Back Home To You

Coming Home

MORGAN

   I was in my office, sketching the design for the client, when all of a sudden Cara’s voice came on the phone.

   “You have a call on line one, Morgan,” she said before I picked up the phone to take the call.

  “This is Morgan Williams, how can I help you?” I greeted the person on the other line.

   “Hi, Morgan. This is your dad.” His voice was like silk. Deep but smooth. I was in shock, trying to keep my tears at bay and I couldn’t even say a word.

   He was probably thinking I didn’t want to talk to him. I never did call him back that day, and was sure that’s the reason why he called again. 

   It was so good to hear him after fifteen years, but he sounded sad and worried and I felt my heart beat fast.

   “How are you, little freckles?” he asked, pulling me out of my shock.

   “Hi, Dad! I’m so glad to hear your voice. To what do I owe this call?” I said, full of joy just hearing him call me little freckles after so many years. 

   “Your sister is sick, she needs a bone marrow transplant. I didn’t want to call you because I don’t want you to think this was the only reason for the call,” he said. I knew it, this was not a happy call.

   “No, Dad. I would never think that. It’s so nice to hear your voice after so many years.”  

   “Oh my little freckles, I’ve missed you! Why did you lose contact with us? I had to hire a private investigator to find you,” he replied.

   So that’s how he found out where I was. To be honest, I was glad he did. 

   “Sweetheart, your sister is very ill. And you’re the only one that might save her. She told me to call you,” he said.

   “Dad, I’m in the middle of an important sale. I can’t just leave,” I mentioned, but the thought of my sister dying came to me and I was not going to be responsible if anything happened to her, “You know what? I’ll be there. I’ll try to make it there quick.” 

   I finally finished my design, gave it to Cara and put her in charge of the clients before I hurried to my apartment to pack. Marco was there, working on his computer. When he saw me rush in, he followed me around the room.

   “Where are you going, baby?”

   “I’m going back home. My sister is ill and she needs me,” I replied, taking a luggage out of the closet.

   “Your sister? The one you haven’t seen in fifteen years?” he asked, his voice sounding a bit rude, but I decided to ignore it.

   I nodded and finished packing, not wasting any time as I said goodbye to him and left the apartment before driving off in my Mercedes. I decided to drive, I knew it would take longer but I really wanted to enjoy the landscape and the ride while I put my thoughts together.

   I would see my family again, and it made me nervous.

   I drove for almost twelve hours, stopping by occasionally to eat and rest. When I finally made it home, I got out of the car and looked at the place. 

   Memories came flooding like crazy. I was frozen in place, not being able to move at all. Tears threatened to roll down my cheeks as a horse neighed, pulling me out of my thoughts. I quickly got in the car, scared of it. 

   After Madison’s accident, I developed a phobia of horses. I wouldn’t get near them at all and I guess you grow up, but can’t get over some things. As I sat there, someone approached my car and knocked on the window, making me jump.

   “Hey miss, you don’t look like you’re from around here,” a deep voice said. 

   I turned my head around to face the window and his eyes were open wide in surprise.

   “Morgan? Is that really you?” he asked.

   “Yes, do I know you?” I replied, getting out of the car. He was in shock to see that I didn’t remember him, and to be honest, I felt bad, but I couldn’t make out who he was. All I knew is that he was handsome. His black hair and deep blue eyes had me hypnotized, not to mention the stubble on his jaw was tempting me to rub my face on his face.

   “It’s me, Oliver,” he smiled. Wow, it was really him. My best friend.

   “It really is you. I can’t believe this, you’re still here,” I mentioned, not realizing what I said. 

   “What’s wrong with me still being here?” he frowned.

   “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. I just thought you would follow your dreams as an engineer. You told me you would leave town and pursue it.”

   He chuckled again, and I felt stupid.

   “Well, things don’t always go as we planned, unfortunate events happened that kept me from pursuing my dreams.”

   It was really sad to hear he couldn’t do what he wanted to do so much, and I hoped he did one day.

   Oliver led me into the house, and I looked around. Nothing has changed, everything was in the same place. I remembered the moments we spent together at that table eating our meals and joking around with my parents and Madison. A big smile made its way to my lips. Oh, how I loved those moments. 

   I walked to my old bedroom and decided to put my luggage down. As I explored every single corner, I realized it was also the same. My fiddle was sitting in a corner, my music competition trophies in my dresser. 

   Even my bed was the same. Good thing I had a big bed back then, and I could see the sheets were changed to a more appropriate one for an adult. I sat down and looked around. Who would have thought that I would be back here?

   I heard noises downstairs and went to check it out. As I walked down the stairs, I saw Oliver talking with another man whose voice I could recognize perfectly. 

   “Dad,” I whispered, trying to stay calm.

   He turned around to look at me with a faint smile. He really had aged. Suffering from loneliness must have done that to him. 

   Dad just stood there, not sure what to do. For a good minute, he would just stare at me until I finally walked over and hugged him. 

   We both cried like little kids. I have really missed my father and I couldn’t let go of him. Fifteen years taken away from me by my mother, and I didn’t want to waste any minute. 

   I wanted to stay with him like this forever. We pulled away before he wiped the tears from my cheeks. 

    “Oh, my little freckles. You’re back. I’ve missed you, my life was not complete without you by our side,” he said, tears in his eyes. We hugged again for a longer time. 

   After we caught up, he told Oliver to take me to the hospital to see my sister. He had some errands to run for the ranch, so I grabbed a ride with him.

   I was excited and nervous at the same time. I was going to see her again. After getting in Oliver’s truck, we drove off.  

   It was a quiet ride until Oliver started the conversation. 

   “So, how’s life been? I heard you were a successful businesswoman.”

   “Life’s going good. I have a great career, a nice condo and a loving fiancé,” I mentioned, noticing a little frown on his face, but I said nothing. 

   “I’m really happy for you, you deserve it,” he lied, I knew he wasn’t happy. Especially when I mentioned the fiancé part. 

   “Thank you, I worked hard for it. After mom passed away, it was just me,” I said.

   Mom was brought back home to be buried but I couldn’t make it to her burial since I was busy with everything back in the city. 

   “I was expecting to see you at your mom’s burial,” he mentioned. 

   “I know, we had a quick funeral back in Boston. That’s where I said my last goodbye. Maybe I can stop by one of these days and visit her at the cemetery,” I sighed. We kept talking on the way to the hospital, catching up on a whole lot of things until we got there. It was nice to see him again.