I love the drive, this moment. It's like coming home after a long time. The scenery always looks better every year. I've grown so appreciative of the ocean and the trees. The birds in the skyline. Wings flapping every so often as the breeze carried them. People walking around minding their own business. The lemonade stands and the shopping malls being filled with people. AC being on full blast. The crisp morning air.
My mom had rented out a Jeep for the two months of us being there. The jeep was waiting for us outside when we landed. We located our bags and theft the airport in a hurry to get to our second home. We try and keep talking to each other throughout the year to a minimum so that when we got here, we'd talk about everything any anything we had on our minds. Of course, we said happy birthday and happy holidays during the year. Sometimes face timing and random 2 AM calls when life got tough. But the pent up excitement that built over the year was enough to make both my mom and I speed down the streets to Cousins beach. I was thoroughly surprised we didn't get a ticket.
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I Lived by OneRepublic played on the radio as we drove. The windows were open on the jeep. "I was thinking, instead of flying back, we could drive back." My mom looked over at me with a smile on her face. She always seemed happier here. She also got a lot of inspiration here. "In what car? Don't we have to turn this in?" I asked, confused as hell. "Yeah. I have a surprise for you waiting at the house. I think you'll like it." Her playful gleam in her eyes made me feel nervous. I wasn't one for surprises.
We were about five minutes away by now. I felt like I was going to burst at the seams with the amount of excitement I felt. I hadn't ever fully appreciated the traveling and the destination as much before this year. I was really taking this seriously. Especially knowing that this could be our last summer here. Susannah's last summer. I felt the smile slip from my lips pulling me into a gloomy mood. I didn't want Susannah to leave yet. I still hadn't gotten married. Much less introduced her to my boyfriend. Not that I had one. I haven't graduated yet either. And she still has two boys that need to be taken care of. That have so much life left in them.
"Hey," my mom spoke breaking me from my intrusive thoughts. "I know this is going to a tough summer. But I appreciate you being so mature about this. It's not going to be easy. Laurel and I will be here every step of the way for your support."
"It's not me I'm worried about." I sighed. We couldn't talk anymore as we pulled up into the driveway slowly. I ignored all the bad thoughts and instead forced a smile on my lips. There's a theory that smiling, no matter how fake, will help heal you. It tricks your brain into thinking everything is going to be okay. Fake it till you make it, ya know?
I reached over and honked the horn twice before unbuckling my seatbelt. My mom smacks my hand away. "I wanted to do that!" She laughs. I toss my door open and slide out of the air conditioned car and into the hot summer air. In front of me, the white house loomed over me. Every year this house seems more and more grand. I breathed in the salty scented air. The front door flew open, and three boys ran out one by one. Conrad Fisher being the first to make it to me. All those years of Football training made him a fast runner. He was a bit taller than last year. And stronger too. His arms wrapped around me comfortingly. "What's up Mai Tai?" he pulled away and looked me up and down. "Move out of the way dude!" Steven Conklin crashed into me, shoving Conrad out of the way. Steven was also built, but in a different way. He was skinner but still in good shape. Lean figured. "Hi," you practically melted into his arms. This felt like home. Not the house, not even the beach or the traveling down the Cousins. But it was the people here that made this place what it truly was. "Alright, move! It's my turn," Steven was yanked away from me and instead I was face to face with Jeremiah. My cheeks flushed red as our eyes connected.
