The Last Time

two.

The airport was packed. Families rushing to their gates as they dragged their luggages to the check in. It was absolute chaos. I should've known, it was the holidays. I guess I assumed people would have already been out of state. Or rather, hoped. But as I rolled my suitcase across the linoleum, barely missing the walking feet around me. I was regretting not choosing an earlier flight. 

"Please, head towards the gate listed on your ticket," I heard an employee's voice reprimand a family of five. The mother was red in the face, her ticket flailing in the face of the employee.

"I asked where the damn gate is!" The woman argued, her voice cutting through the dense and rambunctious crowd.

"Ma'am, I already explained. It's straight ahead and towards the left." The employee started to explain himself. His brows risen as he tried took a deep breath to calm himself.

The woman began yelling profanities, her ticket slapping the man across the arm. Her husband stepped in between, his arm wrapping around her forearm with one swift movement.

"I'm so sorry," the husband apologized as he tried to drag away his wife.

What a Karen, I thought to myself. I let out a sigh as I weaved my way through the sea of people. My feet were aching and my ass felt broken from the being on the airplane for so long. Seeing the face of my siblings would be the highlight of my day.

I slid between the final slew of people. My bag barely dragging along the side of someone's shoe. A slew of profanities were directed at me as I peered my head over to see a tall burly man. I crinkled my nose at him with pursed lips.

"I would've apologized if you weren't such an ass," I bit out. The man flipped his middle finger at me. His feet finally walking away from me as if he got the last word.

Pfft, men. I thought to myself as I continued to walk towards the revolving doors to exit the airport. I did feel bad, for a split second. But the second the man opened his mouth, it was snatched away. 

I slipped between the glass panels, my luggage scratching the side of the revolving door. With a loud clunk, I pulled it in and stepped towards the next opening, trying not to make a complete fool of myself. Letting out a small sigh, I slipped out of the open entryway. The fresh air smacking me in the face as a slew of cars filled the packed street. 

Great, I hope someone came to get me. I thought to myself as I stepped into the middle of the walk way. I raised my hand to shield my eyes from the beating sun as I scanned the parking lot for my family. My eyes adjusted to the sun as my brother’s red truck came into view. They were parked quite a distance from the entry but my legs could use the walking if it meant not having to deal with this insane traffic. 

I made my way towards the red target, my luggage dragging behind me as I weaved through traffic. A few profanities were being shot in my direction. As if pedestrians didn’t have the right of way. 

Man, today feels like such a s**t show. I thought to myself. 

I threw my arm in the air and waved in the direction of my family. They were completely oblivious to my arrival as I walked closer towards the truck. Laughing and joking in the front seat was Anne and Alex, their smiles reminding me of their chaotic energy. Sat calmly in the back engrossed in her phone was Marie, her long brown hair blowing outside the open window.

I chuckled as I finally closed the space enough to yell out to them. 

“I’m back, bitches!” I screamed out at the parking lot. A few random passing strangers eyed me as they walked passed. My siblings finally glanced over in my direction, as my arms flung into the air waving, again. 

“Evie!” Marie called out, her door swinging open in one swift motion. Her feet slammed onto the ground before she hurdled towards me. I matched her energy, running at full speed towards her. We clashed within seconds, our arms wrapping around each other’s shoulders. 

“Hey, Mari,” I greeted. My face muffled by her hair as we swayed back and forth. 

“We’ve missed you, Ev.” She replied as she pulled her head away from me. One of her hands reached up and rubbed the top of my head vigorously. I winced, pulling my head away from her torture. 

“What the f**k,” I whined as I pulled my arms from our embrace. My hands raised up to the top of my head, smoothing the tangled hairs down. 

“Don’t blame me, you’re the youngest. We have had no one to pick on for over a year,” she excused. Her arms bent up at the elbow as she shrugged. I heard the cackling laughter of Anne and Alex as I glared at the three of them. 

“f**k you, guys.” I bit out. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

The car ride was eventful. Chalk full of small town gossip and highlights of the past year. My sisters and brother talked my ears off from the moment we left the airport. I wasn't complaining, it felt nice to be back home. But damn, they were a little annoying. They were asking way too many questions about Charles and how we were doing. Telling me I need to start saving money on the side, just in case.

I was definitely back home.

The strong scent of Fajita's filled the air as I stepped into my parents home. My sisters and brother came tumbling in behind me, as if my arrival was nothing new.

"Where's the food?" Alex called out, his hand rubbing the bottom of his stomach. The four of us walked into the kitchen, where our parents stood their hands full of uncooked meat.

"We have some done but don't eat all of it. I mean it Alex," my mom called out as she turned to face us. Her face brightened, her eyes widening in surprise as she handed the meat to my father.

"Evie!" She yelled. Her arms outstretched towards me as she walked in my direction. I offered her a smile as I closed the space between us. The smell of her shampoo filled my nose as I embraced her, I couldn't wait to be with her alone.

"Momma," I answered as we hugged for a few moments. I felt a rough hand grab the top of my arm and pull me away. My dad's chest collided with my head as he embraced me into a hug. I let out a laugh as I wrapped my arms around his back.

"I missed you, too, dad." I said with a smile. He let out a laugh before pulling away.

"I know you did, kid," he replied. His hand grabbed my shoulder with a tight squeeze before walking back to the kitchen counter. My mom had already made her way there, a plate with a few tortillas placed on top sitting in her hand. She hastily walked back to me, shoving the plate towards my chest.

"Get some food before Alex eats it all," she offered with a knowing smile.

"It's probably already gone," I teased, poking my tongue out.

She let out a small chuckle before walking back towards the counter. Her head was shaking as she smiled up at me.

"Even more reason to hurry," she teased back.

My smile widened as I began my trek towards the dining room. Before I could slip out the entryway I heard my mother voice ring out.

"Wait, where's Charles?" She asked.