Dad and Renn wait for me at the airport. They’re holding balloons and a WALLCOME HOME sign to purposely embarrass me. They draw giggles from other people in the waiting area. I wheel my suitcase and my cat past them, pretending I don’t know them. Renn jogs my way and wraps his arms around my shoulders. “You guys, this is my sister. My flesh and blood! We are blood related and everything!” he announces to the entire terminal.

He is about four heads taller than me, and I’m just noticing that.

“You know how deeply offended I am by bad grammar.” I push him away, hiding my smile, still deeply ashamed that it took a full-blown tragedy to make me come back here.

“All right, I guess the sign was too much. But you have to admit it was funny,” Renn cackles. I turn around and hug him, suddenly feeling very exhausted and very happy to be back. California is my home.

Dad pats my shoulder in a friendly manner. He is much more reserved than Renn. He is still guarding his heart, unsure of how this whole thing is going to pan out. Renn pries Loki’s carrier from my fingers. He peers inside. “Hey there, furball. How are you with mice? No free meals in the Lawson household.”

I can only imagine the go fuck yourself look Loki is currently awarding my brother.

“It’s good to have you back,” Dad says quietly.

“I’m so sorry I’ve been gone for so long.” I shiver, inhaling his familiar aftershave scent. The one Mom used to buy him for both Christmas and his birthday, so he would never run out.

We hobble to Dad’s car, but Renn is the one who gets behind the steering wheel. It reminds me that he drives now. I have been so wrapped up in my own misery these last few years that I’ve failed to witness the amazing blossoming of Renn Lawson from a kid to a very handsome, very goofy man.

The secret they’ve been keeping from me is hanging over our heads like a guillotine. Or maybe it’s just me. I want to ask about it, but I don’t want to ruin the mood, which is currently friendly.

“So, am I going to find out you turned the house into a brothel? Just wanna know what I’m dealing with when I open the door.”

“She found out about the surprise, Dad,” Renn says seriously. “Told you it was obvious. We should’ve gone with a circus theme.”

Dad elbows Renn. “The house is exactly how you left it. We’ll discuss the changes in our life after you’ve settled.”

Anxiety robs me of my breath.