Come Back

Part 1.

**Sidenote** Everything in this story is completely fictional. The setting can be compared to Ephraim, Wisconsin and surrounding areas of Door County, Wisconsin, but the events in this story should not be taken literally. All characters are completely fictional, made up from the scraps of people in my mind and should not be compared to people in real life. Any content in this story that may connect with real world happenings is completely by accident. **

(I apologize for any formatting mishaps, they are out of my control since I have copied/pasted this story onto wattpad. Thank you for your patience)

August 18

    Just seconds before my grandfather died, he told me something I would never forget. He said, “Everyone who leaves must eventually come back.” Although I didn’t know how crucial this information would be at the time, I would soon find out.

I hate goodbyes. I haven’t said goodbye to anyone because I feel it would simply be far too painful. Maybe I’m just avoiding the situation at hand, but I quite frankly just don’t care. I don’t want to move. I know it’s a silly thing to complain about, but I just can’t imagine life away from New York. From here on out, I’m Wisconsin bound. I also haven’t figured out the reasoning behind my parents’ sudden urge to move. Is it because of Lily or is it really because of my dad’s work?

    You see, my dad is one of those big businessmen who are so consumed with their work lives that you barely see them while growing up and when you do see them, it’s most likely because they are making you go to a silly work banquet. I have grown up with those silly work banquets. Believe it or not, they actually have a large impact on my dad’s job; especially if we are hosting one. We had a humongous house in New York, but now we are moving into an even bigger one. I don’t know why.

    It’s as if my parents won’t give me any answers at all lately. So I have decided to just have faith in the people who raised me. Did I mention, they gave me two weeks notice before today that we were moving? My parents had apparently been building a large new house in a small community far away from New York for a long time and never cared to share this information with me. My mom finally told me about it one day when I caught her on the phone with one of the contractors. That’s when she finally came clean to me. This whole new-house-project became my mom’s huge project to keep her busy while my dad was busy with work; as usual.

    So we have been in the car for a really long time by now. I don’t really know why I’m writing this. Maybe it’s because I’m bored. Maybe it’s because I feel like I have no one to talk to anymore. After Lily was born, my entire life changed. Oh, that’s right. I keep assuming you know everything about my life prior to now. Lily is my daughter. I am seventeen--and a half--, and my name is Calvin. I go by Cal, though. Lily is three years old. Yeah, I know what you are probably thinking: So you were fifteen when she was born? Yeah, I was, but there’s more to the story than that.

“We’re here!” my dad said, happily as we pulled into the gravel driveway of a two story completely white house with tons of windows across the street from a large lake. The sun was just setting in rays of red, pink, orange and yellow as I carried Lily in my arms out of the large moving truck.

    “This is it?” I ask him.

   “This is it,” he repeats, grabbing a few suitcases from the trailer. I look around me. Across the street there is a sandy beach which seems to go along the entire bay until it hits the marina and tons of boat docks. Across the street, on the same side of the street as our new house, there are plenty of different shops, diners, one church, other houses, and an average size inn which is the same color as our house. It’s in the shape of a ‘u’ with an outdoor pool in the middle. Apparently, that’s about it for this new town.

    I look down at Lily who is in my arms still, her arms wrapped around my neck. She stirs. “Hello sleepy head,” I smile at her, touching her cheek with the back of my hand.

    She blinks, then smiles. “Good morning.”

   “It’s night, silly,” I kiss her forehead and she giggles. “We’re at the new house.”

    She looks around, taking it all in. She just looks up at me with her very blue eyes and blinks, then she smiles. I take that as an ‘I like it, daddy’ and carry her inside.

   “Do we have our beds set up already?” I ask my mom who is in the kitchen already plugging in her coffee maker. I almost want to roll my eyes, but then consider how long we drove for so I don’t.

    “Yup,” she says. “Your room is up the stairs and it’s the first one on the right.”

    “Where is Lily’s room?” I ask her and set Lily on the island countertop.

My mom’s posture shrinks a bit. “There aren’t enough rooms for her to have her own yet because the last room isn’t finished, so you have to share one. But it’s a pretty large room. We gave you the master suite.”

    “Mom,” I say. “You didn’t have to do that.”

   “It’s whatever,” she shrugs. “She looks tired, though. So do you. You two should go up to bed.        The new house and town will still be here tomorrow morning. Don’t worry.”

   “Okay,” I take Lily in my arms again. My mom gave her a small Chips Ahoy cookie which she is nibbling on. “Goodnight, Mom,” I say and carry Lily up the stairs to our new bedroom.

   I put Lily in her new bed, telling her to be quiet and go to sleep again. “But I want to play!” she complains.

    “Tomorrow,” I tell her, laying down on my bed.

    She starts to cry. “No!” Lily has the most heartbreaking face when she is crying or upset. I have almost been able to become immune to it; almost.

    I get up off the bed and walk over to her crib, carrying her back over to the bed. “Daddy’s tired, Lily. Why don’t you sleep with me tonight?” She hushes and cuddles into my chest. I kiss her head and listen to her hum until I fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.