Heartstrings

(1) Kelly

Kelly

My suitcase squeaked mightily against the walk path toward my parents' front door. My older brother, Jake warned me to slow down because last night's snowstorm has made the path slippery. He effortlessly heaved my other suitcase over his shoulder and stopped beside me when we made it to the front door.

I breathe heavily and reached for the knob. "No surprises, right?"

"I can't guarantee that. It's the first time you came home for the holidays, Kelly."

I groaned. "Please, tell me our parents didn't send invitations to the whole town."

Jake smirked. "I'm afraid I can't disclose that information. You have to open that door yourself."

I rolled my eyes. "You're my least favorite sibling right now."

"Look, your twin sister wasn't the one who hauled your ass out of the airport. It's me. Your sweet, ole brother."

"In her defense, I can't really bother our six months pregnant sister, can I? Her dear husband will hate me more. And since your three kids and wife were desperate to stop you from overworking this holiday season, they sent you." I beamed, batting my lashes in overstated innocence.

His hand went over my head and ruffled my hair.

I slapped his hand away. "Don't mess my hair. Let's keep in my mind that I'm twenty-four and not a little girl anymore."

Hesitantly, I push the door open. A chorused "Welcome home, Kelly!" made me jump. Our parents stood in the hallway, holding a giant banner that has my face on it.

Oh, Jesus.

However, embarrassment hardly registered when I saw that all our relatives were there. Even the neighbors. Annie, my twin leaps out of the huddle, looking a lot less like me with her growing belly yet just as gorgeous as the last time I saw her in person. Which is three years ago.

Her fiery red hair is longer than mine. Still my greatest envy though. They were darker than mine which leaves me with rigid salon appointments so I could fix what used to be a "carrot top."

"Kelly, I missed you!" She waddled over to me and pulled me into a hug.

I abandoned my suitcase behind when I saw our parents rushing toward me, armed with hugs.

My eyes almost watered at our reunion. Nostalgia washes over me even after we pulled apart. My mother has linked arms with me and Annie took the other. While Jake went up to my old bedroom to put my things away, his wife, Jenna has extended her warm welcome to me. Their children – three boys – has given me hugs and kisses.

I was a little jetlagged, but my relatives and neighbors who came to see me made it all worth it. A lot of them asked about New York.

"It's always a busy affair." I smiled politely.

My mother handed me a glass of wine. "I still can't believe one of my daughters is a bestselling author." She kisses the side of my head.

My cheeks warmed. "It wasn't easy but I got there – eventually," I kidded, earning chuckles from the neighbors.

"Ah, must be quite an adventure."

I froze when a voice came from behind the crowd of uncles and aunts. I knew the sound of it – doesn't matter how long I haven't heard it. I just know who it was. I know because it still made my heart skip a beat.

Mitchell Foy enters my line of sight. And I'm so relieved I chose a cute cardigan over a thick shapeless sweater. Totally worth risking myself to frostbite because in the back of my mind, I know I imagined the heat in his dark blue eyes.

You're not supposed to feel an intensity as much as I am when you see your ex after three years. But, I'm feeling all things intense as he held my gaze.

Our story was as typical as all movies in the 90s. The girl falling for the boy next door. Things probably wouldn't be as they were if only the boy next door hadn't charmed my parents the very first day they moved in. Things would've probably be different too if only said boy is not my brother's best friend so that puts him on my radar more often than I could count.

It's the clichéd little sister falling for her brother's best friend type of story.

And it didn't end well.

And now, that boy – that's not a "boy" anymore obviously – stood before me right from the past.

Like a ghost of Christmas past.

His hair is a perfect mess on his head. His skin a perfect fading tan, considering it started snowing. His smile a perfect curve on his face. All six feet of him so perfectly... breathtaking.

Annie's squeal snapped me out of my thoughts. And then I realize, the smile wasn't meant for me. It was for my twin sister who shuffled her way to him.

A shard sank on my guts.

My mother followed suit and gave him a hug. Like he doesn't live next door. Like he traveled as much distance as I have. Whether I like it or not, whatever has went down between us all those years ago, my family will always love that charming boy next door who's been a part of the family.

"You okay, Kelly? Dad insisted he come." Jake was beside me in a flash.

I smile wryly. "It's been years. I'm over it."