Cracked Hearts

Celebrations, Chaos, and Cliffhangers

"Lori!!" She heard little Marcie's voice.

The Boston airport was teeming with college students home for fall break, cold New Englanders headed for a sunny destination for Thanksgiving, and foreigners visiting for one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Through the throng of confused and jet lagged passengers Lauren spotted Doctor Leary's very bald head.

She sneaked up behind Lily, tickling her tummy from behind. Lily giggled and turned around.

"Auntie Lori!" The twins exclaimed in unison and attacked her with hugs.

"Oh my goodness, just look at you girls, you both have grown so much! You'll be taller than me soon!"

Lauren stood at five foot three on a good day, so that was not an exaggerated statement.

She spied a tall, young man who looked vaguely familiar. "Is that you Brent?"

"Yes ma'am", he smiled at her.

She was shocked, last time she had seen Doc's son was more than a year ago. At that time he was a gangly, awkward 15 year old kid. He had spent the last year studying in New Zealand. She hadn't seen him since he had returned. Now he was a good looking, self-assured 17 year old. Looking at him made her feel old. She tried not to think of her approaching 28th birthday.

"Are you too old to give me a hug?"

He smiled. "Never."

Lauren had never been much of a hugger until she meet and had got to know the Learys. They believed that physical contact with those you love was an important part of every successful relationship. Seeing how long they had been married, she was willing to take that advice to heart.

As they waited for Lauren's luggage to show up, they caught up on the events of the last 6 months. Growing up Lauren had never known how it was to be surrounded by a family who cared for each other. Her parents had been workaholics, who tried their best to be there for her. But Lauren had learned from a very young age to be independent and self-sufficient. She had always thought being cared for by another person was a burden to them. The Leary's had shown her that if you love someone you want to care for them.

They finally piled into the Leary's Subaru. Grateful for the warmth of the car, Lauren looked outside and smiled. Although it was only mid-November it was already bitterly cold, but she had missed it.

As soon as the twins had warmed up enough for their teeth to stop chattering they started questioning her about living in LA. They wanted to know if she had met any movies stars, or gone swimming with dolphins.

Later that night, snuggled up nice and warm in the Leary's spare bedroom (which had been renamed "Lori's bedroom" when the twins were younger because of her constant overnight visits) she sighed in contentment, nothing could ruin the next 6 months.

So she thought...