Chapter 4
Vanessa
Saturday
I let out a tired yawn as I waited patiently for the rows of passengers to leave the plane ahead of me. It was an exhausting day of travel, and my flight from Atlanta into Akron had been delayed. When I saw a break in the line, I slipped in, dragging my carry-on luggage behind me. As I walked down the narrow aisle of the plane, the fur-lined collar of my Eisenhower jacket tickled beneath my chin. The stewardesses smiled as I reached the exit, and I offered them a polite nod in response.
My shoes shuffled down the runway as I walked briskly toward the baggage claim, and I felt the growing need to eat real food. There were thousands of other passengers in the crowded airport, all sweaty and uncomfortable as I was, but I didn’t mind. Everyone was traveling for the holidays.
Eventually, I made it to the escalator that brought me down to the entrance of the baggage claim. I looked out across the crowd, looking for the familiar faces, slightly nervous they wouldn’t recognize me. Then I saw them waving excitedly from the carousel. Mom was practically jumping up and down with a big ‘ol smile on her face. Dad was standing next to her, his arms crossed against his chest as he gave me a little wave.
Aw, Papa Bear.
Mom positively beamed as she saw me coming toward them and came to wrap me in a hug. “Vanessa! Oh, my goodness, you look gorgeous. Have you lost weight? I knew that a college diet wouldn’t be good for you. You’re too skinny!”
I hugged her back and laughed. “Thanks, Mom.”
When she stepped away to release me, Dad took his turn and gave me an awkward one-armed hug. “Welcome back, hon. How was the flight?”
I shrugged, walking over to the moving carousel and kept an eye out for my luggage. “It was fine. The woman sitting next to me was chatty, so I didn’t lack for conversation.”
Dad snickered at my joke, but Mom didn’t seem to understand what was so funny. “Did I miss something?”
“No, Mom,” I assured her. “You’re doing fine.”
I watched the different bags as they came out the moving platform and kept an eye out for my blue one specifically. My parents joined in the search until I saw it coming around the conveyer belt. “Oh, there it is!” I told them. “Hang on a sec.”
In one swift motion, I gripped the suitcase by the handle and lifted it up and off the metal carousel, setting it neatly on the ground beside me. Mom put her arm around my shoulder as we walked out into the parking structure and gave it a gentle squeeze “We kept your room exactly the way you left it,” she informed me happily.
“Thanks, I appreciate that.”
Dad followed close behind, carrying one of my bags as we went in search of the Expedition. I sighed while buckling myself into the back and gazed out the dingy window. Christmas carols were playing on the radio and Dad glanced back at me into the rearview mirror.
“So, have you thought about what to do for work?” he asked meaningfully. “I’m not familiar with the industry like you are, but I’m sure there are opportunities for a young entrepreneur like yourself.”
I chuckled nervously, glancing out the window. “Yeah, I mean, obviously there are companies I could apply to, doing glamour shots or family portraits. I was going to look up some of them on Monday and try to come up with some leads.”
I knew he meant well. He’d always pushed me to be independent, but the question still bugged me.
Mom spoke up before he was able to press the issue further. “Will you stop hounding her?” she asked him with a laugh while coming to my defense. “She just got off the plane; give her some time to breathe.”
“No one’s hounding her!” he insisted. “I’m just trying to be supportive and make sure she’s thinking about the future.”
I saw her give him a look that could curdle dairy as a warning not to push it. “Well, it can wait until after the holidays,” she insisted. “I don’t want to hear another word about it until then, understood?” Her voice was light and playful, but he and I both knew that she meant business. He never questioned Mom before and clearly didn’t plan to start now. She had a way of commanding authority.
Dad nodded gruffly, looking back at me in the rearview mirror. “I’m glad to have you home, sweetheart.”
I sank back into my seat and sighed, tugging lightly on the button of my jacket.
“So, tell me about this party,” I inquired nervously. “How fancy are we talking? Am I going to have to buy a dress or something?”
Mom just laughed. “I already have one picked out for you in the closet. Trust me; it’s perfect.”
Perfect for what?
“You should give Max a call when you get the chance. I know he’s been swamped with work and could probably use the company.”
I smiled at the thought of my goofball brother, who was always getting into trouble. We had our differences from time to time, but he had always had my back when I needed it. I loved him for that. I’ll admit he had some interesting taste in friends, but that was his issue to deal with, not mine.
“Sure, I can do that,” I nodded in agreement.
We fell into comfortable silence for a while as Dad drove the winding streets of Akron. The city was dusted white and twinkling with holiday decorations. It was hard not to smile at the cool serenity of the winter season.
Mom pointed out some of the construction projects that had happened while I was away and a few businesses that had flourished. Dad was more reserved and listened quietly to her story.
Soon, we approached the neighborhood I recognized, with the brick sign placed in the road divider. I’d never considered my parents rich, but it was undeniably upper-class. I didn’t realize when we were growing up how fortunate I’d been. That’s one of the reasons I was so desperate to find a job: I didn’t want to disappoint them.
I rested my head against the glass and watched the headlights from the oncoming traffic on the freeway. It was calm and quiet for the first time since boarding the plane this morning. I was tired and looking forward to climbing into bed once we got home.
A few minutes later, we pulled into the driveway of my parents’ house, with white Christmas light hanging down along the roof. It looked exactly the same as when I left. Freshly fallen snow had dusted across the roof and chimney, which was exactly how a Christmas should be. I’d spent the last four years in Tampa without the slightest hope of seasonally appropriate weather.
I stepped out onto the driveway, admiring the time and effort Dad had put into making the home look cheery. Mom walked around to the back of the car beside me and helped me lift my suitcase onto the ground. I was grateful to have worn my boots with sturdy tread on them when I skidded on some ice and almost fell into the snow bank.
“Whoa, there! Are you okay?” Mom asked.
“Yeah, it’s just been a while.”
Dad tucked his arm underneath mine to give me some stability and helped me over to the door. “Thanks, Dad.”
He nodded stoically and went back to get my suitcase. As I approached the door, dragging my wheeled suitcase behind me, I could hear the sound of barking from inside. When the door opened, our family dog, Maggie, jumped on top of me and put her paws up on my shoulders. "Hey, Mags! Who's a good girl?" I crooned.
Dad gave me a crooked smile when walking in behind me, carrying the rest of my bags in with him. "Looks like somebody has missed you."
"Oh, I missed her, too."
She licked my face affectionately as I moved her paws off my shoulder so I could put her on the ground. The old, white Labrador had been in our family since I started high school. She whimpered softly and brushed against my leg for petting until Mom came valiantly to my rescue and pulled her off by the collar.
"Come on, Maggie. Give Vanessa some space to breathe."
I smiled, readjusting the strap across my shoulder and looked out around the foyer. It was exactly the same way I remembered. White tile floors covered the entryway leading to a grand staircase that opened to the bedrooms. It always made me feel like Cinderella looking up at it.
I turned around at the sound of Mom and Dad coming in behind me with my suitcases tucked between their arms. “Here, let me get that,” I offered, slipping my arm between the handles of my carry-on bag. Mom assisted, by letting me slide it off her shoulder and breathed out a contented sigh. “Welcome back!”
The next morning, I was unpacking in the bedroom when there was a knock at the door.
Mom poked her head inside and smiled. “Good morning, hon. Mind if I come in?”
I glanced up from putting away the clothes and told her, “Sure.”
She came inside and looked around at all the things I had strewn across my bed. My delicate camera sat on the dresser in its case. “My goodness, you’ve certainly acquired some things while you were away.”
I nodded in agreement, looking up at the dormer window. “I might have to do some redecorating, though. It still looks like I’m in middle school.”
Mom chuckled, running her hand across the pink and white comforter my grandmother made when I was little. “Suit yourself, dear. You’ve grown up since then.”
I tried not to laugh and told her, “I think there’s still a bunch of makeup and body glitter hidden somewhere in the closet.”
“Well, I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t need to bring all that to school,” she teased me playfully.
I smiled thinly at her joke but didn’t laugh.
Mom sat on the bed while I unpacked, watching me with a smile. She was the one person I could always talk to without fear of judgment. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” she asked me quietly.
With a tired sigh, I set the clothes down on top of the dresser and sighed before collapsing onto the bed beside her. “Dad’s right,” I told her honestly.
Mom just smiled and waited for me to continue.
“I need to get a job. I love you guys so much, but I have to get my own place soon. This isn’t going to work out long-term.”
“Sweetheart, we know that.”
“No, I don’t think you do,” I insisted firmly. “All my life, you and Dad taught me to be self-reliant and independent, so it’s a drain on my ego knowing that I can’t stand on my own two feet. It feels like an imposition, leeching off you and Dad. I’m a big girl. I should be able to take care of myself by now.”
“You’re our daughter,” she reminded me with a dimpled smile. “Take all the time you need. I know you’re ready to move on, but sometimes, you just need to let things happen when they happen.”
I nodded sadly, and she gave me a kiss on the forehead.
“Don’t you worry about a thing. Can I ask you a question, though?”
“Uh, sure.”
“What is it that you really want to do?” she asked me honestly.
I blushed and looked away from her embarrassed. “It’s silly.”
“No, it’s not! You’ve got more tenacity and drive than half the people your age. You can do anything you set your mind to. I really believe that.”
I smiled at the encouragement and said, “Okay, what I really want to do it open my own studio. I could book corporate events or photograph weddings. Oh!” I squealed getting excited at the thought of it. “I could even do baby pictures or engagement shoots. I would love that.”
As she listened to me talking, Mom’s smile widened even further. “Then that is exactly what we need to make sure happens.”
“Are you serious?”
“Deadly serious,” she insisted. “And, your father and I will help you. You’re going to need business cards and a website to get you started, after that, we can figure things out as we go.”
“Wow… Mom, I don’t know what to say.”
She grinned. “Would you like to see something that might make you feel a little bit better?”
I breathed out a sigh, placing my hands on my hips and nodded. “Yeah, I think I do.”
She got a mischievous twinkle in her eye and took me by the hand. I unfolded myself off the armchair and let her drag me over to the closet.
“Oh, you mean the dress?” I asked her curiously.
“Uh-huh!”
As she pulled me into the walk-in closet and pushed aside the hangers until I saw the most gorgeous teal blue fabric I had ever seen. I had to blink a few times, examining the cut and shape of the shiny, iridescent ballgown.
“What do you think?” Mom asked with a smile.
“It’s perfect.”
She gave me a one-armed hug and whispered. “I think it will bring out your eyes.”
I nodded, still in awe, as she patted me gently on the back.
“I’m going to make some lunch; are enchiladas still your favorite?”
I chuckled. “Of course, they are. You’re clearly not staying with the Christmas theme, I see.”
“Pooh on Christmas,” she told me with a wink. “My favorite daughter has finally come home from college, and I’m going to make her favorite meal.”
“Nice of you to say, considering I’m your only daughter,” I responded with a laugh. “But that’s really not necessary…”
“Enchiladas!” she exclaimed before disappearing down the hall.
I shook my head indulgently and started back on the task at hand, unpacking all my clothes. No matter what she said, I would never be okay with staying at their home.
Hopefully, I’ll find something soon.