Step-Brother

I can't believe it. I am on my way back home after being gone for so long. It has been 5 years since I last saw my mother. She rarely called. Oh well, what can I say.. Thank God she didn't. My name is Julia Moretti, I'm 20 years old. I graduated 1 week ago and she didn't even show up for the graduation ceremony. She is the only family I have. Still she managed to never be present in my life.   My dad died of cancer a few years ago, it destroyed our family. My relationship with my mother changed.  But so, did she. She became a really cold person who didn't give a f*ck about her only child. We were like strangers living under the same roof.  I was really astonished when she called me a week ago wanting me back home. She was really happy on the phone talking about some sort of surprise. I remember thinking what the h*ll is she blabbering about. Yet I agreed to go there for the summer.  It was perfect timing. I really needed to get away from here. You see, I was in a relationship until lately.. He was gentle and understanding.. He pretended all of that well enough to have me fooled. I found out he was cheating on me for quite some time. It hurt when I found out but more because I thought we had this relationship, from bestfriend to boyfriend but it wasn't the case. It was a difficult decision to make but I left his sorry a**. It obviously wasn't love. Someone who truly loves you won't do something like this and he was doing it for months with my bestfriend.. So, I packed my bags and left everything behind. The next thing I know I was calling a taxi driver to take me back home. Maybe when I get home I can find a good job . That would be great. On my way there my mother send me a text message. Mom: -Hey sweetie. This is where you need to go. And she sent me her new address which I gave the taxi driver instead of my old one. Sweetie? I roll my eyes. Don't get me wrong I am a really sweet and caring person however that's the side of my personality that I will never want to show her. Not after everything that happened. As the taxi comes to a stop, I look out of the window. The taxi driver stops the car in front of a huge house. You can't call it a house anymore. It was more of a mansion. Did my mother win big and didn't tell me about it. I roll my eyes. Of course she wouldn't tell me. Still it was a really beautiful mansion. I was so much in awe that I completely forgot I was still in the taxi until the taxi driver starts coughing to have my attention. I apologize to him and he helps me with my bags. Now I am standing before the front door, not knowing what to do. Rang or knock? "I'm a bit nervous to see mother again", I think to myself. I am about to knock on the door, when suddenly the door burst open. Sh*t got me scared. "That's what you get when you are daydreaming.", my inner voice tells me. I hold my hand in front of my chest and breath out. A man is standing in front of me. He seemed to be in his late 40 , he is very well perserved. "Hi, you must be Julia. Sorry if I scared you. We were waiting for you." says the man happily. "Sorry this must be some sort of misunderstanding." I utter schocked. Maybe I am at the wrong address. I take my phone out to check the address. I don't understand. It seems to be the right house. Where is my mother, I ask myself not knowing what to do or to say. "Julia Moretti?" the man speaks out. "Yes that's me but who are you? I ask surprised. "I'm Dave Sinclair. Just come in. Your mother is waiting for you." he smiles at me.  Normally, I would have found this whole situation kind of creepy. A stranger knowing my name and asking me to come inside of his house. But he did mention my mother. There was something about him that was welcoming. I nod and am about to take my bags inside when he says: "Here let me help you."  As Dave helps me with my bags I begin checking him out. The man standing in front me is tall, he looks somehow strong but not too muscular.  He has light brown, perfect styled back hair and dark blue eyes. Really nice bone structure and of course his skin is sun kissed. He was indeed a very good looking man. "Thank you."I smile back at him. Even if he is really friendly I still ask myself what h*ll is going on. Before I could even express my worries I hear my mother call for me. "Is that you sweetie? I would recognize that voice anywhere.." Dave takes me to the kitchen where my mother is making lasagna.  Waiiit, am I dreaming? She used to hate cooking. She puts the lasagna in the oven and comes running into my arms. After all this years she is still the same.  She has the figure everyone wants, with curves in all the right places. Beautiful wavy shoulder long dark brown hair and gorgeous green eyes. They shine like tiny green sapphires. There is little wrinkles around her eyes but other than that I wouldn't give her 39 years. She appears to be so much younger. "Hi Sweetie, how are you?" "You have become such a beautiful young lady." blurts my mother out. Is she for real? That's what she says after not seeing me for 5 years and not even coming to my graduation ceremony. Maybe if I pinch my arm I will wake up. As soon as I pinched myself Dave and my mother looked strangely at me. Like I am some sort of crazy woman. Damn.