A slow fall

Chapter 20 - Lucas

"You're home!"

The faint glow of the front room light, barely visible through the gaps in the curtains, told me someone was still downstairs before even stepping through the door. A comfortingly familiar voice bounced off the hallway walls, a warm presence following it.

The house was warm, the heating always turned up high. Dad would comment on the financial implications, but mom's pleading eyes and cold hands always won the argument. Happy wife, happy life, he would say sarcastically and eyes rolling in annoyance, though the look in his eyes was one of love and admiration. 

A red carpet ran the length of the hall, a similar one trailing up the stairs, wrapping around the corner and out of sight. Mismatched patterns and miscellaneous items filled every available space. An homage to their heritage was sprinkled throughout, sandwiched between childhood momentous and flora. 

The house was homely. A feeling that found reset not only within me, but others as well. Though the colour, the smell, and the warm were no match to my mom.

Zuri Jordan was a big presence despite her small stature. Her personality on the precipice of too much, but not fully tipping over. When I was younger, I used to wonder how such a large heart fit in such a small body, her love and empathy endless. Despite all her faults, the world felt undeserving of such a loving being.

"In the flesh." I responded jovially, a wide smile spreading across my face. My parents always behaved as if they'd not seen me for months. For someone living so close to home I didn't visit as often as I could, but I was finding my footing in the world and gaining my own independence. They understood that but having their only child fleeing the nest hit my mother harder than I'd expected.

My dad less so. "Why?", he asked in confusion.

"Lovely, great to see you too dad." I called to him sarcastically. He didn't move from his position on the sofa, his head remaining angled more towards the TV than the three of us, but his hand did raise up in a gesture that made Bates and I laugh while also receiving scolding from his wife.

"Hey Mrs Jordan." Bates waved from beside me after a beat, "Mr Jordan." 

"DeAndre," she said happily, approaching to give him a hug, "it's so nice to see you again. And it's Zuri to you my dear, Mrs makes me feel old."

My eyes shot up at the action, "Where's my hug?"

She scoffed, an amused smile on her face before saying, "You don't deserve one."

"What? Why!?"

"You never visit, -"

"I saw you last other week."

"I never hear from you anymore, -"

"I rang you yesterday."

"and your poor mother missed you."

"And now we're talking about ourselves in third person." She glared at my response, but before she could speak further my father chimed in.

"Ignore her," he brushed her word off with a wave of his hand, "so, why are you here?" The TV was now paused and his attention full was on us.

"Gee, make a boy feel welcome why don't you." Bates sniggered behind me, and I promptly elbowed him in response.

"Well of course we love having you here, it's still your home." He paused for a moment, exchanging a glance between his wife, "It's just weird."

"We're here because Caleb lives next door." Bates' input was once again met with my elbow.

"Caleb?"

"Yeah, we went bowling with him and his friends."