For a long time, I never knew what to consider home. When I was 17, my parents divorced. Signed the paper and everything. My father took it upon himself to go back to Korea to his family and my mother decided to stay in Michigan: the place we'd spent our entire family life together in.
Before he left though, my parents agreed it was best if I got to choose where I wanted to live. That was the only time after the divorce they'd ever reached a consensus with each other. They still loved me, I mean of course they did, but it hurt that the two most special people in my world didn't love each other anymore.
So, I left for Korea and said goodbye to my mom and my friends for the last time. I guess I wanted to watch over my dad. He'd always worn his heart on his sleeves and I knew he needed me more than my mom. She was a tough cookie, that woman.
At the time, Korea seemed so far away from the little town I lived in in Michigan. I thought that I'd never see anyone again. But when I chose to live with my father, I knew that although a new life awaited me, my old one would still be there.
I finished the rest of high school in Korea and went on to attend a university for four years with a degree in business. I didn't think about my home back in Michigan often in those day - always busy with studies - but when I turned 23, I thought it was time to see my mother again.
We had kept in touch all these years of course and face-timed every chance we got, so it wasn't like I hadn't seen her in awhile, but when I finally boarded off the plane and saw her aged but beautiful face once more, I cried like a little child in her arms.
I was back in Michigan, my birthplace, and it felt so good to be back.
Dropping my bags onto the porch, I stood up and took in the view of mom's new house. It was smaller and more modern than the old house we used to live in when my parents were still together. I grinned, glad that she was doing great for herself.
"Are you sure you don't want to find a place of your own?" I turned around to the sweet voice of my mother, Olivia, and smiled.
"You really didn't miss me, did you?" I joked.
"Oh stop it, I missed you so much. It's just that you're a grown woman now, don't you want your independence and freedom?" She asked as she stroked my cheek.
"Mom, I have my freedom here with you. It's been so long since we've lived together and you've no idea how much I missed that." I reassured her. She smiled affectionately and kissed me on the cheek.
"If there's one thing I appreciate more of your father, it's that you're a sweet talker just like him," she chuckled as she walked into the house with me close behind, "speaking of which, Angie's daughter lives on her own now. Oh gosh, that girl knows how to drive her mother up the wall. Angie was glad she finally left the house."
I tilted my head, trying to recall that familiar name. "Angie? You mean aunt Angela?"
"Of course! That old hag never stops dragging me off to the bar to complain about her husband and their sex life."
I grinned to myself as I thought about aunt Angie. I called her aunt, but she was really just a long time friend of my mothers. She'd been there in my childhood and was like a godmother to me. "I'm glad to hear aunt Angie is still as spry as I remember her to be. So, how's Kim doing?"
"Just fine. Ah," my mom gasped as she climbed the stairs in front of me, "I almost forgot. We're having a dinner party tonight at their house, in celebration of you coming back home. They were so excited when I told them the news. It'll be at eight, so let's get your things unpacked, get some groceries, and get ourselves looking pretty."
I chuckled as she shook her booty, and then up the stairs we went to put my things away.
Back when my parents were still together, aunt Angie lived just down the street from us. She and her husband Gerald had two daughters and an older son who was already in college at the time. The five of them made up the Riley family. Her oldest daughter, Kim, was my age so it was only natural that we became fast friends. I was seven when we first met. Throughout our school years we were the best of friends, but after I'd left for Korea, we'd lost contact.
I hadn't talked to her in a long time. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I thought about seeing her again at dinner.
As the night came, it was time for my mother and I to head over to the Riley's house. I didn't want to be overly formal, so I wore a simple blue dress with matching flats and had my long black hair down around my shoulders in loose waves. We arrived at their door and rung the bell and almost immediately, aunt Angie whipped it open with an open mouthed grin.
"Esther! Oh my gosh, look how gorgeous you are! It's been so long since I've seen you, you're so grown up now!" She exclaimed. "Well come on in, everyone's so excited to see you! You go ahead and sit at the table, I gotta steal your momma for some help in the kitchen."
We hugged tightly as she let us through and I made small talk about how much I'd missed her before my mother and her went off to the kitchen; leaving me to roam the house. I glanced around and admired how cute the place was. There were family pictures and paintings framed all about the hall I found myself walking in and I smiled at the memory I had with the family. Suddenly, a voice called out to me and I turned around to see Kim popping out of the living room.
"Well look who decided to come back from across the world." She grinned at me, a half empty beer bottle in hand.
"Kim, it's been awhile." I smiled.
"Only six years, right? Got tired of Korea or something?" She bounced off the wall she was leaning on and walked towards me; handing me another bottle I hadn't noticed she was carrying.
I took it and popped the cap off. "No," I softly chuckled, "Korea is home but so is Michigan. I knew that eventually I would come back, when the time was right. I missed mom and my life here. I missed you, too."
She rolled her eyes playfully, "oh shut it. We haven't talked since you left, although I don't hold that against you. You know how bad I was about calling, that hasn't changed, so I admit I didn't make the effort either. Still, I'm glad you're here again."
Taking a sip of the beer, I hugged her tightly and laughed in her ear, "it's good to see you, again. I still consider you my best friend. I'm sorry I never called."
"Like I said, no grudge," she chuckled as she hugged me back, "You're my bestie, no amount of time or distance is gonna change that. And we aren't 17 anymore. Life happens. At least you're back."
We separated and she lightly punched me in the arm in revenge for getting her all mushy. I was glad that Kim was still the same old wild, rebellious, and laid back girl I knew her to be and that we were still cool after all these years. I glanced at her long wavy auburn hair and chuckled to myself, recalling my memory of her back in high school when she still had her hair cut short like a boys. She was getting back at aunt Angie for something at the time, I could remember.
After we finished catching up with each other, we walked into the dining room with her arm around my shoulders and met Gerald at the table. He was talking to his wife across the room - in vain I might add - who was too busy dancing to the upbeat music they had on. When he saw me, he lifted up his open arms and exclaimed in excitement.
"Esther! My, my, you've grown to be such a lovely lady!" He beamed. I hugged him and felt the prickle of his stubble on my cheeks. "It's good to see you."
"Thank you, Gerald." I grinned, pulling away.
"Maybe now with you here, Joanna can finally have a good role model in her life. Kimberly hasn't always been a good influence as we all know." He continued.
"C'mon dad, give me some credit. I taught her how to shoplift without getting caught, I'm a great fucking big sister." Kim scoffed impishly.
"Watch your mouth, young lady." Gerald scolded.
I gave Kim a look of shock. "You taught her how to shoplift?"
"Of course not. She was already doing that. I just taught her how to not get caught." She said casually as she sat down at the table. I shook my head and chuckled softly in exasperation.
Although it'd been six years and changes were bound to happen, this piece of news was surprising. Joanna was Kim's little sister, the youngest of the Riley family, and from I remembered, the most sweetest and innocent little girl. I used to babysit her all the time back in the day. She'd always follow me around and copy my every word and action. My memory of her was pure so I was a little taken aback with all this shoplifting business.
"Where is Joanna, anyway?" I asked, looking around.
"Oh, she should be back any minute now," Gerald cleared his throat, "She thinks that now that she's 18, she can come and go as she pleases. The girl was out with friends all day and wouldn't even answer my calls until Angela told her you were coming over today. Said she would be here."
I nodded, satisfied with the answer - not really picking up on the odd detail about her answering her parents and deciding to come because of me - and sat down to chat some more with Gerald and Kim.
A few minutes passed and the aroma of fresh delicious food began to waft out of the kitchen. Soon after, my mother and aunt Angie appeared with the source of the yummy smell in their hands. Just as they strode out, however, an audible click echoed in the distance as the front door opened and closed. I lifted my head at the clacking of boots on the wood floors and curiously waited for whoever it was to arrive.
