Page 108 of Complete Me
The door to my parents’ house opens in front of us while Kinsey and I stand in the center of the small driveway, my arms wrapped tightly around her. My heart pounds in my chest as the front door opens and falls closed.
My mom stands in the doorway with her hand clasped over her mouth, looking every bit stunned, as she has the right to be. Emotion slams into me at the sight of her. Lena looked so much like her that they could have been twins. My mom’s hair is still dark, beautiful silver greys coming in like highlights. She has the same green eyes Lena and I do, and I wonder what it’s like for her to look in the mirror, if she sees her beautiful daughter looking back at her. I know I see Lena every day in myself.
While we’ve spoken over the last year, I haven’t been to see them since before they left Amberwood. The weight of my decisions, the silence, the guilt, the pain of what we all lost squeezes my heart in a vise grip as I look at her.
“Ohmygod! Reid!” my mom gasps from the doorway.
“Hey, Mom,” I reply, walking toward her with shaking legs as she rushes down the steps and wraps me in a hug that pulls all the emotion I was holding at bay to the surface. Her familiar, comforting scent engulfs me, forcing the guilt to rush through my veins. She clasps my face in her palms, her eyes roaming all over my face like she’s trying to re-memorize my features, as if she’s looking for everything she’s missed. I can’t imagine her pain, and she felt it all without me to mourn with. Tears spill over my eyes as I pull her into another hug.
“I’m so sorry I haven’t been here.”
“Don’t you dare. Don’t apologize.”
“But I am, though. I’m sorry I’ve spent so much time away, it was too . . . difficult to be with you.”
“My sweet baby boy, I understand. We all grieve in different ways, and while I wanted to hold you tight through it, I’ve always understood your need to process things on your own and in your own way. She was your best friend as well as your sister. You loved her more than anything.”
It’s strange hearing her talk in past tense. Two years ago, my parents petitioned to have my sister declared dead. After nearly eight years of no updates on her whereabouts, no communication, and no new leads, it was granted. While I know hope will always live in their hearts, I at least know they’ve gotten some type of closure without the details that would surely break them if they knew.
“I’m so glad you’re here. This is the best surprise.”
“I’m sorry we didn’t call first.”
“We! My gosh, I’m so sorry.”
“Mom, this is Kinsey, she’s . . .” Shit. What is she? I suddenly can’t think of a word strong enough to describe what she is to me. “The love of my life,” I finally settle on. My mom’s face beams with happiness and maternal pride.
“Kinsey, it’s so nice to meet you. Please, come inside. Reid, your father is in the kitchen.”
We follow my mom inside, my nerves settling slightly as Kinsey reaches for my hand, giving it a strong squeeze and reminding me that I’m not alone. That she’s here with me.
We walk into their new home, and I don’t recognize a single thing except for their signature warm scent. It’s sad but also refreshing. One of the reasons I avoided visiting them was that every time I stepped into their home in Amberwood, it was like walking into a time capsule where life completely stopped. Lena’s presence was everywhere. Her things, her scent—even if it was all in my head. It was a painful reminder that I couldn’t bear anymore.
“What brings you here?”
“I miss you.” The words are out of my mouth before I have time to think about them.
“We’ve missed you, Reid.”
Footsteps get louder and louder as we stand in the entryway, removing our shoes, and those nerves kick up, making my palms sweaty.
“Son?”
I turn at the sound of the voice, my father standing at the edge of the room.
“Hi, Dad.”
He’s about my height and looks healthy and in shape, even if I can see the weight of how life turned for him behind his eyes. He takes three large strides in my direction, his arms pulling me into a huge hug.
“Welcome home, son. You look good.”
“Thanks, Dad. You do, too. The house is beautiful, I’m happy for you two.”
“It’s been a nice pace of living, we’re enjoying being in the city. Amberwood was just too . . . remote.”
“Yeah, I get that.”
The four of us move into the living room, my mom serving us all water and lemonade to cool off from the blazing heat outside. We catch up on their jobs, how they both plan on retiring next year, how they’ve taken up boating. I fill them in on my studio, how Kinsey and I met, and how we just moved in together. We leave out the evil parts and stick to the safe topics and our life in Aspen Ridge. They don’t ask about the club, or marriage, or children . . . even though based on the way my mom’s eyes keep bouncing between Kinsey and me, I can tell she wants to. Once Lena and I became legal adults, she would talk about how she couldn’t wait for us to settle down and give her grandchildren.
