All Roads Lead Home by Mary Wasowski

expected. Did you sleep? You sure look like you’ve been cooking up enough food here for an army. Cinnamon rolls too? Wendy, we can’t possibly eat all of this.”
    “No, but our guests will.” Bam! Reality check.
    “Wendy, what did you do?”
    “What’s with the interrogation? You are a long way from New York and a courtroom. I simply invited your parents over for breakfast, which they happily said yes to.”
    “Do they know I’m here? Wendy...” I said very slowly.
    “Yes. Of course they do, I told you that already. Times a wasting! You should shower and dress. I put out some fresh towels for you. Go on now, hop to it.”
    “I can’t believe you. Did you not believe me last night? I said I would call them today.”
    “Well, now you don’t have to, because in ten minutes they will be here. Clock is ticking, Tumbleweed. Better take that shower now.”
    I was beyond angry with her. How much more could I take in a twenty four hour span? First her call, then the letter, a flight home, and now my parents? Dammit! I feel sick to my stomach. This was a mistake. I feel emotionally blackmailed not only by Wendy, but Jamie too.
    I stripped out of my robe and felt like drowning myself under the water. I foolishly allowed my heart and memories to lead me here. It’s too late to worry about it now. I’m here and might as well face the past they all so desperately want me to do.
    First things first, I wanted to see what Roxy packed for me. Yes, she over packed, but gave me exactly what I needed. I don’t know how she found my favorite jeans, but I was so happy I have them with me. These jeans were so soft, I was surprised they still had material to them. The right knee had a hole but frayed with denim. They fit me like a glove, and I matched them up with my white cotton tee and red cowboy boots. I couldn’t even remember the last time I dressed so casual before. I dried my long hair and gave myself a loose braid. A little make-up, and I was good to go.
    I was still deciding how angry I was at Wendy, when I heard whispered voices coming from the kitchen. As best as I could manage, I stayed out of sight to listen. I knew this was an invasion of Wendy’s privacy, but since she lacked the faith in me to call my parents, I felt this was an even exchange.
    I heard my mother’s voice.
    “Wendy, how does she seem? I can’t imagine she’s all too happy with you right now.”
    “Connie, you can’t go back and second guess us now. I made a promise a long time ago to help that girl when the time was right. Well, this is that time. She may think she’s happy living in that big city on her own, but I’m not convinced. Her life is empty. It’s high time for that beautiful girl upstairs to fix what’s broken in her life, and that starts today.”
    WTH! My life is not empty. I have a thriving career. I live in a beautiful apartment which in fact I paid for all on my own. And I have two amazing best friends. How can Wendy tell my parents that my life is empty? God! I feel sick.
    I continued to listen as I heard my father interrupt my mother and Wendy.
    “Wendy, I know my daughter. She may be back home where we all feel she belongs, but I also know she’s happy in New York and no longer considers Wyoming her home. It’s her birthplace, not home.”
    “Hush now, Brock!” Wendy said. “You’re wrong, both of you. You never forget your home. She has forever roots here in Wyoming. This is the one place she will always come back to, no matter what. We all know what drove her away, but now she has a chance to right that mistake. That girl needs a wake-up call, and we three are going to be the ones that give it to her. I know her just as well as you do, maybe even better. I’m sorry, Connie, but I do, and I love her with all of my heart. We have to try to get through to her, and if we fail, then we fail, but at least I will know I did everything I could to keep my promise to your son. Now, enough of this. She’s going to be