Page 1 of Coming Home for Fall 4
Chapter 1
Standing at the base of the stairs, Mallory waited and watched for any sign of her sister’s car. When she heard her mother gasp, she jolted and rushed upstairs to check on her. “Mom?!” she called out, rounding the corner of the upper hallway.
But there was no answer. In fact, everything was silent. Had she misheard?
“Mom?!” she called out again.
“I’m in the bedroom, honey!” her mom responded. “Just, um... give me a second.”
Inching toward the partly ajar door, she hesitated to push it open. “Is everything alright?” Mallory asked.
“I’m fine!” Callie insisted despite the tension in her voice. “I was just startled. Sasha was—uh—she was using the master bathroom… I—I didn’t know anyone was in here so... I was just startled when I saw her.” She let out a nervous laugh. “That’s all.”
Mallory frowned. What had Sasha been doing in the master bathroom? But before she could ask any questions, Sasha darted out of the room with her sleeping baby.
“Sorry,” she muttered, evading Mallory’s gaze, “excuse me.”
“Oh...” Mallory didn’t have time to say anything else before Sasha disappeared into her room and shut the door. Stepping into her parents’ bedroom, Mallory carefully approached hermom who stood in the doorway of her closet, furiously pushing aside dress after dress. Mallory cleared her throat.
“I know you’re there,” Callie said without looking back.
“I just didn’t want to scare you after that…” she replied, letting out an unsteady breath.
“No need to walk on eggshells,” Callie said with another nervous chuckle. “I’m not fragile, I was—just caught off guard...” Plastering on a smile, she turned to her daughter and gestured to the dresses. “Now come help me pick out what to wear.”
“Why do you need to change?” Mallory arched her brow. “It’s just Ariel and the kids coming.”
“Yeah, but I’m sweaty from cleaning this morning and I feel gross. Plus, I smell like baby formula.” Callie pulled out a brown knit dress. “What about this?”
“Well, if you’re trying to avoid sweating more”—she eyed the dress up and down— “that wouldn’t be my first choice.” Gingerly brushing past her mom, Mallory perused through the options. “It’s not really cold today. And we both know you’re gonna be out playing with the kids, so how about this.” She pulled out a short-sleeved cotton jump suit.
“Oh, perfect!” Callie clapped her hands. “I honestly forgot I had that.” She grabbed the hanger from Mallory and stepped into the bathroom, leaving the door cracked so they could talk. “While I’m thinking about it, did I mention that Taylor and Erica are arriving at the crack of dawn tomorrow?”
“I don’t think so.” Mallory glanced around the room while her mom was out of sight, searching for any clues about what Sasha hadactuallybeen up to. However, nothing seemed amiss, so she sat on the edge of the bed and waited for an opportunity to discuss the strange incident.
“They bought their tickets last minute,” Callie explained, “so they’re on a red-eye. They’ll be getting here early, so I figured I’d give everyone a heads up.”
“Ah. Well, I’m sure they won’t wake me up, so it’s fine.”
Callie chuckled. “I said that to your brother too. You could sleep through a war.”
“Yeah, probably.” She sighed, kicking her feet back and forth a few times. “So, uh… Why exactly was Sasha in your bathroom?”
“She—she ran out of soap.”
“And she just came in here without asking?” Mallory tilted her head. “That’s a little inconsiderate... I’m surprised she’d do something like that.”
“Who says she didn’t ask me first?”
“Well—you said you didn’t know she was in there... that she startled you. If she’d asked you about it, why were you so taken aback?”
Callie didn’t answer right away.
“Mom?”
“Hm? Oh, sorry dear, I was just focused on getting these strings tied in the back.” Callie stepped out of the bathroom dressed in her soft green jumpsuit and walked over to Mallory. Turning her back to her daughter, she gestured with the ties between her fingers. Without a word, Mallory reached up and helped tie the strings. “What were you saying?”
“I don’t get how she could’ve scared you if you’d known she was in here?” She asked with a dubious tone, making a bow at the base of her mother’s neck. “You’re telling me the full story, right?”
