Page 3 of Jumping In

She smiles and grabs my hand to pull me inside. “Come on, I already have lunch ready, and the fridge is stocked with Dr. Pepper.”

I tug my hand free from hers, laughing. “Let me turn the Jeep off so we’re not wasting gas.”

I run back to the car, pulling the keys out of the ignition. My bags and boxes filling the trunk and backseat are practically screaming to be unpacked, but my stomach is screaming louder. Ignoring my luggage, I close the door and head inside after my mom.

A few hours later, I’m sitting on my bedroom floor buried in clothes. Mom is sitting next to me holding up various pieces of clothing and tossing them into piles based on my head nods.

“You really should’ve done this before you packed, Peanut,” she says as she tosses a pair of pants I haven’t worn since I put on the initial freshman fifteen in the giveaway pile. I shrug, continuing to fold and set aside the clothes I want to keep. After graduation, it was a mad dash to pack up theapartment I shared with two other girls and have it ready to turn in our keys within a week. Plus, there’s something about going through clothes in my childhood room with my mom that warms my heart. Man, I’ve missed being home.

My phone pings three times, and I look around my room, trying to locate it. Mom shakes her head with a chuckle and tosses another shirt into the giveaway pile before she uses my bed to help her up off the floor. She grabs my phone from somewhere on my bed and hands it to me.

“Here. Take some time to check those. I’ll be downstairs getting dinner ready before your father gets home.”

I smile up at her as she leaves my bedroom, and then I open my phone. Two new messages are in my group chat with my college roommates, checking in that they also made it home safely. My phone pings with another text that I tap into immediately.

Shannon:Girl, when were you gonna tell me you were home? I totally saw you drive by Hal’s earlier.

I laugh out loud.Busted. I knew I saw Hal’s door open and had a feeling she was in there. Shannon is still my best friend, despite spending the last four years apart, but our relationship has felt a little weird since I’ve been gone. I’m hoping we’ll be able to bridge the gap that’s grown between us now that I’m back home.

Me:Whoops!

Shannon:Yeah, whoops my ass! So when are we meeting by the creek?

Me:Funny you should ask. I was just thinking about when I can get out there to take some pictures. When are you free?

While I wait for her reply, I peek at the other message that came in. This one is in the “Quad Squad” chat, which includes Blake, Austin, Mac, and myself. Ever since Mac dropped out of school, it’s mostly been Blake and Austin sending memes back and forth with my occasional check-in. I can count on one hand the number of times Mac has engaged with the chat.

Blake:Heard you’re back home! When are we hanging out?

Boy, does word travel fast in this small town. I’m thankful for it though, because the gossip mill is how I stayed up-to-date with most of what was going on while I was away. Mom had updated me regularly on our weekly calls on all she heard, confirming a few times what I already knew from Blake and Austin, who are back and working on opening a restaurant in town. Blake has told me he enjoys cooking and, apparently, he’s good at it if the rumor mill is to be believed. I’m not sure what Austin’s role is going to be with the restaurant though. He’s always been the goofball of the bunch, but I love that they’re going into business together.

I wonder if they’ll be up for what I’m thinking and if maybe I can sweet talk Blake into finally letting me try some of his cooking. Shannon’s text pops up, and I glance at it before thumbing out a text back to the boys. It would be nice to see everyone at the same time if we can swing it.

Me:I mean it is Friday…

I’m hoping one of them will catch on to what I’m hinting at.

Blake:And tomorrow is Saturday?

Austin:Dude, she’s thinking a Saturday Grill and Chill!

I roll my eyes and chuckle at the name Austin has called our weekend hang outs by the creek, but he got where I was going. Maybe I can get some girl time with Shannon before the boys show up and then have them in one spot for a few hours. I move the conversation over to our big group chat aptly named “The Dream Team” and hash out the details with everyone at once. Not a peep from Mac in either chat, but I’m not surprised.

Looking around my room now bathed in a soft glow from the sunset, I realize Dad should be home soon. I sigh at all the unpacking I still need to do, but once I hear the garage door open, I abandon my clothes and head downstairs.

The pictures along the wall are a blur as I barrel down to the main floor. I hit the bottom of the stairwell, my hand squeaking on the wooden banister as I use it to propel my bodytoward the kitchen. The heavenly smell of garlic bread hits my nose as I enter. The house alarm beeps twice, and my dad pushes his way into the kitchen with his head of salt and pepper hair, looking down at his phone. He’s in his work suit and his briefcase is in his other hand. “Daddy!”

“Well, if it isn’t the future Miss Emmalynn Lawrence, attorney at law.” Dad looks up with a huge grin on his face. He sets his briefcase down and pockets his phone just as I step in front of him and wrap my arms around his waist.

“Okay, Dad, not just yet. I still need to get into law school and all that jazz, silly,” I say in a less joking manner than I meant, but he doesn’t notice. Truth be told, I’m not so sure about the whole law school thing anymore, but it’s always been Dad’s dream that I take over the family firm and I can’t just crush his dreams. I hug him tight, inhaling his smell of Polo cologne and leather and then let go so he can hug Mom too.

Mom’s standing at the island washing a head of lettuce as a pot of spaghetti boils behind her. The sauce bubbles up and I rush over to stir it so it doesn’t splatter all over the white granite countertop.

“How was your day?” Dad asks as he gives her a hug and a peck on top of her head. Mom and Dad exchange stories about their days and then Dad heads upstairs to change while I help Mom set the table.

“So, guys, I know it’s my first night back, but it is a Friday. Are we going to have our usual Friday movie night?” I ask as I fill my salad bowl and then reach for the garlic bread. We sit at the small walnut table in the kitchen nook rather thanthe formal dining room, as the cozy space is our preferred place to dine when it’s just the three of us.

My dad chuckles and Mom smiles her thousand-watt smile. “Of course, Peanut! I was hoping you’d be up for it and might have stocked up on some of your favorite popcorn toppings earlier this week.”

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