Always Been You

It read :

I didn’t know you were moving back. That’s good news… I guess. Anyways, we could meet in my office on Monday. One pm..

I guess you already know where my office is. If you don’t, get Jonathan to tell you.

Katherine stared at her phone for a while. The man hadn’t changed. He was still as arrogant and annoying as before, maybe even more annoying.

She realized a part of her was hoping he would refuse to meet her. Now that he had agreed to meet her she was nervous. How the hell was she going to handle seeing Jensen Packard after all these years.

————–

Katherine sighed as she got closer to her parents house. It had been a long journey. And definitely not easier when Tim had asked “Are we there yet?” like every fifteen minutes.

Their stuff had arrived two days ago, thanks to Jonathan. He took care of that too, and Katherine was so thankful. What could she have done without him? She had sold almost all the furniture. She was going to get new ones. So the stuff to move wasn’t that much.

She drove right into the compound and packed the car. Then she got out and helped Tim out. She looked around. The whole place looked the same. Just the way it always looked. It was almost like she had never left. Her parents had obviously not changed one bit. They liked old things. She thought smiling.

Her thoughts were interrupted by her mother’s voice.

“Oh, Kathy, thank heaven you are here.”

Tim was already running towards her mother.

“Grandma” he yelled as he ran. Giving her a really tight hug.

“Hello sweetie,” her mom said. “I’m so glad you both are here…. How are you, Timmy?”

“I’m fine, grandma,” Tim replied.

Delia Kavell threw herself into Katherine’s arms and hugged her fiercely. “You are here, Kathy,” she said.

A hint of amusement lightened Katherine’s expression. “Did you doubt I would, mom?” she responded, wrapping her mother in a gentle embrace.

She was a tiny creature, Katherine thought, smiling, brimming with passion and energy and emotion. She was also a woman who inspired unwavering devotion.

Katherine had spent her life watching as she charmed those around her with unconscious ease. Some singular quality reflected in her soft hazel eyes and shy, welcoming smile could win over even the most hardened cases.

“Well” her mom said. “I can’t say that I wasn’t worried that you might change your mind and decide not to move… And you can’t blame me for doubting”

“I can’t say the thought didn’t cross my mind” Katherine replied. “But even if I wanted to stay, Tim wouldn’t have let me. He has been so excited, I knew I couldn’t take this away from him”

“Oh… You both are going to have such an amazing time here” Delia said, hugging Tim again. “You know I have always wanted us to stay together. This place is amazing, I still don’t understand why you left in the first place.”

“I know mom… I know…. but I’m here now”

“Oh yes you are” Delia said, as she kissed Katherine’s cheek, hugging her again.

“Hey hey… I like hugs too, you know” a voice said from behind them.

They all turned to see Katherine’s father, Jonah Kavell coming towards them.

“Grandpa” Tim yelled again, running to hug him as well.

“Wow… You are so big now” he said, running Tim’s head. “What have you been feeding my boy, Katherine?” he said jokingly.

“I always tell mom I am big” Tim replied smiling, obviously happy someone said he was big. “But she won’t listen… You see mom, what have I been telling you?”

“Hi dad,” Katherine said as she rushed forward to receive his kiss.

Jonah Kavell -one time barrister-at-law- and still vastly interested in legal matters, was a remarkable man. He had a large mustache. It had fascinated Katherine ever since she could remember and never failed to distract her attention when he was talking to her.

She remembered how annoyed he had been one afternoon -on her tenth birthday -when she had broken a plane of glass in one of the windows.

Her mom had told her to go to his study for a ‘talking to’, and her father had lectured her for half an hour only to find that she had not been listening to him.

“I’m so sorry, daddy”. She had said. “I was looking at your mustache. It is so wonderful”

Her father had been so flattered that he had ceased to be angry and he had wiggled the ends for her to make her laugh.

Katherine smiled at the memory. Dear daddy. She thought.

“Oh… I have missed you guys so much…” she said. “When is Jon going to be here? I thought his house wasn’t so far away?”

“Oh it isn’t… But I think he is just taking his sweet time. You know how your brother is” Delia replied

Katherine smiled. She knew.

“You are looking a bit pale, dear”. Her father said as they entered the house ”

“No I’m not… You say that every time I’m away from home”. Katherine replied.

“He’s right, honey,” her mom supported. “I think you have been working too hard. You haven’t been eating well”

“That’s not true mom”

“Well… It’s a good thing you are both here now” Her mom continued like she hadn’t spoken. “I will bring you food everyday… I know you bake and you are a great cook but I doubt you have time to eat them”

“You can bring us food every time, grandma,” Tim chipped in. “I will eat them.. You know I love your food”

“Awwwwn sweetie,” Delia said smiling. “I will do that, hun”Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

Just then Jonathan came in. “Hello” he said as he walked in.

“Uncle Jon,” Tim said. Jumping from his seat and running to Jonathan.

Jon hugged him back tightly. “Yeah… Such a big man” he said. “You’re glad you are here right? ”

“Yeah,” Tim said excitedly.

“I’m glad you are here too, buddy”

He moved towards Katherine and gave her a peck on her cheek. “Welcome back, sis,” he said.

“Thanks Jon”. Katherine said. “For the house, for helping with the moving.. For everything. You are the best”

“Yeah… I know I am”. Jon said smiling. “Sorry I’m a bit late… I had to drop Kate at her place”

Kate was Jonathan’s fiance.

“It’s alright… We just got here” Katherine said.

“Well… Good thing you are here now”. Delia said. “Let’s eat and then help Kathy get her things from the car. Then she and Tim can go to bed… I’m sure they must be very tired.”

Katherine couldn’t agree more. She was tired indeed.