vice versa.
Quickly she took a shower and sat on her old bed in her old room. Aside from a few new posters that belonged to Zoe, nothing has changed. She looked around and smiled. First she was hesitant to go home but now she's here, she couldn't be happier. As soon as she put on some clothes and dried her hair she went downstairs. The smell of her mother's apple pie couldn't come in a better time.
She stood in the midst of the staircase and gawked at the enormous crowd that collected themselves during the short time she went upstairs. Her dad, her sisters, her brothers, her stepdad, her aunt, and her stepmom were all waiting at the end of the stairs for her.
"Gracie" Her dad sighed out happily and amazed at the young beautiful lady that was in front of him. It had been three years since he had seen his little girl and except for Lily, nobody could understand what was going through his heart and mind.
"DAD!" Grace screamed out and immediately stormed into her father's embrace. Her father gladly hugged her tightly and kissed her head. After that it was all about hugging and crying and more crying of happiness. Lily was absolutely thrilled about Grace's homecoming. She even cooked 6 different courses for everyone to eat. The Sammler household was once again loudful and crowded. It was passed midnight and it got too crowded for Grace, she just came home and thankfully she had dodged every question about the real reason she got back or why she left for that matter. She sneeked out to the veranda and just sat there, enjoying the warm summer breeze and the bright stars. In NYC all you heard was traffic, police sirens and people screaming. This was one of the things she missed. Silence.
"Penny for your thoughts?" A voice interrupted her thoughts, she turned her head and smiled when she saw Eli standing next to her before he sat down.
"I was just enjoying the stars" Grace said softly.
"It's nice isn't it? I'm glad you're back Grace" Eli said truthfully. Eli nudged her arm with his elbow and grinned.
"Yeah so am I. So what's new in your life?" Grace asked as she turned to him. He just shrugged his shoulders.
"Nothing much, still with my band, finished school. Now advertising manager at dad's company. You know...I got my own apartment now. You should see it sometime" Eli said proudly. Grace nodded impressed. She looked at Eli and saw that he had grown up a lot after three years. Lily told her over the phone that Eli had picked up college again and graduated. After that he got himself a place at Rick's company and moved out. He achieved something in his life. And to think that the whole family was scared that Eli would end up nowhere.
"I'm happy for you Eli." Grace said softly. Eli looked at her while Grace focussed on the stars before he too concentrated on the stars. When they were just teenagers, Grace did have a serious crush on Eli and it felt impossible to just sit next to him, calmly and sanely. Now grown and mature she almost laughed at herself for ever feeling so much for her stepbrother.
"Aren't you going to ask me why I'm back? What trouble I've gotten myself into? Who broke my heart? What classes I failed?" Grace summed up all the questions that were thrown during dinner and after. Eli just grinned the way he always does.
"Naw, you'll tell me when you want to." Eli just simply said and Grace smiled. This was the Eli she knew alright.
"Hey did you check out that motorcycle of mine?" Eli nodded towards a beautiful Harley Davidson parked in front of the garage. Grace looked at it with adoration and jumped up before rushing to it with Eli trailing along.
"ELI OMG! When did you bought this?" Grace shrieked as she touched the freshly waxed motor. Eli hopped on the motor.
"I got this from Lily and dad as a graduation gift. Well half of it I have to pay for my own. They paid half. I didn't know you had such an interest for motorcycles" Eli asked amused.
"Are you kidding me? This is not just any bike this is a Harley Davidson! Like one of the most historical..." Grace stopped when she looked at Eli and realized she was babbling. The two of them cracked into a laughing fit.
"Now that, Grace Manning, is one of the things I have missed about you" Eli said in between laughter. After the laughter subsided Eli asked her what she hoped he would ask.
"Wanna take a ride?" Eli asked. Grace's eyes lit up and looked excitedly at the motorcycle. Before she could say yes, she could hear the front door and not long after that her mother appeared.
"Grace, Eli come inside. It's getting a bit chilly. I made some tea" Her mom ordered.
"Since when did my mom become so householdy?" Grace muttered to herself softly.
"Since she doesn't want to lose any more kids" Eli said seriously. Grace was kind of shocked that Eli had spoken so harshly but after seeing the regret on his face, she decided not the get into a fight. Instead she just smiled and walked towards the house.
"Guess I have to take a raincheck on the ride E" Grace simply said and went inside.