one summer at the lake house | #Wattys2016 #tbpa2016

I. him

h i s  m o n d a y;

  The drive to Fiery Peak lake was the same as every year; Mom talked business on her phone the entire two hours and Dad slept.

   I was tucked away in the backseat, my headphones blaring into my ears to drown out the rest of the world. My hand placed underneath my cheek as I watched greenery zip by outside. The sun was high in the sky and even with the AC blowing I could feel the heat through the window. It was the eighth of June and we were expected to have a peak in the hot weather this week. The week we chose for our annual family trip.

   I didn't complain though, I needed this trip more than ever at the moment. My year away at university had taken it's toll on me. Though my grades were satisfactory my social life suffered and I barely made a few, if any, friends within my dormitory. Dad said it was because I hadn't yet found my comfort zone while Mom thought it was because I was anti social. Severely anti social.

   I didn't disagree with her though. I think it's because I get wrapped up in my school work, I was somewhat of a perfectionist. I would stay up all hours of the night perfecting my papers and minuscule assignments.

   The sign that read Fiery Peak Lake came into view and I sat up, adjusting my blue shirt and removing my headphones. A small smile ghosted my features. My home away from home, I thought as we made the right onto the gravel road.

   "We're here kiddo!" Dad said joyfully. He received a shush from my Mom who was still in what I assumed was a conference call. He laughed and nodded before turning to face me around his seat.

   I shyly waved at him whispering, "Hooray a weekend with zombie mommy." I jerked my thumb in Mom's direction. A nickname she had developed from Dad when I was still very young, she was quite the workaholic.

   Dad stifled his laugh; getting shushed again by Mom.

   I grinned at this, stifling my own laughter as well. My Dad and I were very much alike in looks and personality. He looked like how I'd look at fifty. The same short chestnut hair except his was almost completely gray at this point. Deep wrinkles under his eyes from years of smiling; I would get the same ones, we had the same exact smile. He wore glasses though, contacts becoming too difficult for him. He'd much rather look old than have to poke himself in the eyes everyday.

   It was always a mystery to me how he ended up with Mom but he said it was because she was very different in college. This didn't mean he loved her any less, she just became engulfed in providing for her small family. Dad always said she used to be more adventurous and headstrong. She pushed him to do things he'd never imagined. Like get married, or have a family. This always made me happy because I feel like Mom brought out the best in Dad when he didn't think he was capable of such things. She believed he could be and do whatever he wanted with his life. Who would've known he'd just enjoy being a simple house husband?

   "Edison dear take my things up, I'll be on this call for at least thirty more minutes then I promise no more phone," Mom said with the wave of her hand before she gripped it in her long gray and brown hair. Usually she'd have her waist length hair pulled back but on days off she'd let it breathe. I love it because her silver hair only really came through her long bangs and flowed perfectly through the length of her hair. She had never dyed it and only got trims when necessary.

   We had just pulled up to the large red lake house. For a family of three the size of our summer cabin was ridiculous, but Mom enjoyed flaunting how much she made. I snapped off my seatbelt and hopped out of the car, leaning into Dad's window, "I'll be right back! Two hours, gotta go!"