Chapter 43

Ray

A few days after the fight, I flew home. It was night time and the lights were on inside. The street in front of my house was empty. No cop cars. No news cameras. They probably figured out that I wasn’t around there anymore and split. It was finally time to come back.

I dropped slowly into the backyard, next to our pool, and hesitantly approached the back door. I couldn’t see anyone inside; Mom must be upstairs or something. I took a deep breath, telling myself that I needed to do this, and opened the door.

I walked into the kitchen and paused. It had been over a week since I’d been home, and I hadn’t realized just how much I’d missed it until now. The smell of lavender brought back a thousand memories, most of them good. Most of them involved me with a football in my hand; I’d always had one with me just to toss around. I smiled. How things have changed.

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Mom entered the kitchen. She gasped when she saw me. We both looked at each other for a while.

I saw her eyes scan over my right arm in a sling, but I couldn’t see any worry or judgement behind them. I was reminded just how petite my mom was, especially compared to how big my dad was. She barely came up to my shoulder. Mom’s face remained expressionless. She didn’t say anything but looked like she wanted to.

The silence continued for a while—we were both waiting for the other to speak, but I kept searching for the right words. I took a deep breath, trying to keep my emotions in check.

“Mom…” I said softly.

That was all it took to bring down her walls. Tears came freely. “Oh, son…” she said as she quickly bridged the gap between the two of us and pulled me into a warm embrace, minding my broken arm.

I tried to hold back the tears but was unsuccessful. I hugged her back. I had missed my mom. There, I admitted it. I missed her. And I’d missed home. Being Draco had its few moments in the sun, but nothing beat the comfort and peace of family and home.

“Mom,” I said. “I’m so sorry… I’m… so sorry.”

“It’s okay, son,” she said. “It’s okay. You’re home now.”

I took a deep breath, the emotions taking over. “Yeah…. I’m home.”