Tides || jack gilinsky

chapter 2 || welcome home, kids

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After leaving the airport, my father took Dylan and I over to one of our favorite places to eat when we lived here.

It was a small diner, a family favorite. It held one of my best memories growing up—He knew that. I appreciated his effort, it was more than what I had expected from him anyways.

We talked and spent the time catching up. Things at the station haven't been too bad. He's become found of the night shift and much to my surprise, he likes it. Dad is a man who loves his sleep, but I guess he's being kept busy at the station and he loves that more. We caught up on school. I explained I'll be taking some classes in the summer, hoping to get my full teaching degree by fall.

As for Dylan, well he explained how he's just looking to workout and hang out with some old friends. Just that simple.

Before we realized it, it was almost 7. The sun would be going down soon and honestly, we were just so tired. Dad payed for the dinner and together we all made our way back home.

Nothing seemed like it had change. Every shop was still in business. Every person still lives in the same house. Parks remained filled which was nice to see. You can't expect to see any of that in the city. Everything is always in a rush... Busy.

The doors to my father's black pickup truck were shut closed as I stood in wander amongst the old family home. This was my home... So much memories were held here.. It was where we all grew up, and it's both warming yet hair arousing that nothing has changed.

The northern-tropical feel of the home was vivid in its vibe. Small white picket fence surrounded the light brown wood exterior of the home. The palm trees have been trimmed, I can see dad has kept himself busy in the meantime. The light blue shutters and front door, some of my favorite aspects of the house, remained in tact. Amazing how all these years went by and so much storms... And this house is still up. Let's just say that the sweet subtle town of Bay Bridge isn't so nice when hurricane season comes around. Being that it's only a few blocks down from the beach and maybe another halfway down to the biggest comercial sight of it all—The Board Walk "On The Beach" — You can say we are truly lucky that it's still standing.

I began to really think about it now.. Everything. It all just, hit me.

The warm feeling I got from my father at the airport was slowly fading away as the fear I once had of returning home quickly floated back to the front of my mind. I wasn't as ready as I prepared myself to be for this very moment....

"Welcome home, kids." Dad smiled, showing us the house with his arms before dropping them back to his sides. "What do you think?" He asked.

"You got a new door." I smiled, admiring the home. "And it's blue..." Though it was very nice, the color just seemed off for my father's personality. He's more of a grey, dark green kind of man.

"You like it?" He asked and I nodded.

"And I see you did some gardening?" Dylan asked, arching his eyebrow.

"Ah, yes." Dad smiled, turning his head over his shoulder to admire what Dylan and I were looking at. All around the edge of the house were beautifully aligned stocks of fern. It was one of my favorites. Plants were all around, more than I could identify. I must admit, I'm happy to see he's kept himself busy doing something he enjoys. And from the look of his face, I could see how proud he felt of his work.