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"And you said you would be here at one! Just relax, don't get your boxers in a bunch. You weren't even supposed to be here, remember? I was driving myself at one point." I laughed and dumped the remaining food into the garbage, tying the bag tight and pulling it from the can.
"Give me this. Go grab the rest of your shit," Zach said, pulling the bag from my hand and taking it out to the curb.
I hurried to set the timers on the living room lights and pulled the blinds closed. Carrying my duffle bag, I locked the door behind me and walked over to Zach's rented SUV.
"Where the hell you get the granny mobile?" I laughed.
"Shut up and get in. You try renting a vehicle a few days before Christmas. You are guaranteed nothing of style, even with a reservation that you made four weeks in advance."
I laughed and hopped inside, glancing back at the house as he backed out of the driveway. Two weeks up in the mountains with people I had known my entire life, who treated me like family and never turned their back on me. I wouldn't lie, I was looking forward to it. If I came back with nothing but a rested body and mind, I would be okay with it, but what I really wanted this Christmas were answers.
Chapter 5
Alexa
I took my purse,leaving the remainder of my bags in the cab that was sitting in my parents’ driveway. I quietly climbed the stairs of the front porch and stood at the front door and rang the bell. I watched through the hole in the wreath as Mom came around the corner from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her red Christmas apron, stopping to adjust a blanket on the back of the couch before she even looked out the front door at who it was. As soon as her eyes landed on me, she ran to the door and ripped it open.
"Lexi, oh my God, Lexi." Mom threw her arms around me, hugging me tightly. "When...How did you get here?" she asked, letting me go, looking at me, and then pulling me back against her again.
"I took an Uber, Mom." I laughed as my face smashed against her shoulder as she pulled me in for yet another hug.
"An Uber? Lexi, you should have called. We would have come down to the airport and picked you up," she said, hugging me tighter.
"I know, but I wanted to surprise you." I laughed, hugging her back. "Are you surprised?"
"Jim. Jim, get down here," Mom called over her shoulder and pulled me in the house. "Of course, I'm surprised."
"Mom I need to get my bags," I said, trying to stop her.
"Nonsense, your father can get them. Jim..."
"For the love of God, woman, what is it?" Dad yelled as he ran up the stairs from the basement.
"Look who's home!"
Dad turned the corner and took one look at me. "Lexi! How's my girl?" he asked, pulling me in for a hug.
I leaned in and hugged him, taking in a whiff of his cologne—Old Spice. The familiar scent reminded me of when I was five years old and I would curl up on his lap every chance I got for story time. "I'm good, Dad," I said, hugging him tightly.
"Jim could you get Lexi's bags from the driveway?" Mom asked, sweeping me inside.
"Sure thing," he said, grabbing his boots from the closet, while I shuffled things around in my purse looking for my wallet.
"Here, Dad, money for the cab," I said, handing him a bunch of folded bills.
"No, no, I got it. Go in and get comfortable and put your money away," he said, throwing his coat on and running down the stairs to the cab that waited in the driveway.
Within minutes, Dad had all my belongings inside and was taking everything upstairs to my old room, Mom following behind me as I climbed the stairs with one of my small bags. I walked into my old bedroom; it looked exactly the same as it had the last time I had been home. I walked over and sat down on the double bed and picked up Mr. Wiggles, my most favorite teddy bear from when I was a kid.
"Mom, why do you still have Mr. Wiggles out?" I asked, letting out a laugh as I looked at the bear with a missing eye.
"Because it wouldn't be your room without him," she said, coming into the room carrying an extra blanket over her arm and laying it at the bottom of my bed.
"Thanks for the extra blanket," I said, setting Mr. Wiggles back down.
Dad set the suitcases down in the corner by the closet door. "What a wonderful Christmas present," he said, wrapping his arms around me again.
They both watched as I grabbed one of my bags and began emptying it and shoving clothes in my dresser drawers.
