CHAPTER 2
GEORGIA
Droplets of sweat began to form on my forehead and at the back of my neck. I could feel them trickling down my skin as I continued to clean out the garage, carefully sorting objects and placing them into different boxes.
“Hey, come take a look at this!” Dad suddenly exclaimed, sounding quite excited. He now sported a balding hairstyle and a grayish moustache, but was still as energetic as I remembered him to have always been while I was growing up. His physique could put a lot of thirty-year-olds to shame.
I stopped what I was doing and went over to where he was standing, holding a pink photo album that looked familiar.
“Where’d you get that?” I asked as images of my teenage years flashed back to me. Now I remembered that album. It was one of the few where Mom had kept my high school photos. She had insisted, because I’d always hated having my picture taken.
“Will you look at that?” Dad said in an amused tone, pointing out a photo of me with my long, dull brown hair in braids and a forced smile that showed my shiny braces.
I almost choked at the image of myself during my freshman year. No wonder I was immediately labeled a geek. I was practically an outcast then.
“Dad, those photos are totally disgraceful!” I said, wrinkling my nose as I skimmed over the others.
Dad laughed and gave my shoulder a squeeze. “Darling, don’t worry. You’ve long outgrown that stage of your life. You’re now what they would call a bombshell!”
“Dad!” I said loudly, laughing.
“And not to mention a licensed doctor, too!” Dad added proudly.
I beamed, happy that I had such supportive parents and a close-knit family, too. Some of my wealthy relatives had actually chipped in to see me through medicine school, though I’d also been fortunate enough to secure a good partial scholarship.
We continued to laugh together as I flipped one page after the other, reliving memories of my high school days as a certified nerd. We guffawed when we saw Mom and Dad’s outfits and hairdos during that time.
“Now who looks even worse than me then?” I kidded.
“What’s this commotion all about?” a female voice suddenly interrupted us. It was my mother, looking a little bit wrinkled but still beautiful and slim. She was holding a tray of my favorite chocolate chip cookies.
“Mom! I told you I was on a diet!” I said with a groan, but I remained smiling.
“Well, you can always just watch us munch on these yummy cookies,” she said jokingly as she approached and set down the tray on a pile of boxes.
“On second thought…” I muttered, giving in quickly and putting a cookie into my mouth.
“Well?” Mom asked, waiting for my reaction.
“It’s still as heavenly as I remember it!” I said, hastily finishing the first piece and grabbing another one.
“You don’t need to lose weight, honey,” she told me, looking me over. “You’ve got an amazing figure. How I wish I was like that at your age!”
“You were!” Dad said teasingly, putting a loving arm around her shoulders.
She pushed him gently away with a giggle. It was at that moment that I really felt nostalgic, especially since I hadn’t visited home for a long time. I just had so many wonderful memories growing up in this cozy but love-filled home, even though I was their only child.
Mom joined in on our laughter as we went through the other photos.
“Oh, take a look at this, Georgia!” she exclaimed. “Senior prom night!”
I leaned over her shoulder to check out the photo. It was quite revolting to see myself looking silly in a pink frilly dress, with a stupid grin on my face. All at once, the memory I’d buried for years resurfaced, along with the negative emotions that had faded over time.
“Wasn’t this the son of that business tycoon?” Mom wondered aloud.
“Yes,” I said with a frown as I looked closer. The teenage guy standing beside me looked like a movie star, but had a bored expression on his face. Anyone could tell he’d just been compelled to go to the prom with me.
“He’s very handsome,” Mom commented. “I think I’ve seen his present photos in the paper, along with his father… Uh, what’s his name again—that rich man who founded the largest pharmaceutical company in California?”
“You mean Roger Walton?” Dad said.
“Yes, that’s it!” Mom said. “And his son is…”
She turned to me for help. I groaned again. How could I ever forget?
“Drake Walton,” I muttered, feeling the annoyance and disgust creeping through my body just by mentioning his name.
Mom was asking about how Drake had ended up as my date and what had happened afterwards. I didn’t want to get into the details. I just wanted to forget about it, so I smoothly changed the subject into what I knew would grab her attention—the house renovation.
Naturally, she began talking about the kitchen décor she really liked. I smiled in amusement and relief as I listened. I’d actually come home to help them clean and sort out things in the house before the renovation was scheduled to start.
“Thank you so much, Georgia,” Mom suddenly said, giving me a hug. “This is the best anniversary gift ever!”
“Yes, we really appreciate it,” Dad added. “You’ve certainly gone a long way.”
It was a good thing I didn’t have a lot of student loans like others, thanks to my wealthy relatives. Thus, I was able to pay off my debts at once, complete my specialization, and earn well as an actual physician.
It was just a simple way of giving back to my parents. After living in a different state for some time, I was more than glad to be back home in Windfield City. This time, I planned to stay for good.