She knew I was on my way here, so she must still be awake, but why would the lights randomly go out? I made my way around the corner, through the living room and into the kitchen. The dark was disturbed by whispering and shuffling behind the bar counter. Suddenly, a bright flash of the kitchen lights blinded me.

“Surprise!” Across the counter, Mom, Dad, Matt, and Taylor jumped up. My mom was holding a plate stacked with chocolate chip pancakes, which she knew were my favorite. Her hair was curled, and she was dressed for her day like she had been anxiously waiting for me even though it was only six in the morning. She had to have been up for hours already. The rest of the crew was beside her, still in their pajamas, looking like they rolled out of bed five minutes previously.

“Oh…Thanks, guys.” I hadn't wanted to come, but I was thankful to be here with this sweet group. They were there through every bit of grief after my sister's betrayal, and they're the only reason I'm here now, not sipping tropical drinks in Florida, yelling at tourists to stop taking selfies in my backyard.

“I told you she wouldn’t be surprised, Mom. She knew we would be here,” Matt groaned and his wife, Taylor, elbowed him. He wasn’t wrong; I did expect that they would be here. Still, it was refreshing seeing them up to their usual shenanigans. Mom was always dragging them along to different dinners, events, movies, games, and things of that nature. Dad gladly followed because he was utterly in love with her. Even after twenty-seven years of marriage, he was still obsessed with his wife. It set some unrealistic expectations of love; I thought that’s how everyone was supposed to be. Unfortunately for me, I learned the hard way that wasn’t always the case.

“Welcome home, sweet pea.” Dad walked around the bar and hugged me. I wrapped my arms around his large frame and breathed in his familiar scent. My hug didn’t last long, as Mom pushed him out of the way and took me in her tiny arms. “Oh, my baby is home.” She squished my cheeks against her chest and shifted side to side.

“I think you’re gonna suffocate her, Mom.” Matt tapped her shoulder, and I gave him and Taylor quick hugs. We caught up on the basic plans for the day, ignoring the elephant that was not in the room.

“Well, I’m going to settle in and sleep for a little bit. I’ll eat when I get back up?” Chocolate pancakes sounded amazing, but I didn’t get this hourglass figure by slipping up on my diet, and I refused to take a step back in my progress while I was here. I reached for my suitcase and dragged it down the hall.