Snowflakes and Second chances

FAMILY DINERS

The ride from the airport might have been so awkward I'd had just have to jump out the window and maybe walk back home if it wasn't for the presence of the bubbly young woman I had been introduced to as Julian's wife.

Aside from the first two words and a very clipped question of how my flight was, my brother hadn't spared me another second of speech, and it was killing me on the inside.

His wife, on the other hand, seemed to be such a friendly person and her stories as he drove kept me from thinking too much about the bad air between us as soon, we were pulling up into the driveway of the house I had so many fond memories of.

Standing just outside the door was my dad with a big smile on his face and as Julian parks, I let myself out of the car and rush into his awaiting embrace.

Even though I hadn't been the best daughter and had left on one of the worst notes ever, here he still stood, accepting me back warmly and without resistance.

I begin to cry trying to offer something akin to an explanation of any sort, but he won't let me as he excitedly ushers me, Julian and his wife whose name was Mandy into the house.

I hadn't realized how much of home I had been missing until I was now actually seated there and the dinner I had that night brought tears to my eyes as I couldn't help glancing at the still empty seat on the dinning table from time to time.

We don't talk much that night, and I'm mostly exhausted too, but dad promises we'll catch up tomorrow and insists I go up to bed as I looked stressed out.

Julian and Mandy bade us goodnight saying they'd be returning to their home that was just about ten minutes away from here and would come by in the morning for breakfast.

Retiring to my former room that remained untouched all these years after, I spend a better half of the night drowning in nostalgia and bittersweet memories before sleep finally takes me away.

I wake up late the next morning and find my way downstairs to the kitchen watching the people who had yet to notice my presence with a small smile as they bickered about something.

“She kept adding more broccoli! Why would someone be so addicted to that stuff?” My brother whines with a smile I was surprised to see on his face as Mandy makes a face at him.

“Well it's good for the baby and I have to keep you in shape! Can't have you becoming a walrus now, isn't that right pops?” She asks my dad who was trying hard not to laugh but failing at the face of shock on Julian.

“If my daughter-in-law and grand baby are happy, I'm sorry boy, I have to agree to broccoli pasta.” He teases and Julian scoffs fighting back his smile as he stirs something in the pan on fire, it's aroma wafting up everywhere.

“Good morning everyone.” I finally make my presence known, and their eyes fall on me standing by the doorway.

“Good morning Amy! How'd you sleep? I hope it wasn't too cold, the weather has dropped significantly because of winter by the corner.” Mandy states smiling at me and I smile back.

“Morning munchkin, your brother made mashed potatoes and his special sauce and I made pancakes and bacon, which one would you like for breakfast?” Dad motions to the pan Julian has taken off the heat now.

Julian just gives a curt nod to my greeting and then says something about running late for work already, kisses my wife goodbye and leaves but deep down I knew my presence was one of the reasons for his departure.

My dad and Mandy exchange glances at his action and wanting to save us all from the uncomfortable topic I was still avoiding, I opt to have a bit of both dishes, and we have breakfast together washing it down with a jar of freshly squeezed orange juice.

Mandy, who worked as a teacher at the school in town, had taken a break today so they invited me to tag along with them to go to the family diner.

The building was just as I remembered it, in its glorious peach and white color and massive signboard that read 'Warm delights' twinkling in the light.

I knew dad wanted to know why I had suddenly appeared, the reason for my tears and most, especially why I wasn't with my husband, but I appreciated that he and everyone else respected me enough to not poke me with questions.

I see countless familiar faces and the welcomes are all warm and pleasant, although the curiosity was shining in their eyes, no one came off outright nosey.

As the diner fills up with its usual midday rush, I grab an apron and refusing all dad's protest of me not to bother and just rest, I join them at the counter and help in taking orders and handing them out.

“I'll go grab some fresh buns from the back, be right back.” Mandy tells me and I nod as she heads to the back.

The bell jingles notifying that someone had just walked in, and I look up from the cookies I was arranging into the cookie jar wearing a smile to greet the new customer.

My mouth falls open in shock instead, my eyes locking on the familiar sunset colored orbs that were equally wide in surprise at my presence.

Looking even better than I remembered in his all glory, stood Sebastian Hernandez, with his jet black curls pushed back lazily, a faint hint of a stubble on his perfectly chiseled face that housed all his other perfect facial features.

“Amelia…" He whispers and my tummy rumbles as butterflies that I had tried to get rid of whenever he spoke to me return in full force and I gulp softly giving a sheepish smile.

I hadn't thought of running into my childhood crush during my return back home, so now what was going to happen?