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Macon was one of those tiny mountain towns, full of charm and quiet whispers. Everyone stuck their noses into everyone’s business because we didn’t have efficient Wi-Fi or cell towers up here, so we relied on the newspaper to efficiently deliver the news every morning, and of course a part of the news was always a heaping dose of local gossip.
Thus, my rush to get to my parents’ front door.
Down the street a loud slamming sound echoed, indicating someone had left their home, but I refused to look. I was almost to my house and nearly clear of the street.
“Rae?” I heard my name called from a block down, but I didn’t turn.
“Almost there,” I murmured to myself in an encouraging tone.
“Rae!”
No, no. I would not yield.
“Raelyn Vernon Jackson!”
Oh shit. I stopped midstep, turned on my heel, and was nearly bulldozed by two long arms that came around me in a tight grip.
“Why were you ignoring me?” Nora asked, pulling away and inspecting me. She wore a white fluffy towel on her head and a pair of fleece pajamas with little clouds printed all over them.
“I didn’t know it was you,” I laughed, while a few tears strained to be set free.
I hadn’t seen my best friend in over two years. I still came home to visit when I could afford it, but I hadn’t been able to for the last couple of years, and she wasn’t always here when I was.
“You’re home?” I asked, even though I already knew from my mom telling me.
Nora rolled her eyes. “My parents guilt-tripped me, but the better and more curious question is…why areyouhome?”
Panic bunched up inside my chest, along with relief that my mother hadn’t told her yet.
“Here, let’s go inside.” I hurried to the front door.
Nora looked around and seemed to realize her error, especially as a few morning walkers had started down the street.
Once inside the safety of my home, I let the luggage go, which toppled over from the weight of the three bags I had hanging from the handle.
“You put way too much stress on that poor suitcase,” Nora observed, walking past me to the kitchen.
Ignoring my bags, I followed her, padding across the living room floor.
“It must be so weird being back… I mean, knowing you’re here to stay.”
Itwasweird, and embarrassing, although I wasn’t exactly sure why.
I was grown up. I had graduated from college. I had moved past the lame indiscretions of my youth…and yet, there was still a strange stinging sensation in my chest when I considered being back permanently.
“It is…” I trailed off, unable to comment fully on all that I was feeling.
Looking around the house, I realized my parents had kept it mostly the same, save for a few newer appliances and updated photos on the fridge. Most were from me, but there were a few from my dad’s family, and one of Mount Macon during winter. It was serene and beautiful. Someone in the photo had their back to the camera, hiking up a steep incline.
“So, she convinced you?” Nora sunk into one of the chairs surrounding my parents’ small table.
I shrugged, as if that would explain it.
My best friend leaned closer. “I’m glad she did.”
I narrowed my eyes on her. “Is that why you spilled the beans about my living situation?”
Laughing, she arranged the salt and pepper shakers in front of her. “At least I didn’t say anything about the roaches.”
