Reminiscing Memories
Home Sweet Home
*Liam’s POV*
Yeah, okay, I’d be an idiot not to admit I was a little nervous. I was driving home. Hazel was sitting on the passenger side next to me, staring out the window, checking out the scenery. I could already see my older sisters trying to embarrass the shit out of me on purpose, my mother, well, she would probably do what she did to one of one and only girls I’ve brought home before. It was for homecoming, and she had the nerve to show every baby picture she’s ever taken of me.
Yeah, I knew I would never introduce a girl to my family again unless she meant something. Hazel was important to me. So yeah, I mean, any girl has to mean something to guy if they were willing to risk getting embarrassed and picked on by his family in front of her. I just hoped Mum wouldn’t go overboard with any of the pictures. Knowing her, she may just stick to the achievements I’ve had in school. I couldn’t say the same for my sisters though. I had some pretty… remarkable times with them.
We hit my hometown. The feeling of home was starting to set into me, chilling me out some. It’s been a few months since I’ve been in England, but it’s been so much longer since I’ve been home with my family. To think I get to spend a little time with them, also allowing Hazel to meet them, I knew I had nothing to worry about.
I pulled up into the driveway of my home. I shut off the car. I let out a breath. “Ready?” I asked her.
Her face lifted into a smile as she nodded. We both unbuckled ourselves, stepping out of the car. She waited a second to follow behind me to the steps to the house. She stood next to me and I had a hold of the doorknob. I let her take a deep breath before opening the door and stepping in. “We’re here-“
I was engulfed into a tight hug, cutting me off my words and air supply. “Mum… can’t breathe…” I gasped.
“I’ve missed you so much!” I could hear the tears in her voice.
I wrapped my arms around my mother’s shoulder, giving her a tight squeeze. I warned her I’d be coming today, but I never said anything about Hazel tagging along. I smiled at my father who was making his way around the corner. “Mum… Dad… I brought someone.”
Hearing this my mother let me go. I stepped back to stand beside Hazel. “This is Hazel. Hazel, this is my mother and father, Karen and Geoff.”
Hazel smiled from beside, holding up a hand to wave a hello. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you!”
“Oh, isn’t she the cutest thing!?” My mother exclaimed, coming over to Hazel and bringing her into her arms.
I could see the shock on Hazel’s face, but it quickly changed into a smile as she hugged my mother back. They drew apart and my mother started talking softly, only to Hazel. I looked up where Dad was and walked toward him. I wasn’t sure how it was with dads, but they had this thing where they would always bear hug their sons. My feet were lifted off the ground and I groaned. His hug was even tighter than Mums. “Dad-“
“Oh, man up, son.” He placed me back down on my feet.
He placed an arm over my shoulder and started toward the living room. I looked around, expecting to see my older sisters. “Where’s Ruth and Nicky?” I asked.
He led me to the couch. He took a seat at his recliner, something I noticed was a new piece of furniture in the house. “They both have to stay in for work. Ruth said it wouldn’t be a big as long as you would wait for a weekend to bring up Hazel…”
I watched my dad turn his head toward the hallway we were in earlier. I turned too, seeing my mother moving around in the kitchen, Hazel gone from my view. “Speaking of which, she seems to be a really nice girl… It’s sad to think of what’s happened to her.”
He looked over at me, studying the expression on my face. “I know it’s hard, mostly for her, but for you too.” He reached over, patting my knee. “Stay true, Liam. I’m sure she’s knows you are doing everything in your power to help her.” I saw a small grin spread across his face. “Who knows, she might become your girlfriend.”
I gave him a slightly scolding look. He laughed, his hand resting on the back of my neck before returning to rest on his recliner. I heard footsteps then. I turned my head to see Hazel walking in with a tray of cups. “Um, Karen asked me to bring the coffee in here so she could get something.”
She put the tray on the coffee table, I moved my feet back so she could walk around me to take a seat on the couch next to me. We all grabbed a cup of the hot liquid, taking a sip. “The weather’s been getting quite colder lately. Looks like autumn is almost over, huh?” My dad said, making conversation.
“It’s been raining a lot where I’m from.” Hazel said. “I’m surprised it hasn’t been raining much here.”
“Oh, just give it a few days, hon.” Dad said, smiling a little at her. “It’ll start pouring so much it won’t stop.”
I heard the sound of footsteps then. I saw my mother coming in with a box. A box I feared she’d be bringing out. “Mum, no…” I groaned, already sinking down in the couch, covering my face with my hand.
“Son, you should’ve learned from the first time.” Dad said, slapping my knee, knowing he was getting himself prepared to tell whatever embarrassing story that went with each picture.
I buried my face in the arm of the couch. “Oh, come on, Liam. Don’t be such a baby.” Hazel said, lightly slapping my knee.
I heard my dad laughing for God knows what. I sat up, my bum practically hanging off the couch as I watched my mum give Hazel a stack of photos, letting her go through them. Mum was looking through her own little stack. I took another swig of the now warm coffee. I could hear Hazel laughing at some of the pictures.
She was getting along with my mother, which was swell. I could tell my father was taking a liking for her too. He was starting to hold that same expression he would hold when he looked at Ruth and Nicole. Maybe knowing that Hazel didn’t have parents anymore made my parents act this way. They were being comforting, even if that meant telling every embarrassing story I had whenever I was younger.
I looked over at my mum, seeing the biggest smile on her face. I’ve never brought home a girl, even though she’s met some of my other girlfriends. The light in her eyes, I already knew she was accepting Hazel as a daughter. Knowing this, I just hope she wasn’t getting any ideas.
For over an hour we all talked and looked at photos from my past. I laughed at a lot of them, finally giving into telling some of the stories that happened. There was a sort of light in her eyes that I’ve never seen before, and all it caused me to do was smile. She was happy, happier actually, and even if it was just for a little while, I wanted her to cherish it.
“Ey, son, tell me something, how much longer will your tour be when you leave for it again?”
I looked at my father, feeling my smile fade. I’d be going back to work in a week. “A month.” I answered him. I’d be in America for a month before being able to come back home. I knew Hazel wouldn’t want to come, seeing how people would suspect her being with me and the lads. I’d let her stay here, plus, I was sure there were going to be things she’ll be wanting to do on her own. I knew I couldn’t be by her side forever, but I wanted to make everything as easy as possible for her.
Somehow the small blue in my mood only caused the rain to begin pouring outside. “Whoa, guess I spoke a little too soon about the weather, eh? It’s coming down hard.” Dad said, looking out the window.
I watched as Mum put down her stack of photos and grabbed the remote, turning on the weather.
“Seems it’ll be that way until morning.” I noted, staring at the screen, trying to keep my mind away from the touring deal.
“Well, since that’s the case, why don’t you two stay the night here? It’s been so long since I’ve been able to sleep under the same roof as my baby.” Mum said. “I can make dinner too.”
“I think football is on today too.”
My ears perked up at that. I looked at Hazel. We locked our gazes. “You okay with that?” I asked her.
A smile came apparent on her face. “Definitely.”
If only I knew the kind of plan Mum was dishing out later.
Yeah, okay, I’d be an idiot not to admit I was a little nervous. I was driving home. Hazel was sitting on the passenger side next to me, staring out the window, checking out the scenery. I could already see my older sisters trying to embarrass the shit out of me on purpose, my mother, well, she would probably do what she did to one of one and only girls I’ve brought home before. It was for homecoming, and she had the nerve to show every baby picture she’s ever taken of me.
Yeah, I knew I would never introduce a girl to my family again unless she meant something. Hazel was important to me. So yeah, I mean, any girl has to mean something to guy if they were willing to risk getting embarrassed and picked on by his family in front of her. I just hoped Mum wouldn’t go overboard with any of the pictures. Knowing her, she may just stick to the achievements I’ve had in school. I couldn’t say the same for my sisters though. I had some pretty… remarkable times with them.
We hit my hometown. The feeling of home was starting to set into me, chilling me out some. It’s been a few months since I’ve been in England, but it’s been so much longer since I’ve been home with my family. To think I get to spend a little time with them, also allowing Hazel to meet them, I knew I had nothing to worry about.
I pulled up into the driveway of my home. I shut off the car. I let out a breath. “Ready?” I asked her.
Her face lifted into a smile as she nodded. We both unbuckled ourselves, stepping out of the car. She waited a second to follow behind me to the steps to the house. She stood next to me and I had a hold of the doorknob. I let her take a deep breath before opening the door and stepping in. “We’re here-“
I was engulfed into a tight hug, cutting me off my words and air supply. “Mum… can’t breathe…” I gasped.
“I’ve missed you so much!” I could hear the tears in her voice.
I wrapped my arms around my mother’s shoulder, giving her a tight squeeze. I warned her I’d be coming today, but I never said anything about Hazel tagging along. I smiled at my father who was making his way around the corner. “Mum… Dad… I brought someone.”
Hearing this my mother let me go. I stepped back to stand beside Hazel. “This is Hazel. Hazel, this is my mother and father, Karen and Geoff.”
Hazel smiled from beside, holding up a hand to wave a hello. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you!”
“Oh, isn’t she the cutest thing!?” My mother exclaimed, coming over to Hazel and bringing her into her arms.
I could see the shock on Hazel’s face, but it quickly changed into a smile as she hugged my mother back. They drew apart and my mother started talking softly, only to Hazel. I looked up where Dad was and walked toward him. I wasn’t sure how it was with dads, but they had this thing where they would always bear hug their sons. My feet were lifted off the ground and I groaned. His hug was even tighter than Mums. “Dad-“
“Oh, man up, son.” He placed me back down on my feet.
He placed an arm over my shoulder and started toward the living room. I looked around, expecting to see my older sisters. “Where’s Ruth and Nicky?” I asked.
He led me to the couch. He took a seat at his recliner, something I noticed was a new piece of furniture in the house. “They both have to stay in for work. Ruth said it wouldn’t be a big as long as you would wait for a weekend to bring up Hazel…”
I watched my dad turn his head toward the hallway we were in earlier. I turned too, seeing my mother moving around in the kitchen, Hazel gone from my view. “Speaking of which, she seems to be a really nice girl… It’s sad to think of what’s happened to her.”
He looked over at me, studying the expression on my face. “I know it’s hard, mostly for her, but for you too.” He reached over, patting my knee. “Stay true, Liam. I’m sure she’s knows you are doing everything in your power to help her.” I saw a small grin spread across his face. “Who knows, she might become your girlfriend.”
I gave him a slightly scolding look. He laughed, his hand resting on the back of my neck before returning to rest on his recliner. I heard footsteps then. I turned my head to see Hazel walking in with a tray of cups. “Um, Karen asked me to bring the coffee in here so she could get something.”
She put the tray on the coffee table, I moved my feet back so she could walk around me to take a seat on the couch next to me. We all grabbed a cup of the hot liquid, taking a sip. “The weather’s been getting quite colder lately. Looks like autumn is almost over, huh?” My dad said, making conversation.
“It’s been raining a lot where I’m from.” Hazel said. “I’m surprised it hasn’t been raining much here.”
“Oh, just give it a few days, hon.” Dad said, smiling a little at her. “It’ll start pouring so much it won’t stop.”
I heard the sound of footsteps then. I saw my mother coming in with a box. A box I feared she’d be bringing out. “Mum, no…” I groaned, already sinking down in the couch, covering my face with my hand.
“Son, you should’ve learned from the first time.” Dad said, slapping my knee, knowing he was getting himself prepared to tell whatever embarrassing story that went with each picture.
I buried my face in the arm of the couch. “Oh, come on, Liam. Don’t be such a baby.” Hazel said, lightly slapping my knee.
I heard my dad laughing for God knows what. I sat up, my bum practically hanging off the couch as I watched my mum give Hazel a stack of photos, letting her go through them. Mum was looking through her own little stack. I took another swig of the now warm coffee. I could hear Hazel laughing at some of the pictures.
She was getting along with my mother, which was swell. I could tell my father was taking a liking for her too. He was starting to hold that same expression he would hold when he looked at Ruth and Nicole. Maybe knowing that Hazel didn’t have parents anymore made my parents act this way. They were being comforting, even if that meant telling every embarrassing story I had whenever I was younger.
I looked over at my mum, seeing the biggest smile on her face. I’ve never brought home a girl, even though she’s met some of my other girlfriends. The light in her eyes, I already knew she was accepting Hazel as a daughter. Knowing this, I just hope she wasn’t getting any ideas.
For over an hour we all talked and looked at photos from my past. I laughed at a lot of them, finally giving into telling some of the stories that happened. There was a sort of light in her eyes that I’ve never seen before, and all it caused me to do was smile. She was happy, happier actually, and even if it was just for a little while, I wanted her to cherish it.
“Ey, son, tell me something, how much longer will your tour be when you leave for it again?”
I looked at my father, feeling my smile fade. I’d be going back to work in a week. “A month.” I answered him. I’d be in America for a month before being able to come back home. I knew Hazel wouldn’t want to come, seeing how people would suspect her being with me and the lads. I’d let her stay here, plus, I was sure there were going to be things she’ll be wanting to do on her own. I knew I couldn’t be by her side forever, but I wanted to make everything as easy as possible for her.
Somehow the small blue in my mood only caused the rain to begin pouring outside. “Whoa, guess I spoke a little too soon about the weather, eh? It’s coming down hard.” Dad said, looking out the window.
I watched as Mum put down her stack of photos and grabbed the remote, turning on the weather.
“Seems it’ll be that way until morning.” I noted, staring at the screen, trying to keep my mind away from the touring deal.
“Well, since that’s the case, why don’t you two stay the night here? It’s been so long since I’ve been able to sleep under the same roof as my baby.” Mum said. “I can make dinner too.”
“I think football is on today too.”
My ears perked up at that. I looked at Hazel. We locked our gazes. “You okay with that?” I asked her.
A smile came apparent on her face. “Definitely.”
If only I knew the kind of plan Mum was dishing out later.
i love this story sooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!
1/17/14