WE’RE HOME

Carla stepped out of the car slowly, staring at the house she grew up in and had not been to in the past seven years. Nothing much had changed, all the things were still placed in the places they used to be, the one place where her grandma could find them without searching for them.

The changes in the town however affected this place, the old brown color had been given a healthy blue and white hue, her grandma’s lawn was well mowed, and deep green carpet grass laced the floor and the fence that demarcated their one-story house from that of the neighbors were sparking white, the same color as the house ceiling, almost as if newly painted.

While she stood beside the car lost in thought, Steve had gotten her luggage out of the car and was now standing by her side, “Ready?” He asked, his eyes firm as if he would not take a single step forward if she did not approve.

Carla took in a deep breath and then nodded, as she wiped her clammy palm on her jeans, she felt both embarrassed and ashamed to face her grandma who she had not seen in so many years. What was she to say to her? What was her excuse supposed to be? That she was busy? So why wasn’t she busy now?

Steve pressed the doorbell, and Carla’s heart rose up to her throat. What if her grandma already knew about her downfall, Zak, that bastard wanted her to be stranded, he made sure everyone she knew, everyone who could help her knew of all the scandals associated with her. Scandals that weren’t true, scandals he single-handedly created. Scandals her company affirmed. When a company affirms a scandal, what can she say to refute it? Who would believe her when compared to her company? Was there a single person who would believe that the company that was supposed to have been aiding her rise to the top, would cooperate to bring her down? 

If her grandma knew of the scandals, wouldn’t she be disappointed? Wouldn’t she know that she ran back home because she had nowhere else to go? Would she accept an ungrateful person like her who abandoned her family for so long?  Her mind ran wild as she ran all these thoughts through her head.

At this time the door opened, and a plump old woman with white hair and healthy but wrinkled cheeks opened the door, she was none other than Carla’s grandma, Grandma Joan. Even though she was very old, her eyes were still bright and full of life.

“Steven!” She called in surprise, a big bright smile on her face as she opened her arms to welcome Steve, shocking Carla who had been thinking and rehearsing what word to say to her grandma. For some reason, her grandmother did not see her at all and was focused on Steve.

“Grandma.” Steve equally greeted with a smile as he hugged the old woman. Anyone who saw them would think Steve was her grandson who just returned home.

“When did you get back?” Her old woman asked warmly, making Carla’s eyes wet.

How she missed her grandma and the warmth she extruded, how the hell did she end up thinking those psycho-fans were her friends. Those friends did not think twice before abandoning her when she fell from her throne.

“I just got into town grandma.”

“Great, I hope you are staying for dinner.” Grandma Joan asked with a smile before her eyes fell on the girlish-pink luggage Steve was pulling. “Whose are these? You brought a girl back?” She asked puzzled before Steve could even answer her first question.

“Oh, they are Carla’s,” Steve replied immediately with a bright smile on his face as he stepped aside, allowing Grandma Joan to see Carla who had been hiding behind him the entire time.

Grandma Joan’s face froze with surprise at first, it was almost as if she couldn’t believe who she was looking at. Carla’s heart fell, her grandmother wasn’t happy to see her, she thought and a sad smile laced her lips.

“Hello, grandma.” She said as she blinked the tears that wanted to fall.

“It is really you!” Grandma Joan exclaimed as if snapping out of a trance. “Carla! Oh Carla, my baby girl!” She cried and hurried to hug Carla who was filled with mixed feelings.

“You stupid girl, how long have you been gone, how can you not remember to come back to see your grandma. Do you want me to go see your parents without setting my eye on you one last time?” Grandma Joan patted Carla’s back as she scolded.

Carla couldn’t help her overwhelming feeling and busted into tears, hugging her grandma back, weeping like a baby, not minding Steve who was standing aside staring at her.

“I’m sorry grandma, it’s all my fault. It’s all my fault.” She kept murmuring.

Steve stared at her weeping and clenched his fist feeling anger at the press and all the people who had made the once proud and lofty Carla cry so helplessly like this. “I won’t let them go.” He murmured, promising himself.

Grandma Joan pulled away, grabbed Carla’s cheeks, and took a good look at her. “Why are you crying like a baby at this age? If you miss home so much you should learn to ditch work a few times and run back home.” She scolded softly as she wiped Carla’s tears ignoring her own.  

Carla laughed at her words, a few more tears taking the opportunity to escape her eyes.

“And why does your face look like this? I know you have to lose weight because of your career but you don’t have to look so haggard! What kind of job is this that makes a girl in her prime like you look so haggard?” Grandma Joan nagged nonstop.

“I’m fine grandma.” Carla smiled.

“How are you fine, you don’t look fine at all. Are you sure you have been having goodnight rest? Look at your face, your eye bags are so huge!” Grandma Joan scolded again while Carla smiled.

Of course, family warmth was still the best in the world, what is romantic love besides family love. What was she thinking to have thought fame was more worth it than her family?

“Steve, look, tell her how bad she looks.” Grandma Joan suddenly turned to Steve who had been standing quietly by the side, even Carla had forgotten that he was there.

Carla looked up at him and their eyes met, Steve’s eyes softened in a way that shocked her. “I think she looks beautiful.”

Carla’s heart skipped a beat, what was wrong with this guy, why was he looking at her like this? What nonsense was he saying? She thought and avoided his gaze, only to glance at him again to see that he was now smiling at her grandma.

“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. What a slick tongue you have.” Grandma Joan scolded with a bright smile on her face.

Yeah, he does, Carla thought only to see the knowing smile on her grandma’s face and then glanced at Steve, who bowed his head looking embarrassed, in confusion. Hun? Was she missing something? Carla wondered as he looked from her grandma to Steve again.

“Stop standing around, come in.” Grandma Joan told them. Before Carla could think too much of things, she interlocked her elbow with hers and began to pull her into the house. 

“Oh, wait grandma, I will see Steve off first,” Carla said.

“What? You’re leaving? Aren’t you staying around for dinner?” Grandma Joan asked Steve in surprise. “The chicken you brought a few days ago is still in the fridge. I was hoping to prepare it for you today, so you won’t stay?”

Carla looked between her grandma and Steve surprised, Steve brought her grandma chicken? They seemed really close.

Steve glanced at the surprised Carla, “Grandma… I…”

“No excuses, Carla is back. She needs you, right Carla?” Grandma Joan turned to Carla, seeming to understand Steve’s desire to only do what Carla wanted.

“Hun?” Carla was confused about how the discussion circled back to her, “Grandma…” She glanced at Steve, “I don’t really need…”

“See…? She wants you to stay, come on in.” Grandma Joan interrupted as she pushed Steve in, before dragging her in too.

I never said I wanted him to stay? Carla thought as she followed them into the house in confusion not understanding what was going on.