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The country roads were wet and clear. The snow had melted away with the endless rain that had been sitting over New York since I’d been back. The days were getting longer as spring muscled its way into the Northeast.
Some of the houses weren’t quite as rundown here in Laurel as I remembered. New tenants or people aging out, I wasn’t sure. Either way, it seemed as if my old hometown was making a bit of a comeback. Or maybe it was just fresh eyes.
I’d run far and fast from here, that was for sure.
I pulled up the gravel drive. The familiar bark of Sandy, my parents’ golden retriever, made me smile as I pushed open the door.
“Hiya, girl.” She jumped and spun in circles then gave me a hard lean as she licked my face off.
“Gage? Is that you?”
“Nothing like ruining the surprise,” I muttered to the dog. I smiled as my mom came down the stairs of the porch. “Hey, Ma.”
“What are you doing here?” She rushed across the uneven pavers to catch me in a fierce, hard hug. Nothing quite like a mom hug when you didn’t know what the hell was up with the universe.
I lowered my forehead to her shoulder for a second and dragged in her familiar scent. Dove soap and Estee Lauder. I knew, because I sent her a bottle every year for her birthday.
I squeezed her back and spun her around. Her girlish laugh lifted the rock that I hadn’t realized was sitting on my chest. “How are you, beautiful?”
“I’m happy to have my youngest home.” She stepped away from me enough that she could frame my head in her hands. “That wanderlust is still in your eyes.”
“If that wanderlust means sitting on that huge, perfect recliner in the living room, then you would be correct.”
“You know it’s not.” She frowned. “Well, come on. I just made some banana bread.”
“With chocolate chips?”
“Is there any other kind?”
“Not as far as I’m concerned.” I gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek. “One second. I have something for you.”
“You don’t have to bring me presents every time you come home. This time, it’s not Christmas, Lucas Gage Kramer.”
I winced. “I don’t think this rates my full name.” I ducked into the backseat where I’d buckled in her huge basket. I stepped back and closed the door. Her gasp and quick rush of tears told me I had chosen right.
Or Kathy had.
“All right, no tears, woman.”
“They’re beautiful. And so big.”
“Yeah, well, a woman named Kathy had my number.”
“I just bet that woman did.”
I kissed my mom’s temple and urged her forward. “Some things never change.”
“Does your father know you’re here?”
“Nope. Had to surprise my best girl first.”
My mom gave me a narrow-eyed glance. “Hmm.”
“What?”
“When your charm gets gooey, my mom antennae goes buzzy.”
“Then it should always buzz.”
