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“Dude, you know I’m going with you,” Nick says.
I stare down at the piece of paper in my hand. “I think you’re going to have to so I don’t kill him.”
Nine
NATALIE
I STAND AWKWARDLY IN front of the door, not knowing if I should knock or just walk in. But impulsively, my finger gently pushes on the doorbell, and I wait anxiously for the door to open.
I hadn’t seen my family in a whole week, which was starting to feel like an eternity, being that it was the longest time I had spent away from them. I laugh, remembering how I told myself I wouldn’t be going home anytime soon, and now I find myself standing on the front porch, only one week later.
My mom opens the door like she is expecting to see a door salesman, but when she realizes it’s me, her face lights up like it’s Christmas morning.
“Hi, mom!”
“Natalie! Oh, my goodness.” She wraps me up in her arms. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home?”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, this is certainly a happy surprise!” She lets go of me and looks me up and down. “Come in. You must be hungry. Let me make you some lunch.”
“That would be great.” A familiar, comfortable feeling washes over me as I enter the house. My family’s home is massive, there is no denying that, but it always feels welcoming to me. Of course, this probably has more to do with the people living in it.
I follow my mom through the entryway, past the living room and dining room, and into the kitchen where she pulls out a counter stool at the island for me to sit on.
“How about I make you your favorite: grilled cheese and tomato soup?” she asks, despite her already pulling out the frying pan from the bottom drawer.
“Yes, please.” I hear footsteps coming down the stairs, and I look over to see my dad enter the kitchen.
“Guess who decided to make a surprise visit, Robert?” My mom announces as she reaches for a can of tomato soup in the cabinets.
“Well, from the look of it, I would guess it’s my favorite daughter.” He plants a quick kiss on my forehead. “How are you doing, kid?”
“I’m really good,” I respond. “My classes are going well, and I made friends with my neighbor, Sarah.” I leave the part out about making out last night with Nathan, which would be the real reason why I wasreallygood. I don’t think they would want to hear about that.
He takes a seat beside me, and my mom hands him the morning newspaper along with a mug full of hot coffee.
“We are so glad to hear that,” my mom adds. She walks back to the stove and flips the grilled cheese on the frying pan. I can hear the recognizable sound of the butter sizzling, which causes my stomach to rumble in excitement.
“Glad everything is working out well,” my dad states.
When I look at him, I’m suddenly aware that my dad is still in his plaid pajama bottoms and bathrobe, which is very unlike him for this time of day. He’s usually the first one in the family out of bed in the morning.
“Umm, dad, did you just wake up?” I ask.
“Oh, ah, yes, I did.” He looks down at his pajama bottoms and bathrobe. “What gave it away?” he chuckles before adding, “I was out late last night with Peter Gordon working on his boat. He was having some engine troubles, so I stayed to help him until we had it up and running again. Took some energy out of me, I guess.”
“Oh,” is all I can manage to say. Just hearing the Gordon name makes me queasy.
“Hey, do you think I could get one of those?” Jason asks as he walks into the kitchen.
“Jason!” I jump off the stool and run over to him, wrap my arms tightly around him, and squeeze him as tight as I possibly can. I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed him until now.
“It’s only been one week,” he says through gasps. I smile and loosen my grip before sitting back at the counter. He pulls out an empty stool next to me and sits. “But I’ve missed you too, Nat.”
I see my parents both give each other fond looks.
“Jason, did you tell your sister about the incredible game you had last night?” my mom asks.
