Authors: R.S Burnett
I head back to my group of friends who are now gathering up the blankets and empty bottles, we all walk up to my house to help the movers load the trucks.
“There’s been a change of plan, I won’t be moving out of town after all, just switching houses” I tell one of the U-Haul men.
“Where too?” he asks looking down at his clipboard.
“Give me on minute” I smile at him and jog over to Travis who is currently talking with Tom.
“Can I stay at yours for a week or so?” I ask pleadingly “Only until I find a house here?”
“You’re not leaving town?” Tom frowns at me.
“Not anymore, unless you want me to?” I ask grinning at him.
“Of course you can stay at mine as long as you like” Travis smiles.
I head back to the workers and give them the new address.
Once we have seen the trucks off Travis and Tom follow them leaving me and Cat to drop the keys off at the estate agents.
“I can’t believe you’re actually staying” She cries hugging me once we have the offices. “You know what this means” She grins at me and as always I’m in tune with her line of thinking.
“Welcome home party!” We both laugh and high five.
“There’s a benefit tonight, we can crash that and then head to the club?” Cat asks linking her arm through mine and leading me into the shops.
“Sounds like a plan” I nod, smiling to myself. Things are definitely going to get interesting around here.
“Wow”
I smile down at Travis who is waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs.
“You like?” I ask twirling when I reach him.
My dress is simple but elegant, It’s white with white lace sleeve and lace across the chest and it’s skin tight, hugging my curves, it’s floor length and you can only see my shoes when I walk.
I gather up the skirt of the dress and get into the car that’s going to take us to the party.
“You never did say why you decided to stay” Travis notes when we pull away.
I shrug at him “My friends are here, it just seemed silly to move away from everything I know”
“And the reason we are turning up to this party an hour late is ...” he smirks at me already knowing the answer.
“A few people aren’t expecting to see me” I grin at him.
We pull up outside the hotel and Travis helps me out of the car, he takes my hand and leads me into the function room.
We are immediately greeted and a waiter hands us both a glass of wine.
I spot Cat and Tom talking to Jen and Amber, they haven’t seen me yet though.
“Want to dance?” I ask Travis not waiting for him to answer I link my arm with his and we head onto the dance floor.
We are comfortable enough with each other from all the dances we have shared at various parties and events that we can dance, holding each other and our drinks. Tom is the first person to catch sight of us and he just smiles and shakes his head at me.
Travis nods at a few people he knows and the music changes to a slow dance.
Mason walks over to us and cuts in so I’m dancing with him, I down my drink and Travis walks away with my empty glass.
“You’re staying” he says smiling at me, moving easily to the music.
“I would have missed you too much” I wink making him chuckle softly.
“You’re a fine woman Miss Banks”
“Why thank you sir”
Now Travis is walking around the room a few of our friends have noticed him and are looking around trying to spot me. Cat notices me first and them Amber, I smile at them both. Amber narrows her eyes at me which takes me by surprise.
Travis is at the bar now talking to Kyle and Chris, Mason twirls me out away from him and continues to twirl me under his arm making me throw my head back laughing. My dad always used to make me do this at parties. It’s now I realize that if I did move away I wouldn’t have found happiness. This is my home, it’s where I belong.
A few people stop to watch as we twirl and twist our way around the dance floor laughing with each other.
The band notice us and I recognize them from a few parties that my father hosted in the past, when they recognize that it’s me dancing they smoothly drift into another song. A few people around us and my friends all stop what they are doing as they too recognize the song that is now playing.
Mason stops twirling me and checks my expression.
“Shall we sit this one out?” he says quietly.
I shake my head at him “No, I’m fine. C’mon I haven’t danced to this for so long” I smile at him to show him I really am fine with it.
The song that is playing is the one that my father used to request the band to play and he would pull me out on to the dance floor. It was our song.
“He used to say this is going to be the father daughter song to dance to at my wedding” I tell Mason, impressed that he knows the quirky little dance moves my dad used to insert into the dance, but then I supposed we did it so many times the whole town probably knows it by heart.
“You two used to light up the dance floor together” he smirks at me making me laugh again.
“You’re getting there you know” he says softly in my ear.
I move my arms up around his neck “What do you mean?”
“You used to have a certain way about you, it was light a light was constantly surrounding you. It’s coming back, your dad would be happy about that”
I know what he means, I feel alive, settled and carefree. “I feel better, lighter almost” I smile up at him.
The song comes to an end and when we step away from each other a few people clap much to our amusement.
“I have something for you” Mason says drawing my attention back to him. I watch as he reaches into his Suit jacket and pulls out an envelope.
“You knew I’d be here?” I ask surprised.
“No, I carry it with me at all times. Just in case, the moments here though, you’re ready” He slips the envelope in my hand and leaves me with a kiss on the cheek.
The envelope is blank but I can feel something inside so I slip it into my purse and walk off the dance floor.
I join my friends, greeting them all with hugs and kisses.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were leaving last night?” Jen asks once we have all said hello.
“I think it was just the house I needed to get out of not the town, so I’m going to stick around for a while. If I still fell like I want to leave in a week or so I will but if not I’ll look for somewhere to live here” I smile.
“So where are you staying?” Amber asks so I turn my whole body to face her.
“I’ve moved in with Travis for now”
“Oh” is all she says so I excuse myself to go to the bar.
I stand next to Travis, Chris and Kyle while I order my drink. Travis turns around to face me at my approach.
“All good so far?” he asks smiling kindly at me.
“Yep. You coming to my welcome back party tonight?”
“When does it start?” he asks looking amused.
“I sip my wine and slide one of the shots towards him which he picks up.
“Now. What shall we shoot to?”
“Roommates” he shrugs and on three we both call it out and throw the shots back.
“So you’re not leaving after all?” Chris asks causing both me and Travis to move so I can talk to him.
“I’m not sure yet, I’m going to give it a bit more time if I still want to leave in a weeks or so then I will but until then I couldn’t move away yet. I love the small town gossip too much” I shrug it off as just general conversation but I notice Chris’s eyes widen slightly.
“What gossip?” Kyle asks.
“Nothing specific really, you know how it is. Everyone knows everyone else’s business, no one can have secret around here for long. Affairs, lies, mysteries, you know all of that” Kyle frowns at me and Travis eyes me thoughtfully.
“I’ll fill you in when we get home” I nudge him with my shoulder.
“You’re living with him?” Kyle asks gesturing towards Travis with his hand.
“Yep. House party paradise” Travis grins at him.
“Aww can we have pillow fights and food fights!” I beg turning my pout on him.
“Will they be pillow fights in our underwear?” he asks cocking an eyebrow at me.
“Yeah and we can go skinny dipping” I joke, relaxing into our normal flirting banter which we are accustomed to and one of the reasons we get along so well is because we know it’s never going to go further than a kiss here and there.
“What’s going on?” Cat asks joining us.
“Travis and I are going to have the best time ever!” I announce proudly.
“I’m moving in too Trav” Cat says immediately.
“We could just go back to mine instead of hitting the clubs?” Travis suggests and me and Cat both squeal with delight at that. “I’ll take that as a yes then” he grins, shaking his head.
“Oh, it’s on” I wink at him and Cat.
“Two women all night, my dream just came true” he nudges me with his elbow.
“What did Mason give you on the dance floor by the way?” Cat asks me.
I pat my bag remembering the envelope he gave me.
“I forgot about that. I’m going to have a look, excuse me a minute” I take my drink with me and sit at one of the deserted tables away from the bar and out of sight. When I open the envelope a few things fall out but it’s my fathers handwriting that captures my attention.
Loulou, My baby girl.
Welcome back.
I’ve wanted to say that for so long. If you’re reading this letter it’s because my baby has returned.
I am so, so sorry that your mother and I aren’t there for you anymore, but I feel confident enough that you are surrounded by people who love you, not quite as much as we did but enough for you to be happy.
I asked Mason to give you this letter when that sparkle returned in your eyes. You didn’t give up, just like I knew you wouldn’t. I have no doubt in my mind that what ever you did to get back to your old self again is something that I would have disapproved of but I’m happy that you did it.
When your mother died you helped me through that. If you hadn’t been around for me then, well I don’t know what I would have done. You see I know I might be gone now but you saved my life last year. Whoever it was that helped you see the light when you lost me (and I think I know who it is, the damned fool, no doubt) well that person loves you, keep them close. You don’t want to loose him/her. Thank them for me, please.
I know at the moment your life probably isn’t all that you want it to be but just wait it out, you are destined for great things and great happiness. As you can see I have a put a few things in with letter so let me take you through them.
The ring – This ring I bought your mother on the day you were born. I want you to have it now and pass it down to your first daughter. It means a lot to me. That ring held a promise that I would you both until the day I die. The problem we have now, is that even though I am gone, I still love you both, don’t ever forget that.
The keys – I know you wouldn’t have kept the house, too many memories for you and well it’s a big old house, much to big for you alone. So I went out and got you your own, I won’t say anything more on that, take a look for yourself. Take that crazy friend of yours with you too. You’re both going to love it.
The tickets – I know I’m going to regret this terribly but here you have six tickets. I want you to gather up your friends and go wild (not too wild!) and head out. This week is for you to relax and enjoy being young. Your mother and I went once and I think everyone should make a point of going there. Honey, you’re going to Vegas.
I love you always and I am looking down on you. Always look towards the light baby.