Celestial Ties

CHAPTER 10

Stepping into our sprawling family house, I felt an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. The last time I was here, it must have been four or five years ago. The grand entrance, with its twin staircases spiraling up to the balcony and the massive chandelier glittering high above, looked exactly the same as I remembered. Every inch of this place screamed opulence, but to me, it was more of a gilded cage—beautiful, yes, but stifling in its own way.

"Home sweet home," Grandpa's voice boomed behind me, full of its usual cheer. His footsteps echoed in the cavernous hall as he followed me inside, and I turned just in time to see him taking it all in with a wide grin on his face.

"Welcome back, Father," my mother's voice echoed through the house, cutting through the stillness. She emerged from a corner, her smile bright and warm as she hurried over to greet Grandpa. "Oh, my sweet Catherine," he said, pulling her into an embrace. The way they looked at each other, so full of love and history, made my chest tighten. This house was full of memories, and not all of them were bad.

My relationship with Grandpa had always been complicated. He wasn't my father—though sometimes he felt like it, especially after my actual father decided to walk out on us. Grandpa didn't support my father's decision, and when it happened, he stayed behind to take care of my mother, to be the rock that held everything together. And that's probably why I put up with all his drama now—because despite everything, we were still family.

As they broke apart, my mother's eyes found mine, and before I knew it, she was rushing over. "Oh my, oh my, my baby!" she cried, pulling me into a hug so tight I could barely breathe.

"Mum," I managed to say, half laughing, half gasping for air. I love my mum, but she can be overwhelming—just like Grandpa. It's no wonder they got along so well after all these years of living together.

"I've missed you, my baby girl," she said, her voice thick with emotion as she started placing kisses all over my face. The sticky traces of her lipstick were left behind with each kiss, and I gently tried to pull away, smiling.

"Mum, you're going to leave lipstick marks everywhere," I said sweetly, chuckling as I finally managed to free myself.

Just then, Grandpa chimed in with his usual teasing tone, "Wow, I actually forgot you knew how to smile, Amber."

Of course, he couldn't resist. Grandpa never missed an opportunity to push my buttons, and today was no exception. I shot him a look—half annoyed, half amused. It was his way of showing he cared, but it didn't make it any less exasperating.

As I stood there, surrounded by the familiar chaos of my family, I felt a mixture of emotions swirling inside me. This house, these people—they were a part of me, whether I liked it or not. And maybe, just maybe, there was a part of me that missed this, missed them, even if I would never admit it out loud.

"Father, do you know that every time you leave me to stay at the healthcare center, neither Graham nor Amber ever come here?" My mother's voice echoed through the grand hall, laced with her usual mix of disappointment and frustration. I tried to tune her out as I watched the staff bustle around, dutifully carrying our luggage to the various rooms, their faces a mask of professionalism. To them, this was just another day in the West household, as to me  this whole scene was starting to feel like a recurring episode in a soap opera—one I had no interest in being a part of.

Grandpa had insisted that we all stay under the same roof for the remainder of the year, threatening to completely relocate to the healthcare center if we didn't comply. I knew that wasn't possible—Grandpa loved his theatrics, but he wasn't about to abandon the house he'd lived in for decades. Still, his strange requests were nothing new. He always found ways to rope us into these family gatherings, whether we wanted to be there or not.