The Prince and the Frog

Coming Home

Lynn:

As I stepped a foot out of my car and onto the hard San Antonio gravel that led up to my parents home I looked up and starred at my former home in amazement.... It had not changed one bit. The white siding of the home was chipping away and the blue shutters were in definite need of a new paint coat but still it gave me a calming feeling of home, even though this was my first time back in over 8 years.... Maybe this wasn't a good idea

Before I even had a chance to decide to walk up to the front door or get back be hide the wheel of my 2013 white Mazda and drive away to a new town where no one knows my name or face the front door bursted open and out ran my favorite person in the world, my not so little 17 year old brother Georgie who I call Jelly Bean.

"Hey what are you doing just standing there? We are all inside waiting for ya!" He said while leaning down to give me a hug. When did he get so damn tall?

"Sorry I was just taking in everything. I've been gone for 8 years and you would think dad would make some changes on the house." I replied. Instead of responding he just smile and glanced at the house and gave a quick nod.

"So who is all here?" I quickly asked.

"The usual people... mom, dad, Sabrina and Natalee, Celeste and Andres and the babies."

Thank God mom didn't invite the entire family because then I know she would have invited him... I wasn't going to think about that right now, I'll deal with those demon thoughts another time.  For now I am going to enjoy catching up with my parents and siblings and my niece and nephew.

"All right Jelly Bean lets get this over with!" I smiled honestly.

Georgie just slugged his arm over my shoulder and led me up the steps to the house. I love how even though he is 17 years old now we still are close. Face-timing and talking on the phone once a week really scared me into thinking that we would lose that closeness but he still lets me call him Jelly Bean and I am proud to say we pick up were we left off. As we reach the front door I could hear everyone chattering and laughing... it felt right being back home... at least for now it did.

*****

Peter:

It was near the end of my shift at the Toyota plant and I still was not focusing. I had first started working here 3 years after I left the marines, which was 2 years after I broke her heart and mine. I am still trying to push the conversation I had with her mother on the phone out of my mind,

"She is coming home? When? How?" I could not keep in the word vomit that came out of my mouth.

"She will be driving down in a 2 weeks. She already put in her two week notice and her dad and myself got her an apartment. She has enough saved up to keep steady until she finds a job down here." She responded.

Driving? By herself? Is that really the safest idea? I thought to myself. I didn't dare tell Carmen my concerns over her daughter driving 18 hours alone from Chicago to San Antonio. It was no longer my place to be concerned about the well being of her daughter.

"We did try to force her to hire a moving company to drive her stuff down her and have her just fly down but she wanted to drive herself. You know how stubborn Lynn can be." Carmen stated answering my unspoken questions.

"Yeah," was all I could say.

It was quiet over the line for a few short second until Carmen spoke again. "You know mijo the week after she gets home it'll be her birthday and we are going to be throwing her a party. Maybe you can stop by with the kids."

"Do you really think that is the best idea? I doubt Lynn would want to see me." I responded quickly not trying to get my hopes up.

"Its been 8 years Peter, you both have moved on and are over it by now." Carmen replied neutral not really giving anything away.

I'm not sure why but that answer gutted me. I know one of the main reasons Lynn never once visited was because even though I broke her heart all those years ago I still remained close to her family especially her mother, and boy did Lynn not like that. She always tried to kick me out of her life but her family never did. I was grateful for that, even though I know it was not fair to her.

"Even if she does have a problem with you being there I'll take the fall and let her know I told you to come." Carmen added, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"I'll be there then. What time?" I answered.

"It'll be Friday, September 10 here at the house around 4 in the afternoon. We wanted to have a earlier barbecue  but she mentioned something about Sergio taking her out to breakfast for her birthday."

Sergio Lara... Lynn's supposedly best friend who was always there when we would be having a stupid fight. He always had the hot's for her but she always claimed they were only friend. Bull s**t.

"Oh thats great, listen Carmen I'll be there but I have to go I think I hear Carrie calling." I said quickly making up an excuse and hanging up before she could response. I knew for a fact she will be giving me a earful of that next time I see her, but I had to keep busy I was already seeing green. Lynn ain't even here yet and I'm already annoyed.

That conversation played on repeat in my head....