Page 14 of Home Is Where You Are

“I’ve always been this solid, or don’t you remember, sweetheart?” I whispered, and she let out a frustrated sound.

“What’s the matter, Ainsleigh? Did you forget how to walk while you were away?” her brother, Brooks, joked from the massive dining table.

“Why do I put up with all of you?” she grunted as a half smile appeared on her face as she walked over to the table.

“Because you love us,” Leo taunted from his seat beside Holden.

The three of them laughed when I finally walked over to the table, noticing the traitors had filled in all the seats except the one right beside her.

As soon as I sat down and slid my chair forward, her elbow met my rib cage in retaliation. I tried to not react, but damn, she had some power behind that blow.

She looked in my direction with a scowl on her face. A look that I knew meant business.

“Now, now, children. Play nice with each other,” her mother scolded as she brought over the roasting pan with what I knew held the most delicious pot roast I’d ever tasted to date.

“Since when do we not play nice, Mom?” Holden asked as he reached for the fork to get some of the pot roast.

Lillian, who’d come to be a woman I looked up to as a mother over the years, smacked the fork out of his hand and told him that his sister deserved to get the first serving. I was happy to see that nothing had changed between the siblings after four years spent apart.

Ainsleigh stuck her tongue out at him and made sure she grabbed a bigger portion than I was sure she could eat.

Once everyone had their portions on their plates, we all bowed our heads as Sawyer prayed over the meal we were about to receive. I took a moment to pray to God for the strength to get through the times ahead now that Ainsleigh had returned. I prayed over her return and that she had healed enough while she had been away to face the memories that would be hard for her to remember.

We all said amen and began to dig in to the meal.

I cut into the pot roast and looked over at Ainsleigh.

She took a bite of pot roast and moaned.

“How was the drive from the airport?” Brooks asked with a knowing smirk. He knew her driving back with me would drive his sister crazy.

“Fine,” Ainsleigh said as she looked down at her plate and took another bite.

“It wasn’t that bad,” I countered, knowing I’d get her riled up.

“Why couldn’t one of you pick me up?” she countered.

“We were all busy,” Holden replied before taking another bite of food.

“Busy, yeah, okay. You all set me up, and you know it.”

She hated the fact that I’d picked her up. Good. Maybe she’d leave me alone while she was home.

“Nah, baby sis. We would never do such a thing,” Leo joked as he tried to hide his laughter.

“Bull. How about we bring up she who shall not be named and see how you feel? What was her name again? Car…”

“Don’t,” Leo interrupted with a scowl on his face.

We never brought up Leo’s ex, as she was a huge sore spot for him. And judging by the scowl that marred Leo’s face, Ainsleigh won that round.

“That’s what I thought,” Ainsleigh goaded as she continued eating, and a smile crossed her lips.

Playful banter continued between the siblings as they talked about what Ainsleigh had missed while she was gone. I was grateful they hadn’t mentioned me and my current living situation.

That was my story to tell. One I hoped to discuss with her in private.

“I thought your friends were joining you today?” Sawyer asked Ainsleigh from the head of the table.