Lukas insists that he drive Adelyn home but she refuses, making up something about needing to go to the laundromat before she heads home. Sandra was feeling incredibly anxious about going home. She questions 'Will it be how I remember it, or where I remember it for that matter?' she looks out the window deep in thought until the car comes to a stop. The change in pace jolts her back to the present. Now her eyes adjust, seeing a modest two story home, she and her companion make their way down the driveway and enter the house. Immediately an uproar of "Surprise!" and "Congratulations!" assault her ears. The house seems filled with guests, some she knew and some she didn't. Lukas gently pushed her through the house to the middle of the crowd, releasing her for a drink and a thick slice of pizza. She looks back thinking 'Traitor' with a squinty eye. His response was simply a shrug as he held up the fresh pizza and soda in his hands. The crowd surrounding her all seemingly talking at once trying to 'catch up with her.' All she had time for was a quick greeting before the next person interjects themselves into the conversation. Some offering hugs and others offering a raised red plastic cup in acknowledgment. Sandra was so overwhelmed with the crowd that she hardly notices the 'Welcome Home' banner pinned to the wall. Finally Margret makes her way through the crowd and stands before Sandra. She hands her a gift.
"You really shouldn't have" her tone full of embarrassment as all eyes are on her.
"Nonsense, you've missed so much this past year and I need to make up for all of it." Margret smiles warmly.
Sandra unwraps the smallish gift, first removing the colored paper from the decorative plastic bag. Inside was a tiny box, she pulled it out of the bag and lifted the lid revealing a key fob.
"This is too much, I can't accept this." Sandra attempts to hand it back to her mother.
"I insist honey" Margret pushes the key back to her "Besides you needed a new car anyways."
"Thank you mother. This really is too much." Sandra hugs her mother tightly. "Is this why I didn't see you when I came in?"
"That.. uh was another matter, nothing to bother with I assure you." Margret's tone seemed reassuring yet suspicious.
Sandra notes the odd intonation in her mothers voice and decides now is not the best time to question her. Instead she smiles and places the key fob in her pocket, so not to lose it. Margret's gift seemed to inspire the rest of the company into presenting what they have brought as well. One by one Sandra received trinkets and doodads, sweaters and soft plush blankets, several forms of art supplies from coworkers, and 'Welcome Home' cards galore. Before she knew it she was in a pile of papers and wrappings, all a different color and shape. Some had writing that says "Happy Birthday" others "Merry Christmas", a few sheepish glances of those who knowingly reused old wrapping papers. Sandra thanks each and every one as they come, secretly hoping that there wouldn't be anymore presents. She wasn't fond of getting presents even on Christmas, to her it always felt awkward and contrived. She much preferred giving gifts, usually incredibly practical ones, to her close friends and family. Even so, she knew it would only take longer if she tried to refuse. One man seemed to stick out of the crowd of faces, but she couldn't place him. He has a scruffy beard connecting to short buzzed hair, the youngish man looked familiar yet foreign. He spots her looking at him and walks over with a somewhat nervous gait.
"Hey, I heard about what happened from the office. I'm glad your OK. " the man offers apologetically.
"Yeah, it's been a while ride..." Sandra tries not to stare but can't figure out why he looks like some one she knows.
"I don't know if you remember me really, we don't see each other much since Clark uh... " stopping himself from finishing his thought "I mean we work in different sections and all."
"Wait, Tommy? " she squints her eyes at him.
"Yeah! I go by Tom now though, the misses says it's more dignified. " he let's out chuckle.
"Oh my goodness, little Tommy!" she brings him in for a hug. "It's so good to see you and wow your not so little anymore!" Sandra's mouth agape from the shock of seeing her coworker so different from her recent memories. "Misses? are you married?"
"Yeah, been about a year now. This is my wife. " He motions to a dark haired woman waddling her way over from the snacks. "We're expecting him in March" he adds looking down at her large belly.
"Her" the woman chimes in knowingly.
"She says it's a girl, but look how low it's hanging, it's definitely a boy." he gives his wife a sheepish smile. "Louisa, meet Sandra, she was a good friend of my old boss Clark. " he politely introduces her.
"Nice to meet you Sandra, you have such beautiful hair. " the woman shakes Sandra's hand briefly.
"Oh, thanks I guess. it actually needs a bit of a trim, well a lot of a trim really. " Sandra tugs at the ends of the hair falling over her shoulders.
"You should come by my shop, I'll give you a discount." the southern drawl in her accent apparent.
"You're a hair dresser?" the excitement caught in her throat.
"I do weddings mostly but I do have the occasional customer from my hair dressing days, they tell me they won't let anyone else touch their hair. " She let's out a small snorting sound with her laugh. Sandra could tell Tommy thought it was adorable from his loving gaze.
"I really appreciate your offer Louisa. Thank you, I might have to take you up on that fairly soon. " Sandra smiles politely "Thank you for coming by the way"
"Of course honey, you need all the support you can get. " Louisa says with a empathetic expression and a quick reassuring arm squeeze. "Now, if you need anything, you let me know. you hear? " the accent thick on that last sentence.
"Yes ma'am" Sandra replies happily before the two return to the sea of people.
The crowd started to disperse around 8 o-clock and the gifts were tended to by Margret mostly while Suzanne attended to her new born. She kept him in another room away from all the people so not to expose him to illnesses that may be lurking in the crowd. Only after their guests departure did she emerge from the recesses of the house. The little bundle in tow, Suzanne gives Sandra a warm welcome home.
"Hey there." Suzanne looks down at the bundle of cloth surrounding a plump little baby "Say hi to your Aunt Sandy" she pushes him forward slightly toward Sandra.
With a higher pitch than normal "Hi there sweetheart! Aren't you adorable." Sandra wiggles her finger in front of the small child. He grabs onto the wild appendage and squeezes it tightly. "Oh how cute! You're a little herculean aren't you, Yes you are." He quickly pulls her finger into his mouth and chomps down. Startled Sandra tugs it away, the baby let's out a loud scream. Fussy that he is unable to chew on her fingers, the small child throws a tantrum. His little fists flailing about and pounding his small body.
"Hush, now Jamie. Sandra's the guest of honor today" Suzanne gently rocks him side to side shushing him quietly. His wails were soothed by the motion. Sandra watches in awe as her sister cares for the tiny human.
"Do you want to hold him? " Suzanne asks as she notices Sandra's intrigue.
"Oh, I don't know. What if I drop him? He looks so fragile. " She peers into the bundle analyzing the fat little arms and legs kicking around, his bright blue eyes darting around the room. Suzanne ignores her concerns and pushes little Jamie into her arms. If Sandra wasn't already seated she would have fallen over from the fear of dropping the fragile package thrust upon her. She gently holds Jaime 'He's sturdier than he looks' feeling the weight in her arms. He quiets down almost immediately in her arms and looks up at her. Their eyes meet and for a brief second the room was incredibly quiet just before he takes in a large breath and let's out an ear piercing scream. She quickly gives him back to his mother feeling relieved when the screaming stops.
"Well it's getting late I think I'll head in" Sandra directs towards no one go particular.
"OK sis, we will be upstairs if you need us." Suzanne gently carries the fussy new born up the steps and disappears into the upper floor.
Sandra wonders around the seemly empty house breathing a sigh of relief. She wasn't expecting such a large turn out, in fact she thought it would only be close family. The quiet felt refreshing yet somewhat saddening. Her mind keeps leading her back to quiet nights with Adelyn, just the Two of them, spending the night in each others arms, laughing and teasing each other. This thought brings heartache, knowing she has to start all over. She rolls through the living room in search of her bedroom. As she passes through the spacious house she realizes that it's unfamiliar to her, like most things these days. Although she feels like she should be used to it by now, it still makes her feel uncomfortable. Everything is not as she remembers it, her job, her home, even her friends. She looks down in thought, noticing a small light blinking in her lap, she reaches for it.
"Oh yeah!" she exclaims in an audible whisper. She picks up the blinking device, remembering Lukas handed her the small object earlier in the confusion of the party. It's a blue phone with a decently sized screen. She clicks the power button to turn the screen on and notices a message waiting for her.
Hey Sandra, this is Lukas. I set up your phone and put in a few contacts for you. One in particular I think you may want to keep a secret from Margret. I hope you like it.
~Lukas
She opens the contacts screen noticing a few names. The top of the list read Adelyn Tracy.