Worth the Wait

Part 3 - Homecoming

Part 3 - Homecoming

Rose’s POV 

        I stepped off the plane, squinting my eyes at the bright lights in O’hare Airport. Christine and I had left very early, and I had somehow fallen asleep on the shortest flight in the world. Christine laughed at me, saying that I was such a lightweight when it came to flying. I shrugged it off. I almost always fell asleep on planes, it just came naturally to me.  

        We went in search of our luggage, and soon after wound our way to the exit. Christine started squealing and ran off, leaving me gaping. Then, turning to see what caused her outburst, I noticed her parents and mine standing at the door, waiting patiently for our arrival. Christine ran over to her parents and was immediately engulfed in a hug.

        I stared at a moment at my mom and dad. I hadn’t seen them in over three years, and I didn’t know how they would react to my sudden arrival. Before I could worry anymore, my mom came bustling over to me and wrapped her arms around my waist, squeezing gently. “Baby, I’m so glad to see you. I missed you so much,” she gushed. I smiled and returned the hug, tears starting to prick my eyes. A few moments later, she pulled away. I saw that Christine and her family had stopped hugging, and were watching us intently. I looked over to my dad, who hadn’t moved an inch yet. I grimaced internally. My dad and I always had an interesting sort of relationship while I was growing up. He was more than just my dad, he was like my best friend. He always had my back, and I always tried my best to earn his pride.  

        Looking at the expression on his face, I felt the tears start to fall freely. His face was contorted with what looked like disappointment, and I fell helpless to its power. I felt like I was 10 years old again. I bowed my head and wiped my tears away with the sleeve of my shirt. The next thing I knew, two arms had crushed me to a wide chest.  I looked up suddenly, finding my dad there, arms around me. The tears came fast and quick as I returned the hug with vigor and buried my face in his shoulder. “I missed you daddy,” I whispered. He just answered with a more crushing squeeze before letting me go. He took a step back, and smiled. 

        “Rosie, I missed you too.”

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Christine’s POV

        As I watched Rose reconnect with her family, I couldn’t help but wonder where my brother was. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity for him to see Rose and the woman she has become. But, I guess he had other, more important issues to see to.  I sighed as I looked at the knowing expression on my mom’s face. Steven would just have to deal with the fact that things were going to change, and they were going to change drastically.

       I loved my brother, and I loved Rose like a sister. But they were both suffering, and I’d do anything to see them truly happy again.

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Rose’s POV

        Two days passed quickly since I arrived home. My parents caught me up with all the details that I had missed over the past three years. Like, my brother had gotten a job at a big time video game company, testing out new games and providing valuable feedback for marketing and such. My sister had gone away to California to attend acting school, all part of her quest to become an actress. And of course my youngest brother was in his last year of high school and currently at hockey dry-land training.  

        I was happy that all my my siblings were living their dreams, and they all seemed happy too.  

        Beth and I continued to work together as I stayed out my time in Chicago. She’d send me ideas, and I’d send the drawings back to her. It surprisingly worked out pretty well. The store was still closed, only taking special orders for the time being, and Beth was happily busy planning her wedding to Justin.

        Yeah, it seemed like everyone’s lives were working out perfectly. I just wondered when it would be my turn.

 * * *

        Another week passed by in the blink of an eye. I reconnected with old friends and hung out with the family most of the time. I had yet to see the real reason Christine had brought me home, but I didn’t want to mention it to her. I was secretly hoping that she would forget, and I could get on with my life in Raleigh. That was my home now, and I was missing it dearly. I didn’t need him. I was getting along just fine.

        Christine must have noticed my distress and suggested we go out for a drink one night. I hastily agreed, needing a bit of a distraction from my family. Don’t get me wrong, I love them and missed them dearly, but they were driving me crazy. Christine took me to a local bar called ‘Pat’s’ where the wooden seats were worn down, the floor was scuffed and mismatched, and there were smiles to go around for everyone. Beth’s fiancé Justin owned a bar down in Raleigh, and this place reminded me of it. I sighed as I reminisced on home, and didn’t even feel Christine begin to tug me to a stool at the bar.  

        She ordered us some drinks, and we sat there for what seemed like hours, just talking. We talked about random things, from music to books, family to careers, never once mentioning any guys, all the while starting to get a little tipsy.  

        By the time we had downed three drinks, Christine speech began to slur a bit, and she decided to head home. We took a cab on the way here, neither one of us wanting to drive, so after insisting I stay for a little while longer, she hopped in a cab and headed home.  

        I took the much needed alone time to think about...well, life. Beth had asked me to do some more sketches or her, and I was supposed to start working in our next line of clothes. Putting all thoughts of work aside, I settled back in my seat and indulged myself in one more drink before heading back to Christine’s place. The bell above the door rang, singling someone had just entered the bar. Not really caring who it was, I turned around to see who it was. My eyes widened and my mouth dropped right open. It couldn’t be….