It didn't get much cooler than this, I thought as I snapped a few more pictures of a herd of giraffes as they grazed on the savanna. I had always loved photography and getting to go to thrilling places like Africa and do what I loved was just the icing on top of the cake of working for National Geographic. I was in my element. My assistant, Jeremy, was over in our home base setup, attempting to get out of the sun.
I was creeping closer to a mamma and her calf when Jeremy came running across the field, startling every living creature in the vicinity, myself included. "What on earth could possibly be happening that you needed to risk a stampede?"
"SAT phone's for you." He said before handing it over.
"Bentley Reynolds." I said in greeting. And what was said next would cause my world to stop turning. My dad was sick, it wasn't looking good, and I needed to go home. The next seventy-two hours were a blur of calls to my editors and scheduling flights back home to Boston. I barely slept on the red-eye flight they were able to get me on and before I knew it I was landing at Boston Logan airport.
I grabbed my bags from the luggage claim and made my way outside. I immediately regretted packing my coat in my checked bag. I forgot how cool Boston was in fall. I scanned my surroundings and found my brother standing in front of his car. I ran to him and he wrapped me in a hug. "It's good to see you big brother."
"You too squirt." It really shouldn't have surprised me how easily we always fell back into our same routines. The hardest part about staying away from home was the distance between me and Archer. We were twins and the separation always seemed to be harder with him then with anyone else. "Is this the first you'll be seeing everyone since college?"
"What do you mean 'everyone'? Obviously I saw mom and dad at Christmas."
"I mean everyone... You know he's going to be here right?"
"I figured. It's not like our parents aren't best friends or anything. And besides, it's his town too. Can't exactly run him out."
"But he can run you out?"
"He's not the reason I left..."
"You know, you never did tell me why you broke up?"
"You mean, he didn't tell you?"
"Nope. He called you a lying bitch and that was all I got out of him."
"Charming. I'm guessing you didn't take too kindly to his name calling."
"Of course not. He might be my best friend but you're my baby sister. That demands some satisfaction."
"Well thank you."
"So why did he cal you a lying bitch?"
"It boils down to something happened and when he asked me about it, I told him the truth but he didn't want to believe me." We had arrived at our parents' house by the point and our mom was waiting on the porch. I came up the stairs and she pulled me into a hug. "How is he?"
"In high spirits for someone who just received a terminal cancer diagnosis."
"Well that's dad for yah."
"Come on in, he's in the living on with some guests."
"Who?" I ask as dread fills my stomach.
"Richard, Linda and Ransom." Great, just fan-fucking-tastic... Mom walks ahead of us and I take this opportunity to attempt to sneak up to my room. Archer grabs my arm before I can make it up the stairs and drags me down the hallway into the living room.
"Please don't make me do this." I whisper to him. I'm not above begging my way out of this situation.
"You know it'll only cause more problems." We walk in and Linda stands up, wrapping me in a hug.
"It's good to see you kiddo." I smile and hug her back.
"It's good to see you too."
"How's Africa been? Your parents were telling us that was your latest adventure." Richard asks, wrapping one arm around my shoulder and pulling me into a side hug. No one notices as I shudder and shift away slightly. No one except Ransom, who's eyes have followed my every movement since I stepped into the living room.
"Oh, you know, hot, some issues amongst the locals. But the photography opportunities are next level." I said, inching away from his as I talked and moved over to my dad.
"Hi daddy." I said, leaning down and pulling him into a tight hug. "How're you feeling?"
"Me? I'm feeling amazing. I could take on a pack of wolves." We all laugh and shake our heads. It was comforting to know that dad wouldn't go down without a fight.
"Let me go grab my bags out of Archer's car."
"Ransom go help her." Linda volun-told her son. We both stand stock still, like deer in headlights before accepting our fates and heading outside together.
"So you're back?" I close my eyes and breathe in and out. This is the first I've heard his voice in thirteen years.
"I'm back."
"How long are you planning on sticking around this time?"
"As long as mom and dad need me."
"I'm just surprised. You've been the anywhere but here girl since you tore out of town like a bat outta hell. No matter who you hurt in the process." Ok so we're going there already.
"That's not fair. I asked you to come with me. You decided you didn't want to after I sat down and told you everything."
"You really think I wanted to go anywhere with you after you lied right to my face?"
"I didn't lie to you. Your refusal to believe me doesn't negate the truth in it."
"Whatever. Your bags are inside. I appeased my mother by helping you and by being part of the welcome wagon cheering for your return. I'm leaving." He walked out of my room, downstairs and out the door after saying a brief goodbye to everyone downstairs.
"Welcome home Bentley Reynolds." I whisper to the empty room.
YOU ARE READING
Falling Apart, Together✓
Fanfiction~Completed~ Ransom Dryesdale had been best friends with Bentley Reynolds's older twin brother Archer since they were babies. Their moms have been friends since childhood and their dads since college. They were always close, all three of them. Ransom...
