I ring the doorbell since I don’t have a key anymore.  No one answers.  I should have known she wouldn’t be home when I got here.  I told her three times when I would be getting here.  God knows what is more important than me once again.  I search the front steps looking for where she would hide the key.  I see the fake rock she has used for years in the planter by the top stop.  Grabbing the key I insert it in the lock and open the door unable to believe my eyes.

“Wow” Ian says behind me.

I am speechless.  The house has been completely remodeled from the ceiling to the floors.  All of our furniture has been replaced with new modern furniture.  The light oak tables are now glass.  Our plaid couch is now a soft gray sofa with yellow arm chairs on the other side.

“Go” Ian pushes me into the house.  “It’s like 103 degrees out here.”

I fumble in the house and drop my bags by the door.  I walk around this house that I don’t know.  I love my mom for doing it.  It helps keep the bad memories at bay but I assure myself it wasn’t done for my benefit.  I wonder where she got the money for this.  Being in the designing world I know these pieces cost a small fortune.  Not something an office assistant can afford.

“Your house is beautiful.”  Ian says shutting the front door looking around the house, I assume for a vent to cool down.  It’s hard to believe Wisconsin summers can get so hot.

“This isn’t my house.”  I flatly say.  “Not the one I grew up in.”

“I see where you get your style.”  He says.

“I can assure you this is not my mother, she must have hired someone.  She has always been partial to a country theme.”  I respond still in awe over the house.  Every aspect has been redone.  Even the pictures from when Jack and I were little have been reframed into modern holdings.

“Whoever did it, it’s really nice.”  He says.

I put Ian in Jack’s old room, which has actually stayed close to the same.  His football trophies line the bookshelves with ribbons hanging below.  The only difference I notice is the twin size bed has been replaced with a queen.  I am surprised the bedding has been washed and ready for Ian.  I assumed I would be taking care of that when I got here.  We drag his bags up there and I show him the Jack and Jill bathroom we will share.

I am happy to see my room has been redone.  My daybed is gone replaced by a queen as well.  The walls went from purple to a lighter blue with a circled design bedspread.  All my furniture is gone with white furniture now in its place.  I throw myself on the bed closing my eyes.  Even with all new furniture when I close my eyes I feel the fear.  My nostrils fill with the smell and I am warped back to that night.  I open them quickly not wanting to remember.

Peeking in on Ian, I see him unpacking so I head downstairs.  The kitchen is remodeled as well with the most up to date stainless steel appliances.  The nice black bar top table sits in the corner with a bowl full of fruit in it.  If there weren’t pictures of Jack and I on the walls I would think I was in someone else’s house.  I open the fridge for a bottle of water and it is filled with food so I open the freezer, the same full of food.  I don’t know who is responsible for all this but I wish they could have been around when I was younger.

Just as I grab a bottle of water I hear the door open.

“Maddy” she yells.  “I assume that’s your blue car in the driveway.”

I walk out to the foyer and I am struck again.  My mom is wearing a navy blue pants suit and heels.  Her chestnut brown hair is cut short and chic.  Her make-up is subtle and complimentary.  She looks beautiful just like the house.

“Yeah I will go ahead and move it right now.”  I walk over to get the keys from my purse.

“That’s ok, I just parked behind it.”  She says.

Ok who is she and where is my mom?

“Um…Ok” I hesitate.  Before I can think to give her a hug or not she is embracing me.

“It’s so good to see you Maddy.  I missed you so much.”  Her hug is tight.  I don’t respond.  I have never hugged my mom like this before.

“Hi Mom.”  Is all I can say?  She pulls back grabbing my hands looking at me.  I see the anguish in her eyes.  Another reason I have stayed away.  I don’t want sympathy either.

“You are beautiful honey.  New York agrees with you.”  She smiles at me and I wish I had this mom when I was growing up.  “So, where is this guy you brought home?”

“He is upstairs unpacking in Jack’s old room.”  I answer opening my water bottle.

“I don’t need to tell you bringing a guy to the wedding is just going to complicate the situation Maddy.”  Her heels click on the dark hardwood floors as she goes into the kitchen.

There’s my mom.  Oh how I missed her for those five minutes.

“It’s not like that mom, he is a friend.”  I follow behind her.

“I’ve heard that before.”  She smirks at me over her shoulder.

“Mom, let’s just say.  I am not his type.”

“Oh Maddy, you are everyone’s type.”  She compliments me.  Ok, I like this new mom.

“Believe me, not Ian’s.”

“Did I hear my name?”  Ian enters the room.  He changed his clothes to plaid shorts, a tight v-neck shirt with a pair of converse shoes.  Did he restyle his hair?

“Yes, I was just telling my mom I am not your type.”  I smile at him.

“Don’t get me wrong Mrs. Jennings, I love your daughter but I do prefer a more shall I say bigger body.”  He holds both his hands up at his chest.

My mom looks at me raising both her eyebrows and turns back to Ian.

“Maybe you would have preferred her brother?”  My mom laughs.

“After looking at the pictures, I am a little disappointed he plays for the opposing team.”  He joins laughing with my mom.

“Oh Mrs. Jennings, we are going to get along fabulously.”  Ian says taking a swig of my water bottle.  I look at him from the corner of my eyes telling him he is a traitor.

“Please, call me Barb.”  She says.

“Barb?”  I question.

“Yes Barb, that is my name.”  She looks at me knowing what I am implying.  I decide to let it go for now.  “I am making a stir fry for dinner, will you two be sticking around?”

“You’re cooking?”  I question her again.

She ignores my question starting to cut up the chicken.  “Your brother and Lindsey are coming by.”  She has her back to me.

“We can stay, I don’t have many other plans anyway.  I think Ian saw most of the town from the Bassos to here.”  Before I can take the words back my mom is swinging around.  Her lips went from the casual smile to a straight tense line.

“Why would you be at the Bassos?”  Her tone curt.

“We ran into Gabe at the airport, that’s his rental car outside.  We are sharing it for the week.”  I ramble it out so fast.

“How is Gabe?”  She voice turns pleasant and turns back around focusing on the chicken again.  What was that?  Is she suffering from multiple personalities since I left?

By this time Ian is squinting his eyes at me confused as what is going on.  I am just as confused at her responses.

“Fine I guess.”  I shrug my shoulders at Ian.

“He always had a good head on his shoulders.”  She continues.  “Handsome too.  Too bad Ian, I don’t think he plays on your team either.”  She looks at him sympathetically.

“Oh Barb, I am pretty sure he prefers the pencil sharpener versus the pencil.”  Ian says taking a swig of my water bottle again.

My mom bends over in a fit of laughter.  “Ian, I love you already.”  She says.

I smile at him.  He always wins people over.

It is close to six when Jack and Lindsey come in.  Jack looks the same, dark hair mixed with his warm brown eyes.  He is over six foot and maintained his muscle toned football body pretty well.  Lindsey’s curly blond hair has gotten longer.  She barely wears any make-up but her natural good looks shine through.  She is cute and adorable.  They make a great couple and I am happy that my brother found the perfect partner to live his life with.