Marlene
I started packing and was ready to go for when my flight was due. Mark and I drove to the airport at 12:00am on Wednesday morning. I was nervous and he could sense it. "It's gonna be OK babe...stop worrying" he put his hand on my knee. I looked at him. He was so calm. So cool. I wished I could be more like that. But no. I was Marlene Mc Gregor. I was always going to be a worrier and high strung and all that. But that was what I was. I was the rock of the family. It was my job to pick them up when they fell and I liked it that way. But now Mark and I were engaged. I would have a husband. He could be my rock and I could be his. I didn't need to always worry anymore. I nodded at him. "You're right...I love you Mark" I tell him. He smiles at me. "I love you too Mar". The plane ride was long and boring but I fell asleep on Marks shoulder and woke up just as the pilot announced that we would be landing soon. He smiles at me as I wake up. "Morning sunshine! Almost there. Have some breakfast, its bagels, I know you love bagels!" he smooths my fuzzy hair. I laugh and nod. "You're right again" I take a bite out of a bagel and sit up. "Dad said he'd pick us up at the airport" I tell Mark. He nods. "...And he doesn't mind me coming as well?" Mark says, him being the nervous one now. I laugh. "No. He's delighted you're coming. We are engaged remember!" I tilt my head. He grins. "I remember" he smiles, lifting my finger which carries the rock on it. A beautiful ring which once belonged to Mark's grandmother. It has a sapphire in the middle with small diamonds around it and its white gold plated. When I saw it first I nearly passed out. Mark and I haven't got alot of money but I knew that this ring was in the family for generations and Mark wouldn't part with it for the world. "Only the best, for my queen!" he kisses my finger. I pretend to faint and put my hand to my forehead.
We land safely and collect our luggage before leaving the arrival gates. "Where did your Dad say he'd meet us?" Mark asks me as we walk out to the waiting area. Just then I hear a familiar voice. "Marlene? Over here!" it shouts. I turn around and Dad is standing over by the door waving like mad. I run over, dropping my suitcase. "Daddy!" I exclaim and run to hug him. "Hi sweetie, thanks again for coming!" he smiles at me. "Anything for family. You know I love you guys" I nod. I hug him again and hear Mark clearing his throat behind me awkwardly. "Oh! Sorry Babe, Dad, you know Mark!" I laugh. Mark smiles and shakes my fathers hand. "Pleasure" he laughs embarassed. Dad goes in for a full on hug, making him more awkward. "Of course I know Mark! My son- in -law to-be!" he says delightedly. The three of us just stand there then for a few seconds just smiling like idiots and looking at each other in turn. "Well come on then! Let's go home!" Dad throws his hands up and laughs. Mark carries the suitcases and Dad pulls up the old green Land Rover. We hop in and set out along the road. The airport is a good hour drive from Sandymount, which is the main town before Gooseberry Lane. That's where the shops and stuff are. Dad drives and Mark sits in the front seat, me in the back, the windows down and the wind blowing my hair wildly. I look out the window as we zoom across the highway and the town starts to fade away as all we see now is fields and trees. I sigh happily. I miss this. New York city is the total opposite to this and leaving was a big transition so coming back after all that, is an even bigger one. I smile to myself...Its good to be home.
The car comes to a stop and the moment I open the door, I hear some very excited shrieks. "MAR-MAR!" screams a voice. I jump our of the truck and see Gracie and Olivia standing there, jumping up and down with excitement. I sprint across the driveway and run into a three-way group hug, with alot of squealing and jumping and squeezing. "I missed you", "We need to talk!" and "I can't believe we're all here!" is alot of what I can hear for the first few seconds and then the car door slams shut and I turn around. "Hey girls" Mark smiles walking over. I grab his hand. "Sorry! Mark, Gracie, Olivia, Mark!" I grin. He shakes both their hands and laughs his cute little laugh, which makes my heart melt every time. "Its so good to see both of you!" Olivia says looking at us. "Hows the apartment?". When we moved in last November, Olivia came and helped us move our things. That's the last time I saw her in person. "Awesome, everything is looking so homely now" Mark nods. I leave them there to talk and walk inside, to find Mom. "Mom? Are you here?" I call into the house. "Sitting room!" she calls back. I walk into the sitting room and there she is, looking pale and thin, but when she sees me her whole face lights up and goes pink with joy. "Hi Mom!" I smile. "Marlene Mc Gregor, I told you to stop getting so beautiful, you're makin' your mama jealous!" she laughs. "Come and hug me". I hug her and Mark knocks on the door. "Come in Mark!" I call. He walks in carrying a rose he obviously picked from the front garden. Her whole face smiles. "Mark! Welcome back! And what a bee-ootiful flower" she says. "Hey Ramona" he hands Mom the flower and kisses her cheek. She clasps it and touches her cheek in delight. He really has a way with the ladies. "Thank you dear! Why don't you two go get settled in and grab some lemonade?" she smiles. I nod. We walk down the hall and Dad is at the end of it with our bags. "Last door on the left!" he tells us, taking off again. We walk up the somewhat creaky wooden stairs and down the hallway to the last room on the left. "Whoa...nice" Mark puts his hand on my shoulder. I nod in agreement. "Its always been the guest bedroom". It was made up of a double bed, a chest of drawers, a closet and a big window that let in the beautiful sunshine. "You'll only be staying 5 days so it will do". I decide to unpack later and I walk back outside to the girls. "You look so pretty! What did you do to your hair?" Gracie smiles at me. I blush. "Just a few honey highlights thats all!" I laugh. "But look at you two! All grown up Grace! And Liv, you've never looked better!" I tell them. "Weather beaten face from being outside all year round? Hair that hasn't been cut since October? Marlene's hand-me-downs from when she was sixteen? Yeah right, gorgeous!" Gracies raises her eyebrows. I chuckle. "I've been working out...Trying new things" Liv nods. I look at the three of us, standing there in front of our house together. I haven't smiled this much in a long time.
