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"Absence makes the heart grow fonder." I open the front door just enough so I can slip inside and let it shut in Lazy's face.
Walking into the dining room of my parents' house, I smile and put thoughts of Kaia in the back of my mind.
"Grant, honey, are you okay?" my mother's gentle voice breaks through my thoughts and I realize I've been standing in the dining room for several moments without greeting them. I've never been good at compartmentalizing, especially around family.
"If he's having a stroke, I want his pie," Hailey says.
"No," I say, because the pie smells damn good. They must have picked up slices from the diner. "I'm fine."
I step farther into the room and bend to hug my mother. She's a tiny woman, her hair still dark brown, even in her late fifties, and she's an absolute whirlwind of energy. "Hi, Mom."
She kisses my cheek. "Glad you could finally fit us into your schedule, son."
She's also a pro at guilt trips. Moving on, I hug my father, a broad-shouldered man in his early sixties, calm where my mother is fiery, easy-going where she's anxious, one of the most loving people I know. "Been piling up some jobs for you," he says as he pats my back.
He's not one to forget tradition, especially the tradition of assigning chores to kids who miss family dinners.
I hug Hailey last, and she kisses my cheek. Like Mom, she's on the shorter side, and lean like the rest of us. She inherited thick, red hair from some source no one can name. If she didn't have my father's facial features, we might suspect she's adopted.
I take a seat to find Lazy already at the table, digging into his pie, and being way too quiet.
Narrowing my eyes at him, I pull the last plated piece of pie in front of me. I hold back a sigh when I see it's not cherry, but apple.
Not my favorite, but edible. "How's the new job, Hailey?"
Her smile is radiant. "I'm loving it so far. It's just the sort of job I was hoping to find and I'm beyond thrilled that it's right here in Catalpa Creek. I never thought my degree in non-profit business administration would bring me home."
Her excitement infects me. "I'm glad you're back. I've missed you, little sister."
"I've missed you, too. Maybe we can go out together and you can introduce me to some of your friends."
I do not like the look in her eyes. Hailey's five years younger than me, just out of college and way too young to catch the interest of my friends. "I'm going to be too busy for that," I say. "Probably forever."
She narrows her eyes, and I stuff a big bite of pie in my mouth.
"Kaia is back in town," Lazy says.
The pie goes down rough. I cough, eyes watering, as I look around the table for a glass of water.
No one seems to notice my respiratory distress as they all stare at Lazy open-mouthed.
Finally, my father slaps my back hard, which does nothing to help.
"Water," I rasp out.
Hailey slides her full glass across the table. I'm guessing the worried look creasing her brow isn't concern for my ability to breathe.
I drink gratefully and get my breathing back to normal, my throat scratchy but okay.
Setting the glass down, I eye the two exits from the room. My family is shocked enough that I might make it, but they'd follow. Maybe not tonight, but they'd track me down with canned soup and advice.
I glare at Lazy, but he leans back in his seat, looking incredibly proud of himself. Ordinarily, we stick together and I hadn't thought it necessary to tell him not to bring up Kaia until I figure out how I feel about seeing her again. I assumed he'd figure that one out for himself.
I should have known better.
I don't know what he's up to, but I know it's not good.
"Kaia's back in town?" Mom asks, voice hesitant. "Have you seen her, Grant?"
