“Callaway family, this is your captain speaking. We have now safely landed at Los Angeles International Airport in sunny Los Angeles, California. Please remain seated with your seat belts fastened until the aircraft comes to a complete stop. We wish you a pleasant day. Thank you.”
I let the captain’s comment slide about us being the Callaway family and focus on the fact that we’re finally here.
Los Angeles, California: my hometown. The place where it all started.
After a couple of minutes, the signal for the seat belts turns off and we grab all our stuff. I wave goodbye to the captain and the niceflight attendant, making sure to leave as soon as possible when I overhear Josh mentioning he was going to talk to the captain about his overall performance.
Poor guy.
Locating my purple suitcase, I extend the handle, trying to hide my grin as Mom pulls Josh away from the captain while she apologizes profusely. I roll my shoulders and neck, feeling a satisfying pop, and walk to the rental car agencies inside the airport. I didn’t think Los Angeles could get even more stereotypical or cliché than it already was. Yet, as far as the eye can see, there are people with bad fake tans, botched dye jobs, and knock-off brands of luggage.
While we wait for our car, some of the people throw looks my way. I roll my eyes at the superficiality. I exhaust myself on social media until the car finally arrives. Josh complains for a bit about how it wasn’t the exact model he wanted while Mom tells him that at least we have some mode of transportation. Nerves come over me as I slide in the new car, but with deep breaths, I calm down. Josh sets up the GPS, a smile gracing his face as the new house I’ve yet to see is only forty minutes away, and I hide a laugh at that.
A multitude of horns blare at us and several groans come from Josh. That’s right, the infamous Los Angeles traffic. We’ve left the airport, and our GPS is already racking up minutes like points in a video game.
“Are you serious? This added a whole hour to our ETA.” Mom rubs her hand on his arm, and he sighs as he puts the car in park since no one seems to be moving. I look back to my message thread with Jamie, a giant heart bouncing on my screen. I smile at that sense of normalcy, even if I’m still freaking out. Looking out the window at the fancy cars, the huge skyscrapers ... I’m filled with something I’ve missed. This sense of nostalgia. Thankfully, we make it out of the heart of LA, taking the back roads to the suburbs.
I roll my eyes as we turn right into what looks like an expensive community. There’s a bright sign that reads Crystal Pines scrawled in big cursive letters. A man wearing a bulletproof vest, taller than anyone I’ve seen, instructs Josh to roll down his window, and I takeout an earbud. He and Mom pass over their IDs, and he takes them, giving them a curt nod in appreciation.
The guard leaves while Josh murmurs, “I hope this isn’t how it’ll be every time we come home.”
The tall security guard comes back and flashes a tight smile. “You weren’t in the system. You should be fine now, Mr. Callaway, and I’ve added you as a resident as well.”
Mom smiles at the guard. “Thank you.” Something crosses his face too fast for me to perceive. His mouth even quirks up on the side before it rapidly drops. He taps the window’s weatherstripping twice to signal we’re good to go as the gates open. Josh zooms in while Mom turns around and squeals quietly. We pass by more and more houses until we get to a nice cul-de-sac where Josh slows down in front of one on the right.
Opening the car door, I look up at the two-story home. There are more windows than I can count, each framed with black shutters. The door looks like it weighs a hundred pounds, the light brown going well with the house’s features. My jaw drops and Mom moves next to me, closing my mouth and snickering slightly. I mean, I knew that the company gave him a stipend and that he would pick the nicest house ...
I just didn’t think it would bethisnice.
Josh stands next to Mom, and she looks up at him, a dreamy expression on her face. He stares at the house with pride. “Beautiful.” They walk toward it while I trail behind. It’s wild how much the company covered for us to even get this house on such short notice. Obviously, Josh and Mom pooled money together for the closing costs, but still, the place is massive. I look at the other houses around us.
My heart stills when I see a familiar-colored Jeep parked in the driveway across from our new home. The childhood memories with that car bombard my mind. Liam and me in the back seat while his mom, Ana, would drive us to and fro.
No, it can’t be. Someone else must’ve had their car painted that color. Fuchsia is pretty common, isn’t it?
Dread fills my footsteps, and I can’t stop myself from looking back and remembering that same shade. She couldn’t be here. They already have a house in another part of town. I sigh to myself, thinking the jet lag is getting to me, and wrap my arm around Mom’s shoulders.
As soon as we walk in, my jaw drops once again. There are three chandeliers in the main hallway and an elegant, clear-glass stairway with a huge space that I assume is the living room.
Wow, Jamie would love this.
My heart deflates at the thought, and I’m slightly emotional again. But for some reason, I have this feeling that this time it’ll be different. I mean, we’re both adults, so we’re more than capable of visiting each other. It’s just weird not having her close by; now it’s more like two thousand miles.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Josh says. “Our stuff will be here next week, but I’m gonna go buy some pullout couches and other things in the meantime. You guys need anything specific, Kate?”
Mom shakes her head and he glances at me. I shake my head too and he walks off, swinging his keys around his pointer finger. Curiosity getting the better of me, I start to walk down the halls while Mom goes outside, probably to get the luggage we left in the car. Back home, my room was upstairs, but now I want to switch it up. Looking around, I find there’s only one bedroom on the first floor, down the hall. It’s huge, displaying a large window and an expansive view of the neighborhood. It also has a sliding door which seems to lead to the backyard that has direct access to the pool and jacuzzi.
Midnight swims, here I come.
Deciding on this room, I imagine all my furniture, and I can almost see how I’m going to decorate. I start to get a little excited, but I almost feel guilty for that. I didn’t want to leave Philly, or Jamie, behind, especially knowing she doesn’t have many people besides me and some of her coworkers she’s closer with. Thing is, there was nothing left for me in Philly. Granted, we could’ve moved anywhere in America, but maybe it’s a sign that I need to be here right now.
I’m not that gullible little girl anymore. I’ve grown and I know how crappy it feels when someone forgets about you. So, I’m going to do better with Jamie. Even if she stops talking to me, I’ll try and try until I know I’ve given it my all. Sighing, I walk back out, finding Mom still looking at the house in what looks like awe.
“You okay, Mom?” Hugging her from the back, she melts into me and gives me a slight squeeze.
“Yeah, just happy.” She turns, looking at me. “For the longest time, I thought it was gonna be just you and me, but with Josh, I can really see myself being happy with him.” Her eyes fill more and more as she talks about Josh, and I smile at seeing how joyful she looks. Her phone buzzes after a bit, and we both giggle when Josh sends pictures of two weird-looking futons. “I’m gonna be upstairs on the phone.” She turns around before looking back. “Anything you need, let me know, okay, honey?”
Nodding, I go to the foyer—cannot believe I’m saying that—and grab my suitcase.
