four years later...

Welcome to Summer. The world is painted vivid by its rays, like a new painting with still wet oils.

Four years later and so much has changed.

I’m made it to my senior year at Northern Arizona University studying in my art major. I wanted to become an artist, and thankfully my mom supported me with that decision.

I made new friends and traveled to so many places. I even changed my workout routine, helped myself to define in better shape, and changed my hair from a jet-black to an ombre,

My mom found love again, she’s dating Mithcell, a guy she meant through a group of friends. Mitchell reminded me so much of Kenny; a sense of humor, a taste of music, even clothing style.

He entered our lives and has changed the dynamic relationship between my mother and me. It has gotten serious between the two which leads them to get proposed. It happened on my mom’s birthday not too long ago.

Now with the preparation of getting married, my mom decides to host in back in Florida with our home friends and family are. Mitchell was sweet enough to rent out a lakehouse for temporary until my mom ties a knot with him.

Luckily for me, I can stay with them until the whole summer which gives me time to help out with the wedding and also see how the city changed.

“Your bag, Miss Stephanie.″

″Good afternoon, sir,″ My mom greets.

I worked up a smile. “Thanks, Jon.”

My mom shook the pilot’s hand. “Thanks for delivering my daughter safely.”

“Always a pleasure, Andrea. Say hi to Mitchell for me.″

″Yes, indeed.″

“At home putting together a big family dinner in your honor. Everybody’s coming,″ my mom said to me as we went to her car.

“Who exactly is everybody?”I hoped I didn’t sound as wary as she felt, but the idea of peopling after the long flight wasn’t remotely appealing.

“The whole family. Sandy’s mom, Helen—you’re gonna love her. She’s a spitfire. Not at all like Grandma Cathy. Both Mitchell’s brothers and their wives. Everyone that we know is going to be there.″

Seeing the wince I couldn’t hold back, she laughed. “I know, it’s a lot for us, but I promise, you’ll get used to it. They’re great people, and they can’t wait to meet you.”

″Yeah, well I can’t wait either.″

Arriving at the lakehouse Mitchell was standing outside with a bouquet of red roses and a box of chocolate.

I got out of the car and greets with a ″there she is!”

″Mitchell.″

″Did you enjoy your private life in your plane?″ He joked I laughed.

″Yeah, it’s new.″

″Here you go sweetheart, glad you’re safe.″

He gives me a light hug then hands me over the gifts.

″Let’s go inside, I’ll show you around.″

″Okay.″

Walking inside, The house was welcoming from the open door to the wide hallway. Upon the walls were the photographs of me, my mom, Mithcell, and Kenny, so obviously loved. The floor was an old-fashioned parquet with a blend of deep homely browns and the walls were the greens of summer gardens meeting a bold white baseboard.

We circled back into the kitchen as my mom was inviting the guests to our home. I said hi and hugged every single one of them.

Within a few minutes later, the house was voluminous with laughter and stories. My mom started to help around with the food, Mitchell hanged out with his friends and I was stuck forcing myself with a conversation with one of my mom’s friends.

“Almost everybody’s here,” Sandy, my mom’s friend said. “My niece, Miranda, and her boyfriend, Ethan, couldn’t make it. And my nephew is running late, but everyone else is outback. They’re so excited to meet you.”

I couldn’t claim the same level of enthusiasm, but more than a fair chunk of that was the jet lag. I forced a tired smile. “I bet so.″

“Sorry to interrupt, may I speak to my daughter please,″ my mom said.

″Sure thing, we have a whole day,″ Sandy responds.

I turned to my mom as she pulls me out of the group and I gave her a puzzled look.

″Everything’s okay?″ I questioned, hoping that everything is okay.

″Yes, love, everything’s fine. I wanted to let you know that Theo is coming here.″

My eyes grew.

″Theo, as in Theo?″

″Yes as in Theodore Petrakis. Yes.″

″W... Wait why?″

″Why because his mom is the wedding planner at our wedding. Plus, I haven’t seen her in years. I thought I was being nice.″

''Being nice?''

''Stephanie, you know what I mean.''

″Huh.″

''-And you know it's been a while since Kenny's funeral. I thought bringing them here to celebrate me and Mithcell's engagement would bring things back together.''

The doorbell echoed from a distance and our heads turn back from the front door. I looked at my mom and she looked at me with a smile on my face.

″I’ll get it.″

After opening the door, for a moment, I could only stare. I blinked and realized I’d been staring a bit too long. Everybody was back outside. I could hear the hum of conversation through the open patio doors.

For a few wild beats of my heart, hope flared in my chest. But I squashed it just as fast. There was no rational, reasonable way Theo could be here.

Shaking off the sensation, I stepped onto the patio, registering that someone else than Theo had arrived.

The vision opened my mouth and took a single step forward before my body jerked and I pitched forward on a yelp. He simply leaped, scooping me up before I could tumble to the flagstones. His body—the long, slim lines of it, settled against mine.

My head turned in his direction and familiar, and before I knew it his beloved blue eyes met mine.