“There’s my favorite niece,” he shouted, pulling her into a tight hug.
Smiling, she hugged him back. “I’m your only niece,” she reminded him, which made him chuckle.
He winked. “As I said, you’re my favorite.”
When she pulled away, her aunt was right there, hugging her.
“It’s been too long, baby girl.”
Charley couldn’t argue. It had been a long time since she had been back home. God, she missed them.
“I know. But I’m here now.”
“I’m glad. We’ve missed you. Phone calls just aren’t the same as seeing you in person.”
“I’ve missed you guys, too,” Charley whispered as her emotions started to come to the surface.
“Are these your only bags?” Her uncle asked, pointing to the suitcase and backpack.
“Yep. I only packed enough for a few days. The rest of my stuff, along with my car, should be here in a few days.”
“Alright. Let’s get you home. Your lovely aunt here has been cooking up a storm all day in preparation for your arrival. Hop in the truck. I’ll get your bag.”
Charley smiled and slid into the back seat, placing her backpack on the seat next to her.
“What delicious food did you make?”Please be my favorite.
Aunt Bea turned in her seat to look back at her. She smiled. “What else would I make for my niece’s welcome home dinner?Shake-and-Bakepork chops, mashed potatoes, and green beans. And for dessert, chocolate mousse pie.”
Charley smiled widely and mentally fist-pumped.
As they pulled away from the airport, Charley sat back in the seat and watched the city roll past through the window. Even though she had only been gone a few years, the area had changed drastically. She noted that many trendy new restaurants now occupied buildings she remembered as mom-and-pop shops, not to mention the number of new buildings and subdivisions.
However, it warmed her heart to see a few businesses and restaurants she used to visit. Being back felt both familiar and foreign. It was like stepping into a memory she hadn’t visited in years.
“It’s grown a lot, huh?” Uncle Glen asked, catching her gaze in the rearview mirror.
Charley nodded. “It has. It’s still beautiful, though.”
“Wait till you see the neighborhood,” Aunt Bea said, twisting around in the seat. “You’ll recognize it, but there are some new faces, too. It’s a good mix.”
About fifteen minutes later, they turned onto the familiar tree-lined street where her aunt and uncle lived, and a wave of nostalgia hit her. Their pale green house stood just as she remembered. It was quaint and inviting, with its white picket fence and carefully tended rose bushes in large white pots outfront. The home was only a ten-minute drive to the beach, which she was looking forward to visiting.
Charley stepped out of the truck and looked around.
“It’s like time stood still,” she murmured.
Her aunt placed a hand on her shoulder. “Come on inside, sweetie. Your room upstairs is ready. Dinner will be ready shortly.”
Charley smiled and followed them inside, taking in the warm, familiar interior of the house. The creak of the floorboards, the smell of homemade bread lingering in the air, and then all the pictures of her and her brother scattered about the house. It all felt like a piece of her childhood waiting to welcome her back.
After getting settled into her temporary room and freshening up, Charley found herself at the dinner table. Aunt Bea hadn’t been kidding. She had made Charley’s favorite pork chops, buttery mashed potatoes, southern-style green beans, and her famous homemade rolls.
“So, Charley. Tell us more about this foundation,” Aunt Bea said as she passed the basket of bread to her. “Are you excited to get started?”
Charley set her fork down and wiped her mouth with her napkin. “I am. It is such an incredible organization. There’s so much potential to help people, especially those waiting in the backlog of scheduling to get into the VA. Alex really created something wonderful and much needed for veterans, military personnel, and their families. It’s not all medical. The Foundation also assists families who are struggling financially. Just this past Christmas, Alex was able to give Christmas to twenty-two military families.”
Aunt Bea smiled. “She seems like a lovely woman.”
