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Two months later…
“You sure you girls don’t need my help?” My dad’s voice is muffled as I balance my phone between my face and shoulder, trying to tape up the moving box in front of me.
“I think we’ve got it under control. I don’t really have that much stuff. Besides, by the time you’d get here I’d likely be done.” I straighten my posture, pushing the finished box to the side.
“I still can’t believe my baby girl is finally coming home.”
“Dad, I hate to break it to you but I haven’t been your baby girl for a very long time.” I chuckle, tossing a few shirts into one of the boxes reserved for clothing.
“You will always be my baby girl, peanut. Always. I just wish mom could be here to see what an incredible young woman you’ve grown into.”
“Me too.” I push past the sadness that settles over me, not wanting to get into this with him right now.
It’s not that I don’t like talking about my mom, I do. I want to remember how amazing she was. I want to honor her memory by keeping it alive for as long as I live. But it’s hard when so much has happened recently and so many wounds are still so fresh.
The loss of Kam not only ripped a hole right through me, it also reopened the wound left by the loss of my mother four years ago. It’s honestly hard for me to even think about at the moment. I’ve lost so much over the last few years.
“She’d be so proud of you, I hope you know that.” My dad pulls me back into the conversation.
“I don’t know about that.” I sigh, taking a seat on the corner of my bed.
My gaze immediately goes to the large white two story house next door. Kam’s house. I have a perfect view of it from my apartment above Carol’s garage. It’s one of the many reasons why I’ve decided it’s time to leave. I can’t bear to look at it knowing Kam isn’t there anymore.
“I am.” My dad once again pulls me from where my thoughts have drifted. “Don’t sell yourself short, Elara. You’re only twenty-two. You just graduated college three months ago. You’ve got time to figure things out. In the meantime, I will be so happy to have you home. I told you that I talked to Amy at the Freeport Journal, didn’t I?” my dad asks, referring to the small town local newspaper that is pretty much obsolete at this point but somehow manages to still stay in business.
“You did.”
“She called me yesterday. Said once you get settled to stop in and see her. I think she has a couple positions she’s willing to consider you for. Might help get your feet wet and establish some experience. Even if it’s not what you want to do long term, I think it will be a good stepping stone.”
“Okay, I will make sure to stop by to see her next week if I can,” I say, knowing I need to line up a job sooner rather than later.
The last thing I want to do is be one of those children that live with their parents forever. Though I’m sure my dad wouldn’t complain, especially considering I’m his only child. I on the other hand, am hoping moving back to my childhood home will be very temporary.
“It’s going to be so good to have you home, sweetheart. Do you know when you plan to head out yet?”
“I promised Carol we’d do dinner tomorrow evening so I’ll likely leave the next morning.”
“Okay. Just make sure you call me when you leave and be sure to check in along the way.”
“I will.”
“And don’t stop off at any rest stops. Make sure to go to a populated gas station if you need to stop for any reason.”
“I know, Dad.” I shake my head even though he can’t see me.
“I just worry about you driving that far by yourself.”
“Dad, it’s less than fourteen hours. I think I can handle it.”
“I know. But I’m your father and it’s my job to worry about you.”
“I’ll be fine. I promise. But I really do need to get off of here if I want any hope of being able to finish packing before tomorrow.”
“Okay. Don’t forget to call me when you leave,” he reiterates.
“I won’t, Dad.”
“I love you, peanut. Tell Aunt Carol hi for me.”
