Page 7 of Christian Clause

Tears glisten in my eyes when I see Debra waiting for me at the airport. All the fatigue from the flight flees from my body the instant she smiles at me.

Hurrying forward, I reach her and she throws her arms around me. My bags hit the ground as I return the hug. Suddenly, tears pour down my face. Hugging my sister reminds me of the time I used to come home into my mom’s embrace. It feels as if she’s the one I’m hugging.

You don’t come home often enough, my mom used to say.

Sniffling, I pull back from Debra's arms. Tears also run down her face. We smile through our tears.

“I needed that,” I tell her.

“Me, too,” she replies with a small laugh.

Trying to contain my emotions, I say, “I’ve missed you.”

She flips back her weave and says, “Yeah. I have that effect on people.”

A soft gurgle of laughter bursts from my throat. Gosh, how I have missed her.

She lifts my hands and takes a step back to look at me.

“Girl, I swear every time I see you, you always look better than the last time.”

Warmth spreads through me at her words. Debra always knew how to make me feel special. I know that I look a wreck with all I went through in Georgia, but my sister will never tell me that. Instead, she’ll make me feel like a beauty queen.

I laugh again. “Thank you. You’re not looking bad yourself.”

She gives me an incredulous look and says, “Girl, please don’t get me started. Between Ray and Aria, I don’t know who drives me crazy more.”

It feels so good to see her again; all I can do is laugh. She dips a little to carry my bag while I carry the other. Holding hands, we walk out of the airport to where she parked the sedan.

A chill runs through me and I’m not surprised. It’s Colorado, after all, in winter. Debra and I place my bags in the car's boot and we get into the car. My sister pauses for a moment to give me a fond smile.

“I still can’t believe you’re here.”

Returning her smile, I say, “Me neither.”

She starts the car and drives into the busy traffic. The car eats up the distance as we drive away from the small airport. My eyes roam hungrily all over the place.

Over the years, from being a small picturesque town with a few inhabitants, Cedar Crest has grown into a big town. When I was growing up here, we used to go to Colorado Springs for things that we couldn’t find in Cedar Crest. But as Debra drives down the interstate towards home, I see that things have changed even more. The town has developed even more since the last time I visited years ago.

I can see that they have extended the shopping mall. More buildings house spas, cafes, small businesses, and even a bigger amusement park for kids. I have to say that I’m quite impressed and pleased. Even though it’s just two days to Thanksgiving, houses and shops are decorated with Christmas lights and decorations. Christmas carols blare from loudspeakers.

Seeing children playing around in the snow in front of their houses as Debra turns into our street brings back nostalgic memories. Cedar Crest always started celebrating Christmas early. I’m glad to see that tradition hasn’t changed. Sometimes, I like to think it’s because the snow falls there abundantly throughout the fall and winter months. I recall my childhood with a wistful smile and how Christmas used to be my favorite time of the year. Gigantic mountains surround the town, which serves as some sort of cocoon.

“A lot has changed, I must say,” I mention as my eyes roam the streets.

Unlike the busy streets of Atlanta, Cedar Crest is a peaceful place to live in. Although I don’t like the weather because it’s mostly cold with a paltry amount of sunshine, I like the serenity that the town offers.

“It sure has,” Debra replies as she pulls up in front of the house.

A thick knot forms in my throat as I stare at the house I grew up in. I wait for my mom to come out of the house with arms outstretched, with my dad standing behind her with a loving smile. When they don’t, tears sting my eyes.

I miss you, Mom and Dad.

As if Debra knows what’s going through my mind, she reaches out and clasps my hand with a warm smile on her face.

“They’re in a better place,” she says and opens the car door.

I nod and let myself out of the car into the snow-covered driveway. I gaze at the one-storied structure with a fond smile. Memories flood my mind as my eyes shift to my bedroom window. I remember sneaking out of the window to go to a party. It wasn’t surprising that I fell and sprained my ankle. I ended up not going to the party, had a sprained ankle, and was also grounded by my mom.

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