Absent

Chapter 4

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The house was exactly how I pictured it. I'd spent more time than was probably necessary looking at images of houses, not knowing if any of them were an accurate comparison to the Summer's house.  In my mind, though, I imagined something nice, sort of like they were. Something simple, but pretty, with a nice yard and neighbors and kids playing in the street.

The image in front of me wasn't too far off my expectations. The house was white with a navy blue front door. A bright green lawn with a cobblestone walkway beside it separated the house from the sidewalk.  The normalcy of the neighborhood set my emotions alight with a feeling I wasn't sure was excitement or terror. I got out of the car that Vanessa had sent me in and the driver helped me get my duffle bag from the trunk. 

"Thank you, Sam." I said taking the bag from him.

"No problem, Rowan." The driver responded. He'd been there to drive my team to countless locations and it saddened me to think about this being the last time he'd be driving me anywhere.

I took a deep breath and tried to repeat Carson's words in my mind, trying my best to believe them. This was going to be good. I would be happy here with this family.

The front door opened and Stella came out. "Rowan!" She called out, coming across the front porch.

She met me halfway as I crossed the walkway and enveloped me in a hug. One thing I found out from our first meeting the day before was that Stella was big on hugs. I couldn't complain, though. Her hugs brought me comfort, making me wonder if I had really been missing out my entire life.

She waved to Sam as he got back into his car and pulled away. "I am so excited to have you here, Rowan." She smiled brightly. "It's been just me and the boys for so long, I'm ready for a little girl time."

Her excitement transferred to me and I felt my mood lifted slightly. "I've never done girl time before." A small smile tugged at my lips.

"Then you are in for a treat, honey." She pulled me towards the door. "I've planned a whole day- once you've settled in of course. Whenever you're ready, you just say the word. We'll have a nice lunch, get our nails done,"

"Stella, at least let the poor girl through the front door first." Ryan said from inside.

"I'm just excited, okay?" She responded, closing the door behind us. "You have boy time every day, you wouldn't understand."

Ryan shook his head, his eyes filled with amusement before he looked over to me. "Welcome, Rowan. This is your home now, we hope you'll be comfortable."

"Have you eaten yet?" Stella asked me and I shook my head. "Great, because I've got spaghetti cooking."

A figure stood behind Ryan and I knew instantly that it was Jason, the couple's twenty-year-old son. His dirty blond hair was long enough to brush the tops of his ears. He had Ryan's sharp features and Stella's crystal blue eyes. He was an inch or two taller than his father, probably just reaching six feet and I didn't need to be told that he was an athlete based on his muscular physique.

He smiled shyly and waved. "Hey, I'm Jason."

"It's nice to meet you." I said, returning his smile.

"Jason, why don't you show Rowan around the house while I finish up dinner?" Stella said and her son nodded.

"Sure, mom." He looked at me. "Right this way."