Coming Home

It was cold. Cassie tightened the grey scarf hanginfg around her neck. She rubbed her hands together, hoping that they could give her some warmth. Her brother was coming to pick her from the airport. She rolled her suitcase towards the waiting lounge. It was crowded but warm. She knew her brother would call her as soon as he arrived so she was not worried.

No sooner had she sat down than her phone started ringing.

"Hello," she responded. The number was unfamiliar.

"Hello, is this Cassie?" The voice on the other end asked.

"Yes, this is she. Who am I speaking to please?" Cassie asked. 

"This is Ken. I have been sent by your brother to come pick you up. I am at the parking lot of the airport. Where are you?" 

"Okay, I am on my way," Cass answered.

"It is okay, just tell me where you are. I will come help you with your bags," Ken insisted.

"Don't worry, I don't have much luggage. See you soon."

Cassie walked towards the entrance, her suitcase following suit. As she approached the gate, she felt a pang of disappointment wash over her. She had not seen her brother for some time and for her to send someone instead of coming made her feel bad. She tried to reason that maybe he was busy and that was why he had not come. After all, he was planning a funeral, all by himself.

Their mother was being laid to rest the following day. Sarah and Emily had promised to travel in the evening. 

When she arrived at the parking lot, she looked around for someone holding a placard with her name written on it but could not see anyone. She took out her phone and dialled the last number.

"Hello, I am out her. Where are you?" Cass asked.

"I can see you. I am leaning on the dark blue car," Ken said before rattling out the number plate to Cassie.

Cassie found the car within seconds. She walked towards it. A man in a white shirt, blue pair of jeans and a baseball cap was waiting for her.

"Hello," Cass said timidly. She had always been uncomfortable around strangers.

"Hello Cassie, please get in." He ushered her into the car.

"Thank you," Cassie said as she settled. She fastened her seatbelt as Ken loaded her suitcase in the boot.

"How was your flight?" Ken asked politely.

"It was okay, thank you for asking." Cassie wondered if Ken was going to make small talks throughout the ride to her brother's house. She did not want to appear impolite but she needed some quiet. 

"That is good to hear. Uhm...I am sorry your brother could not pick you as promised. He is having a bit of a challenge with the peeps at the cemetery," Ken explained. 

"Thank you for letting me know," Cass said before removing her phone.

Ken did not engage her again. He focused his mind on driving her home. This gave Cassie a chance to observe him without looking to o bvious. His hair was loosely combed, giving it a shaggy but cuter look. His jaw was square and he had brown dull eyes unlike the stranger...That stranger again. 

Cassie noticed that the stranger had a tendency of popping up in her mind anytime he wanted. And whenever she thought of her, she became all sweaty and bothered. She squirmed in her change to get rid of the piercing eyes that danced in her mind.

"Are you okay? Should I slow down?" Ken asked. He had noticed her discomfort.

"Huh...Sorry...I am okay," Cassie answered hurriedly while shaking her head. She had to learn how to properly mask her feelings and not wear them on her sleeve like some idiot. She vowed to keep the stranger out of her mind. And to do that, she opened her messages and decided to chat up her friends. 

Sarah was offline so she chatted up Em. Em was worried about her and for the firsat time since Cassie had known her, did not make any sexual jokes. Cass assured her that she was fine and that she would video call them as soon as she arrived at her brother's. She also advised Em to carry heavy clothes as the weather here was not favourable. 

"We are here," Ken said before hooting loudly. "Sorry, I forgot the garage remote."They had stopped at a sky blue gate.

"Ooh, no worries," Cassie commented. She was glad that they were finally home. She was tired and jetlagged. The flight had not been that long but it had been long since she had taken a flight out of the town she lived in.

"Hey sister," Asher called out from the compound.

He was standing near the gate, a remote in his hand. He handed the remote to Ken who had alighted from the car and taken Cass's suitcase from the boot.

"Hi brother," Cass answered awkwardly. It had been long since they had seen each other face to face. They talked and video called but it was not the same.

"Look at you, all grown," Asher teased. 

Cassie blushed before walking towards Asher's open arms. They hugged for a minute before he let her go and started inspecting her.

"Have you been eating well?" Asher asked.

"Yes," Cass answered. She knew he was coming from a good place. And this was why she loved her brother. It did not matter how long they had been apart, Asher was always ready to welcome her. And that was why she had always felt guilty anytime he asked her to come home and she said no. She loved her brother but hated the town.

It was not Asher's fault really. He had been their mother's favourite, the golden child and her mother was never afraid to show it. She always sang his name, talking about how perfect he was. It was not like Cassie was not not good at anything. In fact, she was brighter than Asher but since she was not a planned kid, she was left to rot in the background.

"Come, I know you are tired. I can see the wheels in your mind rolling faster than the F1 car," Asher commented. He knew her sister despite the distance. She was an overthinker, most times in a good way. 

Cassie let Asher lead her towards the house.