Antipodes

Three

"Mom?", she repeated.

"Here!", shouted her mother from the garden. She headed to the garden, with a big smile on her face, dragging her suitcase behind her.

"I'm sorry I'm...", she stopped when she saw that her mother was not alone. She had a moment of pure shock and let go of her suitcase which fell to the floor causing a thud. She fought to get her thoughts back together but all she could say was "...late". He was looking at her like hesitant to stand up and tell her that it was really him. She just couldn't believe her eyes.

"Roxy?", asked Kathryn.

She didn't respond, she didn't move. In fact, she wasn't even able to blink. "It can't be him, he's in San Diego", she told herself. But... the eyes, it was his eyes ! He looked at her, seeming in the same state of ponder as her. He smiled at her. It was indeed him. Her heart accelerated. He was worried now so he stood up.

"Hey, you're okay?", he asked her. Tears started rolling down her pale cheeks. She didn't answer him so he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and hugged her tightly while she cried in gasping, choking sobs.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry", he said trying to calm her down. "I should've told you, that was so stupid of me...". She hugged him tightly.

"I missed you so much", she finally mange to say between two sobs.

"I know, I missed you too".

They stood there for a while until she stopped crying.

"Hey, I'm getting a little bit jealous", said Kathryn suddenly reminding them they were not alone. "I need my little girl's hug too". Roxy let go of her brother and laughed.

"Get in line", said Ryan. "Let me look at you!", he added turning back to his sister.

She was so grown up, she'd became a real woman. She looked as fresh as a flower. Her long blond waves were shining like golden under the wall lamp. He could swear her eyes looked bluer, or maybe it was the denim shirt she was wearing. 

"You look so beautiful, glad you turned out more like Kathryn than your father", he joked. They both laughed.

"He's your father too, you look okay yourself", returning the joke. In fact, he looked really good. He's lost some weight which was normal considering that he spent the past few months in a hospital. Kathryn was over the moon, having her family back together. She was one one those people who loved family gatherings. She loved cooking even if her work career didn't gave her much time to do it. Tonight, they only had macaroni and cheese, because Ryan took good care of not telling her as well that he was coming. So, she didn't prepare anything. She complained about it during the entire dinner. After which, they all sat in the patio by the pool. Roxy put her head on his laps laying on the couch. He took out his cigarette pack and lit one. 

"I thought you said you stopped smoking...", said his sister snatching the cigarette and putting it between her lips. 

Katheryn sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Oh mom, please ! Don't act like you didn't know that I was smoking. I started when I was 15".

"You know the rules, guys?", she asked.

"We won't smoke in the house", they both said humming.

He told his story about trains again, adding some more funny details for his sister. He told her about that one time he was running errands in Sioux Falls, South Dakota when he met a group of young boys sold him some herbs and said it was some Indian traditional tobacco. He somehow believed them merely because of the city's name, they looked like they knew what they were talking about. Next thing he remembers is that he was throwing for three days straight at his motel room. That was only one of the many stories he told them. He laughed at himself remembering all what he went through. Katheryn excused herself after a moment and left them there, smoking cigarettes and just talking trying to catch up on the past four years of conversation.

"You found God now?", asked Roxy showing the tiny little cross behind his ear.

"It was a while ago, it didn't last". He finished his beer. "Maybe it's for the best".

"That you found God?"

"That I don't need him anymore".

After a long moment of silence, Ryan said out of nowhere "I might need a room mate".

Roxy looked at him and smiled like she knew exactly what he meant. They discussed this a few times, making projects here and there, nothing too serious. But he wanted to spend more time with her. But what he wanted most was that he didn't want to be alone, she was one of the few people he trusted. He turned his eyes from her, looking at the pool and smiled. He throw the rest of his cigarette, got up and took off his shirt.

"What are you doing?", she asked him.

"Today is your day sister !", he said lifting her.

She screamed and kicked but he was too fast and too strong for her. She found herself struggling in the deep blue water in no time. She came back to the surface and smashed it with her fists. "I hate you !", she screamed. He laughed at her and dived in to join her.