Can you Feel my heart?

Still YDG'N {Austin}

The sky was a vagrant blue. The air felt salty and stiff, hot like a hair dryer. There were palm trees sprung up everywhere I looked. My mom was waiting for me when I stepped of the flight. She was there with open arms, and she gave me a tight hug, tears flicking my eyes. We made small talk as we drove away, asking about school and friends and life in general. I smiled when I could see her house. It was a white beach house, sand covering the deck. It was all windows and white wood, a thing you would see on a Vacation Brochure. I could here Gussie and Brandie barking inside. As soon as she had parked, I bolted out, running up the walk. She followed behind me with my suit case. I flung open the door and was ambushed by the dogs, them licking at my face and hands. I put my arms around them and gave them a small squeeze, their fuzzy bodies wiggling. Brandie yapped at me with excitement. I sat down on the couch and out cat Cleo rubbed her head against my hand, purring. 

"They missed you." 

She sat down next to me on the couch. 

"I missed you too." 

She laid her hand on mine. I smiled at her. 

"I missed you too mom." 

I reached for my suit case. I pulled out what Kelli had given me. 

"From Lynn and Kell with love." 

She took it from me and smiled at it.

"What do you say, we get you settled in and we'll go eat at the boardwalk?" 

I nodded. I got up from the couch and took my stuff down the hall. I heard Gussie click clack behind me. I opened the door to my room and a lump rose in my throat. She had left a clean stack of sheets on the edge of my bed, and she had straightened up. Our photos were still strung all along, and my posters were still askew. I set my bags next to the desk and I unfolded the sheets. I made the bed and flopped down on it. Gussie put his little paws on the edge of the bed and I leaned over to pick him up. He skittered around before finally curling up next to my side. I missed the dogs. Heather made a fit when I had asked for one, said they were too dirty and mangy. I wanted to say the same about her. 

"Austin are you ready to go?" 

I sat up. 

"Yeah mom." 

I put Gussie down and got up. She was waiting for me in the kitchen. She looked so radiant. She was tan and her dark hair was hanging down her back in soft waves. Her brown eyes were so clear and keen. She had a spattering of freckles over her nose. She was wearing a white sundress. 

"Do you want to walk?" 

Her voice was sweet and lilting. 

"Yeah." 

I smiled. We went out the back door, the ocean crashing along the shore. We walked along the side walk and the coast seemed alive, people oozing from all sides of us. When we arrived at the boardwalk, it seemed calmer. Everyone greeted her, and she greeted them back with her big loving smile. We sat down at a table outside of the bistro restaurant. She ordered lemon tea and half an avocado club. I ordered the shrimp linguine.

"So tell me how things are going with your dad?" 

She took a sip of her tea. 

"Well, not peachy but we're managing." 

"And David." 

My expression soured. She leaned forward in her chair, laying her hands over mine.

"What happened?" 

I sighed. 

"He beat this kid up and I had had it with him and his bull shi- crap. Bull crap." 

She smiled at me. 

"So is there someone else?" 

I pursed my mouth. 

"Kind of." 

She arched her brow. 

"Kind of?" 

I smiled. 

"Yeah, and he is so." 

I smiled wider. 

"Incredible and amazing. He's talented. He's crazy good at drawing and his accent just kills me." 

She looked at me, both brows raised, smile cracking her face. 

"He's from England." 

She nodded. 

"I see. And would his name happen to be Oliver by chance?" 

I drew my brows together. 

"Yeah actually. How did you know?" 

She laughed. 

"Oh sweetie between Vic and Lynn, you're telling me something I've already heard a million times over." 

I felt my face redden. The waiter came back, food in hand. He set it in front of us. My mom smiled at me. 

"You seem like you're quite stricken by him." 

"I am." 

She took a bite of her sandwich. 

"So when's the wedding?" 

I looked at her, my face red and eyes written in embarrassment. 

"Mom!" 

 She laughed, and I couldn't help but laugh to. 

"He sounds lovely babe, and I'm sure you'll make each other very happy."

I smiled to myself. I was sure too.