Page 85 of My All American Girl

37

SARAH

Ishouldered my bag and took a deep breath before stepping out of the cab in front of my family home. The house looked beautiful, as it always did in the summertime, with flowers blooming in the manicured beds and the sun casting a warm glow over everything. But this homecoming felt different, heavier. For the first time, I had taken a cab home. Usually, someone came to pick me up. But not this time. The cold shoulder was in full effect.

I approached the front door, dragging my luggage behind me. It wasn’t like I hadn’t faced tense situations before, but this was a different kind of tension entirely. This was personal.

I knocked rather than just walking in. It didn’t feel like this was my home. At the moment, I was a visitor. My parents were expecting me, but I wasn’t entirely sure I was going to be welcomed with open arms.

From the time I could walk, I had been taught to represent the family name. Me and my sister knew my father put a great deal of weight on the way others perceived his family. We were absolutely forbidden from getting in trouble at school. We always had to set the example.

My mother answered the door, her face lighting up with enthusiasm and a big white smile. Then she saw the cab pulling away and frowned. “You took a cab?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“I thought your father was picking you up?”

I shrugged, trying to keep things light. “Must have been a miscommunication. All good.”

Her frown deepened for a moment before she sighed. “Well, throw your bags in your old room and come join us on the back patio. Steaks are on the grill, and there’s sangria in a pitcher on the table. Everyone’s here.”

I trudged up to my old room. As I dropped my bags, I laughed at the poster of Dean on the back of my door. He was around twenty-one in that photo. He was already one of the best graduates of UPT. At my age, he’d achieved more than most pilots did in their first five years. There was a reason I looked up to him. To know him in real life was wild. To get to learn from him truly was a privilege. I really hoped I didn’t screw it up by screwing around with him. That would be devastating.

But so would being apart from him for too long.

I could hear the party in the backyard. I wasn’t aware there was going to be a party. I didn’t dare believe it was to welcome me home.

More than likely, it was just my parents doing what they did. They were enjoying a nice summer day while they could. I used the bathroom and freshened up for a bit before I headed downstairs to greet the extended family. My eccentric Aunt Linda was the first to pull me into a hug, her perfume overwhelming as always. “Sarah, darling! Look at you, all grown up and looking like a star!”

“Thanks, Aunt Linda,” I said, trying to breathe through my mouth. Good thing I had training in withstanding toxic fumes.

My needy cousin, Joey, tugged at my sleeve. “Sarah, can you play with me later? I got a new video game!”

“Of course, Joey. We’ll play later.”

Uncle Bob, always opinionated, clapped me on the back. “Heard you had a bit of a rough time in training, huh? Well, builds character, I say.”

“Sure does, Uncle Bob,” I said, forcing a smile.

He leaned in close. “Did you kick their asses?”

“Shh, we’re not supposed to talk about it,” I joked.

He scoffed. “Nonsense. Your father was no angel.”

“I know.” I nodded. “Try telling him that and his devil will come out real quick.”

My loving grandparents were next. My grandfather gave me a hug before my grandmother stepped close, taking my hands in her wrinkled ones. “We’re so proud of you, Sarah,” Grandma said softly. “You are a good girl.”

I winced visibly at the comment. My transgressions may not have reached them yet, but it was only a matter of time. I took a deep breath and mustered up a smile. “Thanks, Grandma.”

My grandfather clasped my shoulder affectionately, his old eyes twinkling with pride. “And remember, no matter what people say or do, you’re our girl. Stand tall, Sarah.”

“I will, Grandpa,” I replied. “It’s good to be home.”

Despite the warm greetings, I was really looking for my father. I wondered if he was going to ignore me the whole visit. That was exactly what I had been worried about. It was the ultimate punishment. He was going to make me pay for embarrassing him.

I got myself a soda from the ice chest and drifted around the backyard, listening to the various conversations. After not seeing my father, and noticing my uncle and grandfather had gone missing, I had a feeling I knew exactly where he was.