had been over two years since she’d been home. Her mother convinced her that so much had happened, Jamie wouldn’t even be a topic of conversation. Stella had convinced herself that even if Jamie’s name came up, she could handle it now. Patrick was watching Cooper while she was gone.
Making her way outside, she scanned the pick-up/drop-off lanes for her mother’s maroon Mercedes. Her mother pulled up to the curb. Jumping out, she ran around the front of the car. Embracing Stella, Miranda Murphy held onto her, clutching her tightly, for what seemed like an eternity to Stella. Stella interrupted, “Mom?”
Her mother looked perfect, as usual. Her stylish bob was shiny and had recently been dyed back to its natural color, black. She was on trend with her skinny jeans, riding boots, and black turtleneck sweater. The only exception being the tears streaming down her face. “I’m so ecstatic to see you. I’ve wanted to hug you for two years. Thank you, Stella. Thank you for coming home.”
Stella knew that her self-imposed exile from the state of Georgia had been hard on her parents, but she really didn’t know how hard until she saw her mother’s face. “I’m glad I was able to swing it this year,” she said, trying to keep it casual.
“Let’s put your bags in the back, I can’t wait to hear all about what has been going on. I know this year you’ve been so busy, but you really should call me more often.” They loaded her bags in the back and got in the car. The ride to downtown Norcross was about forty-five minutes due to her mother’s lead foot and the surprising lack of the typical Atlanta traffic. Her mother talked the entire way.
Stella’s dad was at the house when they arrived, he lifted her up off her feet a bit when he hugged her. “Baby girl,” he said.
“Good to see you too, Dad.” Stella said, grabbing her bag and making her way further into the house. “The house looks great.”
“Thanks, we’ve been working on all the flowers. Your dad’s been planting almost every weekend. It’s his new hobby.” Miranda put her arm on her husband’s shoulder, patting him teasingly.
“Gardening?” Stella looked at her dad with an eyebrow raised.
“Whatever,” he waved her off, changing the subject. “You want something to drink?”
“Of course.” Stella answered as she walked up the stairs to her designated guest room. Her parents had moved into this house after Stella left for college, so she didn’t really have a room there that felt like hers.
She walked into the soft sage-green room where she usually stayed. There were photos on the bookcases she’d forgotten were there. She picked up a wooden frame with a picture of her and Jamie, smiling and in love, showing off Stella’s engagement ring. She frowned and put it down. Fear spread through her stomach and she felt extremely hot all of a sudden. Could she do this? She walked around the bed to the pictures of things that had happened in the last two years: cousins’ weddings and baby showers. She’d ignored all of these family events and gatherings. Now she felt a little guilty.
Stella and her mother got up early on Thanksgiving Day and turned on music, made mimosas, and started cooking. They made the turkey, dressing, mac & cheese, and about ten other casserole-type dishes. Her extended family started arriving around 11:00 and lunch was set for 1:00. Everyone seemed sincerely happy and excited to see her. No one mentioned Jamie’s name, just that they had all missed her since she’d left for law school.
The only tense moment occurred when one of her favorite cousins’ girlfriend pointed at her ring and said, “I didn’t know you were engaged.” The entire room fell silent, waiting to see if Stella would break. She responded that she wasn’t engaged, then asked her cousin when he was going to propose, sending the conversation in a totally different direction. There was news of new babies, new husbands, and new
Making her way outside, she scanned the pick-up/drop-off lanes for her mother’s maroon Mercedes. Her mother pulled up to the curb. Jumping out, she ran around the front of the car. Embracing Stella, Miranda Murphy held onto her, clutching her tightly, for what seemed like an eternity to Stella. Stella interrupted, “Mom?”
Her mother looked perfect, as usual. Her stylish bob was shiny and had recently been dyed back to its natural color, black. She was on trend with her skinny jeans, riding boots, and black turtleneck sweater. The only exception being the tears streaming down her face. “I’m so ecstatic to see you. I’ve wanted to hug you for two years. Thank you, Stella. Thank you for coming home.”
Stella knew that her self-imposed exile from the state of Georgia had been hard on her parents, but she really didn’t know how hard until she saw her mother’s face. “I’m glad I was able to swing it this year,” she said, trying to keep it casual.
“Let’s put your bags in the back, I can’t wait to hear all about what has been going on. I know this year you’ve been so busy, but you really should call me more often.” They loaded her bags in the back and got in the car. The ride to downtown Norcross was about forty-five minutes due to her mother’s lead foot and the surprising lack of the typical Atlanta traffic. Her mother talked the entire way.
Stella’s dad was at the house when they arrived, he lifted her up off her feet a bit when he hugged her. “Baby girl,” he said.
“Good to see you too, Dad.” Stella said, grabbing her bag and making her way further into the house. “The house looks great.”
“Thanks, we’ve been working on all the flowers. Your dad’s been planting almost every weekend. It’s his new hobby.” Miranda put her arm on her husband’s shoulder, patting him teasingly.
“Gardening?” Stella looked at her dad with an eyebrow raised.
“Whatever,” he waved her off, changing the subject. “You want something to drink?”
“Of course.” Stella answered as she walked up the stairs to her designated guest room. Her parents had moved into this house after Stella left for college, so she didn’t really have a room there that felt like hers.
She walked into the soft sage-green room where she usually stayed. There were photos on the bookcases she’d forgotten were there. She picked up a wooden frame with a picture of her and Jamie, smiling and in love, showing off Stella’s engagement ring. She frowned and put it down. Fear spread through her stomach and she felt extremely hot all of a sudden. Could she do this? She walked around the bed to the pictures of things that had happened in the last two years: cousins’ weddings and baby showers. She’d ignored all of these family events and gatherings. Now she felt a little guilty.
Stella and her mother got up early on Thanksgiving Day and turned on music, made mimosas, and started cooking. They made the turkey, dressing, mac & cheese, and about ten other casserole-type dishes. Her extended family started arriving around 11:00 and lunch was set for 1:00. Everyone seemed sincerely happy and excited to see her. No one mentioned Jamie’s name, just that they had all missed her since she’d left for law school.
The only tense moment occurred when one of her favorite cousins’ girlfriend pointed at her ring and said, “I didn’t know you were engaged.” The entire room fell silent, waiting to see if Stella would break. She responded that she wasn’t engaged, then asked her cousin when he was going to propose, sending the conversation in a totally different direction. There was news of new babies, new husbands, and new
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