When I came in I saw Bryanna and Reagan in the hallway. I looked at mom and saw tears brimming her eyes. Mom opened her arms towards me so Dad set me down. I rushed to her, needing her warmth.
"Finally." she murmured against my ear. "You came home."
"I'm sorry, mom." I whispered back.
"All is good. All is good, now that you are here." she answered.
"I missed you, mom." I said sincerely. I truly missed my family. After what happened between me and Ashton, I did not come home. No matter how they urged me to. I did not have the guts to face them then. I knew I should have listened to them but I was too stubborn, too blinded to do so.
I was wrong and I am willing to pay for my sins. That was why I made sure that I graduated from college and that I would land a job so that I can somehow face them. I know that they won't mind taking me in without anything in return but I just wanted to come home when I have tried my best to stand back up after falling. So that they will be proud of me somehow.
I turned and looked at the two people who were with me through my darkest hour. I can't help but say a prayer of gratitude that my family is well.
Reagan held out his arms for me and when I came to him gave me a bone crushing hug. He then held me at arms length, looked at me from head to toe and smirked.
"You are all grown now. Its good to know that you found some curves while you were busy running your own life. I remembered when you were as flat as a board. One used to think I had a brother and a sister instead of having two sisters." he chided.
"What he means to say is that you're more beautiful than the last time he saw you." Bryanna clarified for him while giving him an elbow in his stomach. "Babe." she said simply while looking at me with all the warmth from a life long friendship.
"Babe." I answered. All is well now. I am indeed home.
"So the babe is a she." Jeff said out loud. He turned red when he realized that he said it out loud. "Oh, its nothing. We always wondered who babe was and Helena would not tell us anything." he explained when he met my family's questioning eyes.
"Oh, where are our manners. My apologies." my mothered cooed. "These are Helena's siblings, Reagan and Bryanna. We adopted Helena when she was twelve."
"I am Edison Hunt and my friend Jefferson Park. It is a pleasure to meet all of you." Ed said while shaking mom's hands.
"We will be on our way, ma'am and sir. We really just wanted to make sure Helena comes home safely." Ed said politely. His demeanor is very different from what I was used to. Even in the office, he was not deferent to people in authority. But right now, he is treating my family as if we were royalty.
"We can't possibly allow you to drive home. It is almost midnight. Stay for the night. Or rather you can actually stay for the weekend. So that you can take Helena back to the city on Sunday." mom said, her eyes bright with some idea which made me nervous.
My dad just scowled at her. Obviously not wanting the guys to spend time with me. "I don't think that is a good idea, honey." dad started to object but was just brushed off.
"Oh, Noah don't be unreasonable. You 'can not' let these poor children drive back home. Not when they are tired from work and from dropping Helena home." she said. The emphasis on 'can not' was enough to still whatever objections dad had with the sudden arrangements.
"Hmmm." was the only thing dad can say. Dad had an iron fist when it comes to his business but his a putty when it came to the family especially when we are talking about mom. He just lets mom have her way. If what mom did fail, which doesn't happen really often, dad is there, ready to fix it.
I always dreamed of having the same relationship with my partner later on in life. But, I guess that will never happen. Only a few are blessed of being able to find their mate in this lifetime.
"That settles it. Bry was actually on the phone with Helena to tell her to come home. We never expected that she was on her way here. Now, my children are all here." she said happily. "I'm in a celebratory mood, so we will all have ice cream." she beamed.
Ed and Jeff were taken by surprise. Ice cream? What? Are we in kindergarten?
It was not just ice cream, but there was homemade pizza, mojos, fries, burritos and spicy quesadillas. Apparently, this family treats these as their comfort food. Good thing there were sliced watermelon, peaches and apples amidst these junk food.
I looked at both men, knowing that they like to eat healthy foods. I can see their shock when they saw what was on the table and the look of pure relief upon seeing the fruits. It almost made me laugh.
"Get use to it." Bry said as she passed both gentlemen who were gawking at the table. "Since she knows you, she would expect to have you both whenever Lena comes home." She peered at Ed, curiosity obvious in her blue eyes, "I wonder if you would survive." and then left to start feasting.
Reagan was friendly towards Jeff but guarded towards Edison. I think they can see that Ed not only treated me as a friend.
"You said you're Edison Hunt, right?" Reagan asked. He was seated across Ed.
Ed just nodded cautiously.
"Are you related to the Hunt's of the G & H Medical Group?" he asked again. I looked up in surprise. I know Ed was loaded but I never he was that rich.
"Yes, I am related to them." Ed answered truthfully.
"Some other time, Reagan. Interrogations have proper timing." mom said. Diffusing whatever tension that was brewing. "Right now, let us just eat and then take some rest."
And that was it. Everything went back to normal. I felt a sense of completion. Having both Ed and Jeff eating together with my family gave me a sense of completion. It was as if we were all destined to meet.