The Hand You're Dealt

6| A Return Home

The doorbell chimed when Lauren pressed the button. The white two-story house looked the same as it did in her childhood. It looked like her father still took pride in the sharp, green yard and her mother's hydrangeas remained vibrant. The garage door was closed, and no vehicles were parked in the driveway. With no answer, she pressed the doorbell again.

She and Gambit stood on the porch, hoping someone would answer. They had watched the house from afar for a while, looking for any convenient vans parked on the street or suspicious vehicles meaning a surveillance team; none stood out in the sub-division. Neither had they felt uneasy, like someone watched them, so they figured it was okay to approach the door.

In hopes of disguising them living on the road, she had taken a shower with travel-sized shampoo and soap she had stolen in a Pilot—Lauren took her stolen items back to Gambit where he bathed in a river. Still, no one came to the door; it looked like they had worked hard for nothing.

Lauren was so hopeful of her plan and seeing her family again after three years; disappointed, she turned to Gambit. "I guess they're not home."

Rustling at the door as it opened had her turning back around. It swung open to show her mother, Eva Binns—her once vibrant red hair had dulled with gray, her thin face with round cheekbones held more lines, but her emerald eyes were still as bright as ever. They widened in surprise at seeing her daughter.

"Lauren!" She practically threw her arms around her to squeeze her into a hug, like she never wanted to let go.

Her heart swelled with emotions that threatened to break her composure—she had stayed away from home for too long. She laid her head against her mother's shoulder. "Hey, Mom."

"I've missed you so much!"

"I've missed you and Dad too."

Eva broke the embrace to hold her face. "Why have you stayed away for so long?"

"Sorry; I just couldn't get away from Chicago."

"You mean, you like the big city life now instead of a quiet town like New Paris?" she picked.

Feeling a bit self-conscious at reuniting with her mom in front of Gambit, Lauren moved to the side to show him. "Mom, this is Remy; he's a... friend." She didn't know how to classify him, knowing exactly where her mother's thoughts would go at seeing her with a man. "Remy, this is my mom, Eva Binns."

He bent over her hand and kissed it. "Enchante, mademoiselle; I see now where Lauren got her beauty from."

She wasn't sure if hearing him call her pretty shocked her more or that he had been successful in wooing her mother. She had expected his ability to not work with her mom like it did her. What was so different about her?

Eva blushed hard and her eyes took on a dreamy stare, like she saw stars. "Well, it definitely wasn't her father."

She blinked out of her stupor and remembered they were on the porch. "Oh, come in; come in, both of you! We're out back! I had come in for the potato salad when I heard you at the door."

Eva waved them in; she shut the door behind them, linked her arm through Lauren's, and led them toward the back, chatting the whole way. Unlike the outside, the interior had changed: the living room had been entirely remodeled and rearranged, her look into the dining room had a new coat of dark green paint, and the kitchen held chrome pieces. The entire side of the kitchen was glass and showed the backyard.

Her father stood at the smoking grill, barbequing his—more than likely—delicious ribs. Henry Binns' brown hair was also grayer, and it looked thinner than the last Lauren had visited. Sitting in a black patio chair was her six-month pregnant sister, Abigail Gylant. Abby was four years older than Lauren; they resembled each other except for her hair being a perfect blend of brown and red, and her pregnancy had added some weight to her athletic frame. Abby's husband, Paul, wasn't in sight.

"Look who's here!" her mother announced when she slid open the door.

Henry looked up as Abigail turned to see—their eyes widened.

"Lollipop!" her father yelled as he hurried around the grill wearing a 'Kiss the cook' apron. She smiled at the nickname as she received his hug—he had given it to her when she was young because she absolutely loved lollipops. Every chance she got, a sugary sucker was her choice of dessert—not a little one, one of the big flat lollipops with a swirl of multiple colors.

When he released her, Abigail hugged her next. Lauren asked where Paul was, and she said he had to run to the store to pick up some ice. She introduced Gambit, and both fell under his charm just like her mother. Yet another mystery.

After a few minutes, Lauren heard a vehicle pull up out front and Paul appeared. He gave her a hug, Henry introduced Gambit, and the two sexes separated: the men stood at the grill talking while she, her mother and sister sat on the patio furniture catching up.

Abby continued to study Gambit, trying to figure him out. "Remy... he's quite something."

"Oh, state it like it is! He's sexy!" her mother said.

Lauren about choked on her margarita; Abby almost did the same with her water. "Mom!"

"What? He is! You can't beat around the bush with that one. And that accent of his..." She pretended to swoon, then looked at her. "How can you stand around him? Your legs must turn to jelly. Wherever did you find him?"

She and he had come up with how they met: they mainly stuck to the truth but embellished some as him being an entertainer at a casino and she had come to one of his shows as to impress them—they didn't need to know that he was just a street hustler. For why they were together, they both had a mutual friend in Maine that was sick. Lauren hated lying to them, but it protected them better than the truth.

"So, nothing's between you two?" Abby asked.

Lauren looked over at Gambit, chuckling at something her father said. Since the past few nights had been so cold, Gambit had wrapped around her to keep them both warm. She could've sworn he had kissed her neck last night; she had woken up with the ghost of his lips on her skin. Lips don't just accidentally brush skin like that, especially so intimately.

"No; there's nothing." She knew she had feelings for him, but he hadn't given her any sign that he thought the same. They maintained a friendly relationship; yes, they picked at each other, but there was nothing flirtatious about the fun. Besides, he wouldn't fall for a nobody like her—he was a mutant with surreal powers, and she was a bland, non-magical, human.

Her sister sat back with a doubtful look.

"Well, if you want him, get him now," Eva warned. "He's not going to stay on the market long with that face and voice; some girl's gonna snatch him up."

Lauren looked at her mother. "Would you behave?"

She shook her head as she took a sip of her margarita. "You need a man, Lauren, and that one will do just fine. You match."

Even if they looked like it on the outside, a mutant and a regular person didn't match. She shook her head in denial and changed subjects. As much as she wanted it, she knew she couldn't have him.

When dinner was ready and they sat down to eat, Lauren had to force herself not to devour the meal like she was starving. She noticed Gambit was having the same problem; they shared a knowing grin. The food tasted heavenly, and she became full quick because of her smaller stomach.

After they had finished, they sat at the dining table talking. She brought up their reason for being there: their car had broken down on the Ohio border and they had walked here in hopes of borrowing one. They asked why she hadn't instead called for them to pick them up, and she said that she had forgotten her phone back in Chicago; Remy didn't have one, or she would've called. More lies. Lauren felt extremely guilty when her mom immediately volunteered her car.

With it growing late, Abby and Paul said goodbye to head home. Her father set Gambit up to sleep in the guest room; she bid him goodnight and headed up to her old room. Eva helped her put sheets on the bed, then with another hug from both of her parents, they left to sleep. Lauren flung herself onto the bed, gratefully sinking into the plush mattress—she looked forward to sleeping comfortably for once.