Invisible

Chapter 48 Family Time

Lynette sets the bowl of potatoes next to the green, frosted cake on the table, she covers the steaming bowl of white and brown with a lid after cutting up a stick of butter straight into the mass. I watch her set down the knife and wipe her hands off on an apron. "It looks beautiful." She passes behind me and squeezes my arms in a comforting gesture. I'm about ready to faint I'm so hungry and the roast smells so good. My mouth salivates and I can't stand to do nothing much longer, I'll collapse.

"Dinner smells wonderful, are you sure there's nothing I can do to help?"

"Well... Maybe if you could toss the lettuce, it's in the fridge." She's rushing around with determination to have the table ready by the time Leo and Hunter come. "Thanks." She gives me a warm smile.

I fall to my task happily, tying my hair back with care. I attempted to curl it and it came out kind of wavy. Lynette turns on some music and I check the clock, 10 more minutes.

"Leo must be home!" Lynette announces when we hear a door open and close. I glance over to the stove where she stands drying off her hands and then hurries towards the entry to meet him. Their indistinct voices sound excited and I hum along with 'Shotgun Rider' as I separate the dark green leaves and sharp orange flecks of carrots into bowls.

Hands wrap around either side of my hips and I let out a small scream as a soft voice whispers in my ear, "long time no see."

"Hunter!" I wheel around, pressed between the counter and his solid body. I bring my hands up to carefully touch his face, I can't see it clearly because my eyes are full of tears. "I missed you." I whisper as his hands cup either side of my face.

I didn't know the distance hurt this badly until he was standing right in front of me. I wrap him in a tight embrace and just listen to his heart beat.

"I missed you too." He draws my face  up to look at him as he lowers his head.

I breathe in through my nose as his kiss turns from tender and sweet to deep and passionate. My knees feel weak but he's holding me up and I have a hand clutched to the back of his head now.

"And I missed that." He gives a little dopey smile as he breaks away ever so slightly.

I nod dreamily, not wanting to take my eyes off of him, afraid he'll disappear. What changed? I have gone months without face to face contact with Hunter, now 5 weeks felt like an eternity and my heart is pained just thinking about it. Leo's laugh booms through the house from the entry way and I release Hunter, spinning back around to finish my job.

"Honey, it's okay," Hunter places his hands on my shoulders, "we don't have to hide from them remember?"

Lynette steps into the kitchen and smiles at the two of us.

"Smells great mom."

I keep quiet as a conversation ensues and mother, father, and son catch up. When one of them looks at me I pretend to be focused on my new task, peeling cucumbers.

Hunter takes my hand at the table while his father blesses the food then Hunter squeezes my fingers and doesn't let go. "Is she always this quiet?" He looks over at his mother after shooting me a playful smile.

"No... Not this much. You must make her uncomfortable." Lynette winks at me and I blush deeper.

"Can I have my hand back?" I mumble.

"Ah, she can speak."

I wiggle Hunter's careful but firm grip from my own and shove his arm. "Of course I can talk, jerk." My attention becomes focused on letting my hair down and I give Hunter a look of mock indignation. "I also am in charge of serving up dessert and if I were you I would be nice to me or you might find yourself with a very small portion."