Fire Burnin'

Chapter One

Pulling the car to a stop, I opened the door and stepped out on the sidewalk by my childhood home. The wind blew my hair and I tucked it behind my ear. I took a moment to look around at the houses. The street was just as quiet as I remember. Nothing had changed. Yet everything had changed. Or at least I had. I never thought I'd come back to this place. Maybe to visit, but not to live full time here again. But I'm lonely. I need my family. The past year has been rough and I just needed to come home.

"Oh, there's my Katie!" The sound of my mom's voice sent a warm feeling through my heart.

"Hi, Momma," I said, pulling her in for a hug.

"Oh, sweetie. I'm so glad you're home. I'm so happy to see you." She squeezed me tight.

"I swear I'll just be here for a few days and then I'll be out of your hair. Barbara Ann's apartment will be ready for me on Tuesday."

"Honey, I told you you could stay as long as you want."

"I know, but I don't want to intrude."

"This is your home too, sweetie. I don't want you to ever feel like you're intruding. You're welcome any time."

"Thanks, Momma," I said, giving her another small squeeze.

"Hey, kiddo."

"Hi, Daddy," I said as he put his arms around me. My dad gave the best hugs and they always made me feel better. I popped the trunk and grabbed one of my bags. My dad grabbed the other one and my laptop bag.

"Where'sthe rest of your stuff?" He asked, hoisting it over his shoulder.

"I had one of those Pods delivered and I put most of my stuff there. It'll' be at the apartment on Tuesday."

"You should have called me. I could have come to help you carry all that stuff, especially the heavy things."

"No, it's okay. One of Joey's friends helped me."

A moment passed and everyone was quiet. "Well, come on inside! I just made some lunch," my mom said, leading us out of the sun.

I walked up onto the porch and into the house. The smell of home hit me like a ton of bricks. I couldn't really describe it, but it made my heart sing to be back here again.

"Is that my darlin' little granddaughter I hear?" A voice called, coming out of the kitchen. My sweet little grandmother came out, smelling of pies and cookies. The smell of cinnamon wafted from the kitchen.

"Hey, Gram," I said, carefully giving her a big squeeze.

"I'm so happy you're home."

"Me too," I said, smiling.

"I made your favorite. Dutch apple pie."

Oh, did I love this woman. She was one of my favorite people growing up and she still was. She may have been almost eighty, but she moved like a ballerina and had so much life in her. She was feisty, but sweet and I would love her til the day I died.

We sat down at the table, the same table from my childhood, the one my dad had hand built himself, and had lunch together. I had been eating alone for so long that it felt nice to have company, even just for little things like this. Things other people wouldn't have even noticed they were doing alone.