AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When my feet hit the ground of the terminal, actual fucking land, I could almost kiss it.
The airport is busy, both incoming and outgoing traffic, so it takes us longer than anticipated to get our bags.
“Did you schedule an Uber or is your mom picking us up?” Em asks as we walk to the exit gate.
“Babe, there are no Ubers where we're going.” I laugh, shaking my head. Emery knows I live on a farm, sure, but I don’t think she realizes just how far outside of civilization we’re going to be. It’s a one stoplight, tiny grocery store and ten churches kind of town.
The nearest Target is at least an hour away.
“I doubt you’re even going to have a signal way out here, and my ma’s Wi-Fi is spotty… at best, so I’d go ahead and send whatever emails and texts you have to now.”
Her eyes widen. “Graham! I have to be able to stay in contact with work,” She begins furiously typing way on her phone. “Ugh, I didn’t even think about it being an issue in my hurry to get everything ready.
“It’s okay, I’ll take you into town if you need to send anything and the internet isn’t working. Told you I lived in a small town. Just wait.”
I wheel both of our suitcases out the door while Em holds her pregnancy pillow and purse close to her. We finally make it outside the gate and onto the sidewalk.
The first thing I hear is a squeal, followed by, “Graham Anthony Adams!”
Emery and I both look over at my ma, who’s standing next to the old pickup that was once my father’s, then mine, and now is hers. She’s an old Chevy, but man is she fine. Considered vintage, she’s still in pristine condition. Her red paint unchipped, and the chrome of her mirror still shining like the day I left her. And Ma… she looks just the way I remember. Short, cropped gray hair, a worn pair of blue jeans with a white shirt and her signature plaid button down over it.
Ma rushes over to me, her blue eyes that match mine filled with tears as she pulls me into her arms. Letting go of the suitcases, I wrap my arms around her and squeeze.
“God, baby, I’ve missed you so much,” she breathes into my ear.
My heart squeezes with guilt. It has been way too long since I've been home, and I feel like an asshole for it.
She leans back, taking me in, shaking her head on a watery laugh. “How is it possible that you’re even bigger since the last time you’ve been here? Wait till Allie sees you.”
Speaking of my sister… “Where is Allie?”
“She was busy trying to get the house ready. She’ll be waiting when we get back. Now, are you going to introduce me to this beautiful girl or just have her standin’ here feeling awkward?”
I laugh and look over at Emery. Her cheeks are as pink as her shirt, and she looks so nervous that I reach out and slide my hand in hers, offering her the same kindness she offered me on the plane. Except I wish it was real.
“Ma, this is Emery Davidson. Em, this is my ma.”
Emery extends her hand for my ma to shake, but Ma passes it up and pulls Emery in for one of her hugs. Emery just hugs her back and laughs as mom pulls back to look at her.
“Sorry, sweetheart, I need to take a good look at the woman who has my son so happy.”
“He makes me very happy too, Mrs. Adams.”
Ma shakes her head and waves her hand. “Call me Michelle, sweetheart. You’re part of the family now! Graham, go on and get the bags loaded into the truck so we can head home. I made your favorite tonight, red beans and rice with sweet cornbread.”
Oh god.
My stomach grumbles at the mention of it. Women should know, the way to a man’s heart isn’t actually through his dick, it’s through his stomach.
“That sounds amazing,” Emery says, “I can’t remember the last time I had an actual home-cooked meal. I basically survive off of DoorDash.”
“Well, honey, trust me, you’ll never go hungry at my house. C’mon.”
I do as Ma says and load our suitcases into the bed of the truck, along with Em’s pregnancy pillow, and then open the door and help her into the cab of the truck.
I spend the entire drive out of the city and to the farm, pointing things out to Em, who watches enthusiastically. I’m surprised she isn’t bored out of her mind, but if she is, she doesn’t let on. She just nods and asks Ma and me both questions while we ride.
I show her where I got into my first car wreck when I hit a cow, yes, an actual cow, where I graduated high school, the place where my father’s buried. I never realize how much I miss home until I’m here again. All the little places are ingrained in my soul, a part of the person I am today. I’ll always be a small-town boy at heart.
