The Dysfunction Of Evan: Books 1-3 Collection

16. Country Road, Take Me Home

I was going home in time to spend the anniversary of my mom's death and her birthday with my family. Every year my sister and I went to the Toledo Zoo in her honor. This year, my stepdad was joining us, and Tom was invited.

We got off the plane at Toledo Express Airport. My Aunt and Uncle were there to pick me and Tom up. We talked the entire way home, telling Tom about our hometown.

Pulling onto our quit street was surreal, it was the same, but different. There was my Kia, sitting in the driveway, like I only left for an outing with my Aunt and Uncle.

"I went ahead and did a light cleaning and opened everything up to air the place out. I also turned on the AC for you and stocked up the fridge." My Aunt said as we pulled up in front of the garage. I thanked her. Jake and Grady pulled up in their rental and parked behind my car. 

I got out and waved to the neighbor across the street, she waved back and welcomed me home. I turned back to grab Rebel and Sassy. My uncle started grabbing my bags, but Jake intervened, and he and Grady took all our luggage inside. 

It felt so good to be back in my home. As soon as I let Rebel and Sassy out of their carriers, they were off to re-acclimate. I told Jake and Grady to put our bags in my bedroom. Oh, my bed! I missed my bed with all of its pillows and my Doctor Who quilt and all my stuffed animals! I took a deep breath, inhaling the stale scent from all my candles and incense, things begging to be used again. Oh home! I wanted to expand my arms and hug it. 

"After you get settled back in, we'll take you out to dinner. Start thinking about where you want to go." My aunt said. 

"Oh, easy, Texas Roadhouse." I said. "I didn't get to go for my birthday this year. I've gotta make up for it!" 

"Okay. Come over when you're ready." My aunt said. She looked over at Jake and Grady. "You guys can join us as well." 

Jake and Grady nodded and smiled. "Thank you," Jake said. "But we're going to head up to our hotel and get settled." 

"Sounds good." My uncle said as he and my aunt turned to leave. 

"We'll see you tomorrow morning. Going to the zoo, right?" Jake asked.

"Yeah. Can you be here around nine?" I asked.

"You got it, darlin." Jake said as he and Grady made their way through the front door. 

I leaned against the wall and looked at Tom. He was looking around at all my things, taking in who I was. It was suddenly very odd to have him here, in my space. I was very personal about my home. I was vulnerable here, everything about me was on display. I felt naked and exposed in a way I never had with him before. Was this how he felt when I was at his condo? I suddenly wasn't sure how to act. 

"I like how you've mixed in your pop culture interests with your decor." He noted. I smiled at him. 

"My tastes are very intertwined with who I am, you can't have one with out the other. I saw no need to compartmentalize things." 

He looked at the wicker star on my wall, the biggest testament to my faith. 

"I like that." He said. 

"It was a yule gift from my aunt last year. She's my biggest supporter." 

"I like her. She reminds me of my mum." He said softly.

"You'd have liked my mom, too." I could feel tears stinging at my eyes. "She and my aunt were my biggest influences growing up. People who know my family say I'm the trifecta product of how each set raised me. Fun loving and relaxed like my mom and stepdad, strong and hard-working like my aunt and uncle, and devoted to my faith and stubborn like my dad and step mom. It's like, I absorbed the best of each environment and blended it to become who I am."