The Last One Home

Part 2

Earlier

Mrs. Landon stood at the stove moving rhythmically from pot to pan, adding small amounts of ingredients as she moved. Her slim frame was seemingly lost under her oversized apron. She wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead, and stepped back from the hot stove top.

Like the rest of the kitchen, the appliances were nearly new. The cabinets were expertly painted and the counter tops free from gouges and scratches. Mrs. Landon took immense pride in her kitchen, even more so after the remodel two years ago.

"It smells so good in here!"

Lana Landon wrapped her mother in a hug from behind. Her mother leaned back affectionately, her long black hair intermingling with her daughters hair of the same color.

"When's the last time you had a homecooked meal? You look like you aren't eating enough at school." She glanced at her daughter sternly over her glasses.

"Please mom, if anything i've gained weight. I'll eat when I'm not keeping a four point - oh for my unbelievably proud mother." 

She realized she had almost said parents instead of mother. Mr Landon died last Christmas. Even though it had been almost a year, she still occasionally talked as if he was still there.

Her mom shot her a dismayed look as she pulled the strings on her apron and tossed it over a kitchen chair. She sighed deeply as if relieved to be catching a break from cooking.

"I am proud of you no matter what." She countered.

Lana snorted, "I'll believe it when I see it."

Her mother pulled a chair away from the kitchen table and sat across from her daughter who had already claimed a seat. The chair creaked in protest. Mrs. Landon had never gotten around to replacing them during the remodel.

Traffic passed by noisily outside the living room window adjacent to the kitchen.

( A black pickup slowed in the street as if looking for a particular house number, but then continued on its way after an impatient driver leaned on his horn.)

Lana noticed her mother staring into the living room at the wall next to the front door. A large family photo hung proudly on the wall, a photo that included her father. She could almost hear her father coming up the basement steps with boxes of Christmas lights in preparation for the holidays. Lana wasn't sure if they would even bother to put up a tree this year.

Lana suddenly felt intense emotion for her mother. A knot had formed itself in her throat.

"You know, I love you mom. It's going to be a great thanksgiving."

Her mom nodded, her eyes shining.

"I love you too sweety."

Mrs. Landon stood and checked the food still preparing on the stove top. A pot was now noisily boiling over the sides.

"Have you heard from your brother yet?"

"Max doesn't think he will make it tonight, Lana offered. "He says he's studying."

Mrs. Landon snorted.

"Yah I didn't believe it either, Lana said. When's the last time he came home mom?"

Mrs Landon had to think. Her eyebrows raised and her eyes rolled up to the ceiling.

"It's hard to tell. Max stays so busy these days."

Lana knew her mother was just trying to be nice. Her brother had always been the more self-centered of the two. He didn't make it a priority to see his family like his sister did. Lana had hoped that in the wake of their father's death, Max might spend more time with family. It seemed to have the opposite effect, Max was absent more than ever. Lana loved being home with family, especially around the holidays.

Lana stared into her hands.

"I miss him too mom."

Her mother looked back at her with pain and understanding in her eyes. She looked like she was caught halfway between a smile and a grimace. Her lips were pinched and colorless.

Lana stood and went to her mother. This time she was the one to wrap her in an embrace at the stove. Her mother leaned into her daughter. If Lana had stood just a minute later she may have seen the black pickup now parked in the driveway and visible from the living room window. A fire truck responding to an emergency four blocks away concealed the trucks arrival.

Her mother gave her shoulder an affectionate squeeze.

"Will you just find out when we can expect him tomorrow?" Lana returned to the table and picked up her phone to text her brother.