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afternoon.”
    “Yes, Aunt Lu.”
    Aunt Lu had all sorts of fashion rules,
and if you were transacting business, you better be dressed up. Thankfully, I
knew her all too well, and I had packed a business suit and heels. Heels were a
must in her book.
    I drove the thirty minutes it takes to get
to Kaysville. The whole time I felt all sorts of uncomfortable. It had been nine
and half years since I had been home. It was dark, but it looked like not much
had changed as I drove through Main Street. It was decorated for Christmas. If
there had been snow, it would have looked like a scene from a snow globe, but
thankfully we rarely got snow there. I saw a couple of people I recognized
leaving the hardware store. I was just hoping I didn’t see any Jacksons.
I had no idea where Brady lived now that he was out of the limelight. I just
hoped it wasn’t in Kaysville. He probably married another beauty queen and had
two kids by now. Aunt Lu and I made it a point never to talk about Kaysville or
its inhabitants. It was easier that way, or at least I thought so. Now that I
was driving through town, the thought occurred to me that I should have
probably asked her about Brady’s whereabouts, just in case.
    Our home was in the middle of town. It was
a large, stately antebellum style home with white pillars to match. It was an
ostentatious home, but it matched my Aunt Lu perfectly. It was beautiful and
larger than life, just like her. As I pulled through the gate, I had to hold
back the tears. It was silly to cry over coming home, but it had been a very
long time, and along with the bitter memories, there had been some very sweet
ones. I drove around the circular drive and parked right in front of the house.
My aunt hated that, but she wasn’t home. I didn’t even get to the front door
before Doris came running out, practically in tears that I had come home. She
was all a dither as she hugged me and helped me with my suitcase.
    My aunt had let her know I was coming, so
she had prepared a light dinner for the two of us, and she readied my old room.
Walking into that old room was like stepping into the past. My aunt hadn’t
touched a thing in my absence. The four poster bed still had my pink ruffled
comforter, and my trophies and ribbons from various events like piano recitals
and debate teams were still displayed on the shelves above my old desk. My high
school diploma and valedictorian award and sash were still proudly placed on my
desk too. The room was a time capsule.
    “I placed fresh linens on your bed, Miss
Ella.”
    “Thank you, Doris.”
    She hugged me again. “I’m just so happy
you’re home.”
    I wished I could say I was too, but I
squeezed her back. “Goodnight, Doris.”
    As soon as she left, I headed straight for
my old bathroom. It had been the perfect bathroom for a teenage girl. It had a
large, well-lit vanity and seat, a claw foot tub, and a separate shower. I
started the shower and climbed in and tried to unwind from my long day, and I
tried to keep the memories at bay, but this old place was making it difficult.
Everything reminded me of Brady, even the vanity. How many times had I sat
there getting ready for a date with him? And many times there had been fresh
flowers there from him. He hadn’t been allowed to come here, but he’d had
flowers delivered regularly with the sweetest notes.
    I stayed in the shower until I pruned. I
got out to find towels and a silk robe waiting for me. Doris was the best. I
had forgotten how nice it was to have a housekeeper. I sat at the vanity and
went through my nightly beauty regimen, taught to me by Aunt Lu. I masked and
moisturized and hydrated. It had worked well for her over the years. I was
hoping I had inherited those youthful genes, but only time would tell, I guess.
    After drying my hair, I climbed into my
old bed and tried to settle in for the night. I was exhausted, but sleep didn’t
want to come. After an hour I gave up and turned on my bedside lamp. I pulled
out