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Dean
I turned onto the dirt and gravel driveway that led back through the trees to Willow’s home.
Her hand was clammy in mine and she kept nibbling on her bottom lip with nerves.
With her free hand she typed a text to her dad that we were almost there.
The trees opened up, revealing the old house and a whole heck of a lot of people standing outside with a WELCOME HOME sign hanging on the roof of the front porch.
I spotted my mom, dad, brother, and sister. Even my Uncle Trent and Aunt Rowan. My cousins Tristan, Tripp, and Tinsley—my aunt and uncle chose to stick with the ‘T’ name theme my grandparent’s chose for my dad and Trent. Even my aunt and uncles’ friend’s Tatum and Jude with their five kids—Juliette, or as we all called her ‘Ettie’, Asher, Luke, Colton, and Lucy.
Willow’s family was there too, along with her aunt and uncle, and the other members of her dad’s band. Ezra was unmistakable with his curly black hair. He stood with his arm wrapped around his wife Sadie’s waist. Hayes and Arden were there too—her hair standing out vibrantly with its bright red. And all of their kids—Ezra and Sadie’s son and daughter Everett and Everly, and Hayes and Arden’s children, Mia, Adalyn, and Noah.
“Whoa,” Willow said as we came to a stop, “they brought in the whole welcoming committee.”
“They did.” I nodded, still in shock at all the people standing outside waiting for us.
“I feel so loved.” Willow’s voice was full of awe as her eyes scanned everybody.
Neither of us seemed to know what to do. Finally, we undid our seatbelts and stepped out of the car to greet everyone.
Maddox was the first to step forward and Willow ran towards him. She hugged him tight and I heard her tell him that she loved him.
My own parents came towards me and my mom shook her head with a grin. “I knew it!”
“Maddox and Emma told you?” I guessed.
She nodded and smacked my arm lightly. “As my son I should’ve heard it from you first, but I’m too happy to care right now.”
I ducked my head.
“We missed you,” my dad said, ruffling my hair like I was a small boy.
My siblings then took turns hugging me.
“It feels like you’ve been gone forever,” Grace said, tears shimmering in her brown eyes.
“Family dinners were really boring without you,” Lincoln agreed and his floppy brown hair fell into his eyes.
“I’m sure that’s not true.” I clapped my hand against Linc’s shoulder.
“He threw macaroni into my hair one night,” Grace groaned. “It was gross.”
“It was hilarious,” Linc argued.
“You weren’t the one with macaroni lodged in your hair!” Grace yelled back.
“Hey, you two!” My mom scolded. “It’s over and done with, Lincoln is grounded, let it go.”
Some things never changed, and for that I was silently grateful.
“You ready to get back to work?” My dad asked me with a raised brow.
I nodded. “You bet.”
The trip had been fun, but I loved working on cars and I was ready to get back to it.
I acknowledged my aunt and uncle, their kids, Tatum, Jude, and their family as well before rejoining Willow.
