home // l.h. // book 4

golden gate bridge

california

i held my bag tightly as i climbed the small stairs to the front door. the house was still the same. red brick, fading with age, white shutters and a white front door polished off with white pillars. this was my home.

i pushed the gold doorbell with my pointer finger and anxiously waited. it felt like minutes, but had only been thirty seconds before the door was open and i was greeted by my mother.

her dark brown hair had lingering strands of grey and her eyes were a pale blue now. "lindy." she breathed.

"hi, mom." i smiled, accepting her warm embrace.

she led me to the kitchen where my step father, calum, and julia were sitting at the counter. i smiled softly at the sight of them. after years of trauma, they were finally content. calum had been through a shit time and looking back it made me a shit person not to be there for him. although, how can you be there for someone when you can't even be there for yourself?

i'm glad julia and calum are together. they both deserve endless happiness.

"hey darling!" greg, my step father, greeted and everyone's attention turned to me. "how have the carolinas been?"

"it's been good. i've found a job and met some really great people."

"that's great to hear, lin!" julia gave a soft smile.

i dismissed myself from the room as they continued their conversation. i slowly made my way down the hallway to the room i haven't seen since i was sixteen. for the last two years, i had either been in rehab or staying at the condo my biological father owned. he was very successful, despite the divorce my mother had filed when i was eight and calum ten.

my dad had been cheating on my mom for a while and she knew it was the right thing to do. my dad was never violent or anything, he was well on his feet with his business and he wasn't stupid enough to ruin it. regardless, i still cared about my dad. both of my parents have moved on and are living good lives.

the room was still the same. it was the same blue walls and gray sheets. the same wooden desk my dad got me when i was seven. i placed my bag by the foot of the bed and stood by the window.

i was lost in thought for a moment before my phone rang. ariella's name popped up and i was surprised. we hadn't left things on the best terms and neither of us reached out to fix anything.

i was on the other side of the country and not particularly in the mood to talk. this house brought back endless memories and i was trying to keep things positive. thus, i let the call go to voicemail. if she really needed to speak to me, she could wait until i was ready.

"hey, is everything okay?" i heard calum ask.

"yeah, everything's great. it's a little weird being back here, but it's only for a few days." i gave him a small smile.

"i'm glad you came home. i know mom and greg are too." calum sighed, sitting on my bed. "so, what's it like on the east coast?"

i smiled. "it's absolutely beautiful. reminds me of here a lot too, but it's different, you know?"

he nodded his head and smiled. "you should wash up, we're going out to dinner tonight."

"are you saying i smell?" i said playfully.

"only a little." calum winked while leaving me alone.

i walked into the bathroom and washed my face and brushed my hair before unzipping my suitcase. i found a pair of black levi's jean shorts and a light purple t-shirt. i grabbed my phone before running downstairs. greg smiled at me when he looked up from the paper he was reading.

"are you ready?" calum asked stepping out from the kitchen.

i nodded my head and followed calum out to the garage to their highlander, julia waiting in the drivers seat. she smiled brightly as i sat behind her and grabbed calum's hand as he sat down. julia drove through our town, the lights shining brightly as night fell upon san fransisco. i forgot how beautiful it was here at night.

we drove to the overhang that looked out past the ocean, to the golden gate bridge, and most of san fransisco. i hadn't been out here since i was fifteen. we backed the car up so the trunk was facing the city.

calum had brought a cooler and picnic basket full of goodies. the air was cool against my bare skin, but i hadn't felt happier. the cars raced by and the city hustled along, but i breathed in the cool, november california air and smiled.

"we have something to tell you, linny." calum stated, taking a bite of his sandwich, his glance focused on the view in front of him.

i raised my eyebrow and motioned for him to continue. he nudged julia and she turned to me with a smile. "we're engaged! we've been waiting so long to tell you, so we planned out a special evening. we're engaged."

"that's amazing, congratulations!" i gleamed, hugging them both. "when's the big day?"

"april twenty seventh and we've decided we want it in new york." calum replied.

"and i'm hoping you'd be my maid of honor!?" julia asked.

i nodded. "of course."

julia and calum were ecstatic. they continued to tell me all about their plans, why they chose new york and other wedding details i personally needed to know. i had been waiting for them to get married for a while. it's been a few years since they've been together and they've helped each other through so much.

we headed home around eleven and i was exhausted. i fell back on my bed and checked my phone. luke had called me a few times and ariella and annie were sending me multiple texts. i responded to all of them before plugging my phone in and setting an alarm to get ready for thanksgiving.

for the first time in a long time, i would find myself sleeping through the night.