It’d been months since she’d seen her mom and Tom, not to mention John, Shayla and the boys. The thought of walking through the cabin door to the scent of a smoky crackling fire and tackling her runny nosed nephews outside in the snow brought a relaxed smile to her face. Staying at the cabin was like releasing JC’s pressure valve. Food tasted better, the air smelt better, and sleeping felt more like hibernation.
Standing taller than most passengers in her three-inch heel boots, JC peered over their heads, searching for a familiar face. John’s dark brown hair and big white smile caught her eye. She waved and picked up her pace, weaving through holiday travelers hovering impatiently around the luggage carousel. Her brother opened his arms to give her a hug hello. Overcome by emotions, tears pricked the corner of her eyes as she threw her arms around his neck, embracing him tightly.
John cocked his head to look at her face. “Are you crying?”
JC sniffed out a chuckle of embarrassment, wiping the tear from the corner of her eye. “I must be PMSing. God, I’ve missed you guys.”
“We missed you too, sis.” He smooched her cheek and followed it up with another big-brotherly bear hug. Glancing at onlookers, he quietly said, “Quit crying, everybody thinks you’re my girlfriend.”
She pulled back her hand and wacked him on the arm. “Feel better now?”
“No. Now they probably think you’re my wife.”
They both laughed.
John talked non-stop on the short drive to the cabin, giving full details about the twins’ Halloween. “Do you remember trick-or-treating? The best treat we ever got in our pillowcase was the big candy bars. That’s where the rich people lived and we always hit the house again before walking home.”
JC nodded. “Yep. The house down the street with the red door.”
“Let me just tell you, things have changed! We spent Halloween at Mom and Tom’s in Malibu and you would not believe what my boys got in their candy buckets. People were handing out money! I was shocked when they came running back to the sidewalk with a Twix and a dollar, but one neighbor handed out Paydays wrapped in a ten-dollar bill!”
“I’ll remember that next year,” she joked. JC dropped her head back on the headrest, drawing in a relaxed breath of air. The energy around her seemed lighter. She could breath. Her family was her anchor. The tranquil, open minded support system that grounded her through any and every up and down in her life. It felt good to be home…and away from Luca. “By the way, I got your email with the pictures of Richard and Thomas carving pumpkins. There’s no way they carved that haunted house! Try to pull that crap with me. The dinosaur carving maybe, but the haunted house and Frankenstein were definitely someone else’s pumpkin masters handy work.”
“Yeah, it was Shayla. She loves Halloween.” John chuckled. “How’s Luca?” he teased in a horrid imitation of Italian.
“He’s okay.” JC nodded with a sigh.
“Just okay? I thought for sure I’d have to listen to you yada, yada, yada, all weekend long about your boyfriend. He seems crazy about you.”
“I don’t know.” Heaviness filled her tone. “I mean…you know, he’s smart, handsome—”
“Arrogant?” John cleared his throat and raised his brow.
She shrugged as they pulled into the driveway of the gorgeous log cabin. “Did Tracy tell you he’s crazy about me?”
“Umm. Yeah.” John stepped out of the SUV and opened the back hatch.
JC followed. Taking in a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scent of pine as she leaned against the bumper. “Can I ask you something? When did you fall in love with Shayla? Was it the first date or after a week or a month?”
He set her suitcase on the ground and tugged on the handle extension. “I would say the first day we met. I didn’t realize it until a week or so later, but looking back now, definitely love at first sight.” He smiled, patting her shoulder. “No wonder you’re crying at the airport. Is my little sister finally falling in love?”
“No.” Denial flew form her mouth, vehemently shaking her head. “I didn’t say I was in love. I still can’t stomach the term boyfriend.”
“The boys are peeking out the window. Come on, we’ll talk later. After wine.”
“Please tell me Mom made dinner?”
“It’s Mom. What do you think?”
The delicious aroma of homemade chili and cornbread engulfed her senses as she walked through the front door of the cabin. Her tummy growled in anticipation. By the time John shut and locked the door, JC was ambushed by two sets of little hands and shrieks of joy. “Aunt JC! Aunt JC! What took you so long?”