The Boys are back in Town

Look who's back

I never thought I could be so happy to see my brother without a bottle in his hands. But when I walked into my parents house and saw Ryan making breakfast for my father I was over come with hope. The screen door slammed behind me and caught Ryan's attention, a soft smile imediately stretched across his face.

"Look at you, up early I see." I teased while making my way into the kitchen off of the front mud room. The sun streamed in through the large white framed windows into the soft yellow room. The sun flower tea towels still hung from the handle on the oven door and mom's tea cups still lined the top of the cabinets in the small space before the ceiling. The sound of the toaster popping made me reel in my thoughts and look over to my brother again.

"How have you been?" Ryan asks, adding small dashes of salt and pepper to the eggs in the pan. I hang my bag on one of the kitchen table chairs in the middle of the room and start to spread butter on the toast.

"I've been better, how about you and dad? Have you slowed down on the drinking?" I ask lightly, I don't want to start an argument, it's too nice of a morning to start an argument in my mother's kitchen.

"Yes." He replies looking me straight in the eyes. My smile widens immensely and I whisper 'thank you' as our father turns the corner into the room. The surprise in his eyes tells me he wasn't expecting to see me.

"Good morning dad!" I say in a chipper tone and smile wide, it's a good morning. He just nodds and stares at the toast I set on the table. I rest my hands on the wooden chair in front of me and wait for Ryan to put the scrambled eggs in front of our father. He hasn't been eating since mom passed but I've been trying, and now that Ryan isn't drunk 24/7 he'll help I'm sure. Dad's shoulder's slump forward and his head starts a slow shake.

"Go home Toby," He starts. "We all know you don't want to be back in this town, so why pretend."

"Dad.." Ryan tries to interject but dad doesn't have it, he lifts his hand and stops Ryan from continuing. His head lifts and looks me in the eyes, daring me to say how much I like being back in town, how much I've missed it here. But he knows it would all be a lie. I just nod and shoulder my bag on my way out the front door. I let the screen door slam behind me and bounce before slamming lightly a second time. It was such a good morning.

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I didn't feel like going home just yet. The apartment didn't really feel like home and I wasn't ready to explain the argument between my father and I to Garret. I just needed some time on my own, to relax and just think about everything that has happened in the past week. The funeral, the Wilder boys returning to Junction, everything is off. My father and I were never extremely close but we never faught. Especially with everything happening I would have thought that he would want to be with his kids not shut us out. Ryan and I have done everything since mom died from the funeral service, keeping the house in order, even making sure dad gets up sometime during the day just to eat something. I just don't understand how you can push away everyone you love right after the one you loved the most died. It doesn't make sense, me and Ryan loved our mom just as much and seeing our dad like that only makes us even more scared.

And then there's the Wilder boys. I knew moving back would involve seeing atleast one of the infamous brothers but seeing all three in the first week that I move back was most certainly not expected. Well, I haven't seen Nick just yet but I'm happy for that, I'm not too sure I could face him yet. Lee said he would be in last night and hopefully he leaves before I get the chance to see him and his wonderful fiance. I need tea. I make my way down town to our local cafe, most of the time it's relatively busy but it's a Wednesday morning and most people are at work by now. I pull open the door to the small cafe that is all windows and make my way to the counter with my head down.

"Good morning!" The young woman behind the counter flashes me a bright smile and instantly begins to make my morning a little better. "What can I get you?" She asks. I pretend to look at the menu but know exactly what I'm getting.

"I'll get a chai tea and a chocolate croisant please." I place my order and smile back. The girl nods and rattles of my order and the cost before asking for my name. "Toby." I reply instantly giving her the exact amount and a small tip. There's a quick intake of breath behind me and before I can turn around I already know who's standing behind me.

"Tobina Leah Caran, I never would have guessed." I could hear the smirk in his voice, I would recognize that arrogant drawl anywhere. I grab my tea and croisant and smile and the woman behind the counter once again before slowly facing him.

"Hey Nick."