Morning Dew

1. Homecoming

We parked in the drive way of Grandpop Charlie's house, the house Momma stayed in when she wasn't with Grandmom Renee. Daddy suggested that we just travel to the Swan house on foot in the woods so the residents in Forks won't be turning their eyes at the shiny and sleek Mustang roaring down the wet streets. Momma refused. She wanted to drive through town and reminisce on the old memories she had here. Daddy couldn't argue. This place is where she was human. This is where they met. This is where I was born.

I drove the car through the drizzling rain while following Mommas directions from the passenger seat. Her eyes remain glued out the rain streaks windows, taking in all of the the blurred green and gray landscape. Momma stays still the entire ride, more still than she normally is.

Before I turn the car off, I place my hand on her stone hard, beautiful face sending her comforting memories. Moments flash by between us: there is an image of Grandpop Charlie and I years ago sitting in the living room with him watching sports, Momma and Daddy holding each other while I play the piano, Jacob and Momma laughing, back when her eyes were crimson and not gold.

Momma smiled a little, but she stilled remained statuesque. "Thank you, Nessie." she says with a low voice.

I turn the car off and we both step out of the Mustang. The tiny droplets of rain spray a cool mist on my face. I love this weather. I turn to Momma and see her brows crease in annoyance. Droplets shine on her deep brown hair. We walk side by side towards the front door. The door looks a lot smaller than what I remembered...

Momma pulls out a single key from her coat pocket and sticks it into the lock. She turns it and the quiet click rings loud in my ears. Momma turns the door knob and opens the creaky door into her old home.

Not much has changed from when I was younger. The warped wood floors still remain the same, along with the drab and outdated furniture. Aunt Alice would have renovated this place if she had her hands on it. Grandma Esme would have loved to change the floor plan too, to make it more open and not closed off. With just Momma and I inside, the home seems too tight. I wonder how Momma managed to live here with Grandpop Charlie for those few years.

Momma paces around the living room, the kitchen, and her old room. I find her inside sitting at the bare mattress. The room is bare and empty except for the bed and desk sitting just as still as Momma. I breath in and smell the must of water logged wood and sea water. probably from Grandpop Charlie's fishing rods.

"I'm surprised at how well he kept up the place with me gone," says Momma. "It clearly shows the lack of a woman's touch."

I chuckle. The browns and more brown color scheme lay everywhere between the furniture, the floors, the walls; it reminded me of his eyes. My eyes. Momma's old eyes.

I walk over to Momma and place my hand on her cheek again. This time I show an image of Daddy.

"You're right. I think we should go before the neighbors start being nosy."

I walk down the stairs and make our way out the door. Momma stops right on the threshold as she looks back inside. "Hold on, Ness. I need to grab something."

I nod and head back to my Mustang. The rain is starting to become more heavy. Before the water can ruin my curls, I slide in and immediately start up the car. Just then Momma comes out of the house, locking the door behind her. She is carrying something. The rain pours down the windshield making it hard to see what it is. But in the blink of an eye, she is sitting next to me with her hair dripping with rain. I look down at her hands and see Grandpop Charlie's jacket with the title "Chief Swan" stitched on the back. It must have been hanging on the coat rack.

"Do you need the directions or do you remember?" asks Momma.

"I remember," I say. I put the Mustang in reverse and pull out into the street.