Dad parked the van beside a few cars when I saw grandpa walking out of the diner. He opened the door for me and opened his arms wide.

"There's my peppercorn!" he said and carried me off the van with a tight hug.

I giggled and I can say, from the smell of his shirt, that he's cooking one of his best steaks again. He puts me down and mussed my hair.

"Hello, grandpa" I said.

Bob Hanson is the owner of the Angel's Diner and he's already sixty one. Uh-huh, sixty one yet young looking. He still cooks and he's sometimes the mechanic for the gasoline station.

"Hey James, help your uncle out here, will ya!" grandpa shouted.

Just then, a young guy came out from the garage with grease all over his hands. He's wearing a white dirty undershirt, a pair of blue torn jeans, and sneakers.

"Oh hey Abs, didn't know you'll be coming today" he said and gave me a smooch on the cheek then helped my dad with my stuff.

I giggled, "Oh hey, James"

James Hanson is my uncle jeep's seventeen year old son, which makes him my cousin. He just graduated high school and he's taking a one year break before going to college. He still wants to help out grandpa with the diner and the garage. My cousin is very good-looking like his father. He's got these sandy spiky hair, green eyes, and this tanned muscular body. I remember that girls from town would go all the way to our diner just to see James serve the food or get greasy while fixing their cars.

"Come to the diner first and have some dinner" grandpa insisted and pulled me in.

I looked at my parents and they just nodded.

"I'll get your room fixed and ready a hot bath for you, dear" my mom said nicely.

Grandpa pulled me inside the diner and the place smells of great buttery steak. The customers are all having fun eating and talking, the jukebox is still in one piece, the small TV is on with the news, and hey! It's Percy behind the counter.

"Hi Mr. Walker!" I said enthusiastically and took a sit on the stool.

Mr. Percy Walker, the one handed cook, turned around to see me and seems surprised.

"Well hey, Abigail! It's nice of you to be back here" he said, mussing my hair.

"I know and I'm glad to be back here also" I said honestly.

Grandpa also went behind the counter, puts on his white apron and smiled at me, "For my great granddaughter, I will make the best steak ever"

"Ouch, grandpa. You never served me the best steak ever"

I turned around and realized that James overheard what grandpa said and sat beside me.

Grandpa flipped around the steak and snickered at James, "Well, you're an asshole most of the time"

James rolled his eyes and looked at me, his chin resting on his palm. "So cuz, what trouble have you caused the boarding school now?"

Yeah, of all people, James knows exactly how I hate the boarding school. And he also knows that I sometimes cause trouble there. Well, not exactly causes the trouble, Sr. Ana just exaggerates her stories.

I sighed and sneered at my beloved cousin, "If you must know, I haven't caused any trouble at the boarding school. Well, I might've pushed Sr. Ana. But other than that, none"

"Seriously, you pushed a nun? That's hilarious!"

"Well, it's sort of an accident really"

Grandpa turned around with a sizzling plate with his steak covered in gravy with mixed vegetables as sidings. Oh god, just the smell of the buttery fat of the steak makes me want to drool. I sliced a small portion of the steak, blew it, and bite it.

And ooh~

As suspected, it tastes so great. It's not so hard and not so chewy-just right. I've missed eating my grandpa's home cooking. For me, it's like the best food ever! I ate and ate while listening to James' stories about things that happened while I was gone like the part that the two vacant rooms at our house are being used as a lodging place.

The little bell on top of the diner's door chimed and I saw dad coming in, still in his formal black suit. He kisses me on the head and takes a sit beside me and asks grandpa for a glass of water.

"So, how was my angel's stay at the boarding school?" he asked with his husky British accent.

I bet that's the reason why mom fell in love with him and I just love it how I have a bit of British accent when I pronounce some words such as sorry, thank you, really, and other short words.

I sighed and leaned on him. I couldn't lie to my dad, ever. "It was torture, dad. Those nuns really hate me. Why don't you just enroll me to a new school?"

"I'm sorry, dear. But, it is the best Catholic school there is. If we're ever going to enroll you to a new school, it'll be farther from us. Would you like that?"

"No" I said quickly, "It's just that they're too strict."

"I'm sure they're just doing that to prevent you from danger"

"In her case, she is the danger" James butted in with a grin.

I grasped my fork and poked his arm with it, "Shut up"

"Listen to your dad, Abigail" Percy said, swaying the spatula around. "Those nuns are just making sure that you're safe. You won't ever know what other people are thinking"

"I guess you're right" I said and took another bite, "Hey grandpa, can I help around here again? I think I still have my waitress skills"

"Sure, peppercorn. I'd love to have you help me around since James is no help at all" grandpa said, chuckling along with Mr. Walker and dad.

James looked surprised and has this WTF look on his face, "Seriously, grandpa. It's not my fault if these crazy girls keep on harassing me and disturbing my work"

"Yeah, so from now on, you're on garage duty"

After eating, dad and I left grandpa to continue his work while we go to the house. As soon as I entered, I have this feeling of belongingness. The picture frames on the wall, the telephone on the corner, the wooden stairs, the potpourri scented living room-it's all so familiar to me.

"Wow, the walls are repainted" I pointed out, smelling the strong smell of paint on the walls.

Dad nodded as he takes off his suit, "We've got some time to repair some stuff. Come on; let's go to your room"

My room is on the second floor and I can't wait to see it again. When we reached my room, I saw my mom just finish unpacking my suitcase. She even fixed the bed for me. My room isn't too big or small. It's actually just right. It has a bathroom, a vanity table, a desk, and a book shelf. My soft bed has two big pink pillows and it's full of stuffed toys. Beside my bed is the night table which is also some kind of altar. I have a small statue of Jesus there and a rosary.

I lied down on my bed and buried my face on the pillow, smelling its lavender scent. Oh god, this just feels like home. I got up again and hugged my parents who are standing at the door.

"I love you both" I said.

Not all teenagers ever say that to their parents anymore. But me, I can't even sleep without saying I love you to my parents. They're just too important for me. They're the most perfect parents ever. They never argue and they never raised a voice at me or to anyone.

"We love you too, sweetie" mom said, caressing my head with her gentle touch. "The tub is ready for you and the water is still hot"

"Okay, I'll take a bath first"