Twisted Perfection

"Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path"

-Paulo Coelho

A sigh leaves my mouth as a smile forms on my face. My fingers squeeze around the suitcase next to me as I stand on the curb of New York City's airport. The smell of the air all around me is fresh just like how it was when I was younger. Sounds of all the busy cars fill my ears and it's so different from Paris. Closing my eyes I let the air run through my dark brown hair. I've missed my home.

When I open my eyes again I wave out my hand for a taxi. The first one drives past me, but the second car stops and pulls up to the curb. Good now I won't be late for the family reunion. When the car stops I grab the handle opening the door. First I slide my suitcase into the seat next to me. Then I slide into the car.

Smiling as I sit in my seat the driver peaks at me through the mirror. "You seem excited? This must be your first time in New York." He says as he takes the car out of drive and pulls off.

Pulling my phone out of my purse I shake my head. "No sir. I'm actually returning home after 4 years."

His eyes widen as his brows raise. "Really? Welcome home then. Where am I driving you to?" He asks.

"Thank you, sir. You can take me straight to Brooklyn." I reply with a smile. He nods and turns his attention back to the road. When I look down at my phone I open my camera app and hold it up to get me in the frame. When I press the record button I get into my professional mode. "Hello, all!"

"I've finally made it back to NY and oh my gosh it's so beautiful. The taxi driver is taking me right to Brooklyn." Turning my camera I point it right towards the streets passing me by. There are so many people walking the streets. As we get further into the city the traffic slowly starts to build up. Pointing my camera up I gaze at the beautiful long buildings that gleam from the sun. "Look at all those buildings." Turning the camera back to me I smile.

"I'm so glad to be home." With that, I turn my camera off and put down my phone. It's going to take a while for me to get to my mother's house. I might as well let my eyes rest a bit. Closing my eyes I lean back in my seat and enjoy the rides as the car drives smoothly down the expressway.

___

As I get out of the cab I'm faced with my parent's house. So many memories lie here from before they both died. My eyes scan over the house and land on the plant my father planted the day he proposed to my mother. I was sixteen at the time and helped him plant it. The words he said to me that day are still rooted in my mind.

"By the time this tree gets big Joelle your mother and I will be celebrating our 9th anniversary."

A frown forms on my face at the memory. My mother and father didn't get to celebrate their 9th anniversary. They died two years ago in a car crash. The thing is I can't even be mad at the other drivers because my parents were the people driving drunk.

Turning around I wave to the Taxi driver. "Thank you sir." He nods as I close the door behind me. He doesn't take long to drive off and I'm left with this big house in front of me. Sighing I roll my suitcase up the driveway. Then I ring the doorbell.

It takes a minute then my auntie opens the door. "Oh my gosh, Joelle!" She squeals as she pulls me into a tight hug. I see the party has already started without me. As I hug her back I let myself melt into the warmness. Having not been in New York for so long I forgot how great it feels to be close to family. My aunt and I haven't seen each other since my high school graduation a couple if years ago.

Now I'm a college graduate starting up my own daycare business. "Hi, Aunt Rosie." She lets me go and looks at me with sadness in her eyes. I look just like my mother, I know.

"Wow, you look so big now. I'm glad you're moving back to New York." She smiles.

"Yeah I'm 25 now it feels so sureal." I smile. She widens her eyes and welcomes me inside as she moves out of the way. Taking my heavy suitcase I roll it inside. When I look around a lot of things are the same. Of course, some things are different too.

My mother's dish cabinet where she keeps her collectibles is still there. My father's paintings are still hung up on the walls. The grey wall paint that was there is gone now and is replaced by tan wallpaper. The smell of the house is different. Rather than flowers it smells like cigars and smoke. It has been years after all.

"Your grandpa set up a room upstairs for you. You can take your stuff up there. Everyone else is in the backyard." My aunt pats my back and I smile as my eyes wander up the newly painted stairway. It seems like they paint it all the time to keep it from getting old.

Nodding I make my way towards the staircase. Picking my suitcase up I huff with each step. Maybe I should have packed less. After my parents died my grandpa decided to take the house and care for it. He was lively and happy back then so I left him to it while I went off to college. Then I got the news. He hasn't been feeling great and has had to get a stay-at-home nurse.

That's one of the reasons why I'm back. Just making sure that he's alright, but on the phone, he insisted that he didn't need help. He's not going to be very happy that I'm here.

Once I make it to the last step I let out a huff. When my eyes scan down the hall I stop at one picture. A picture my father hung up of Him, me, and my mother. This was taken when I was 8 years old. I remember it like it was yesterday though. They told me if I was a good girl they would take me to go get some ice cream.

Shaking myself out of my thoughts I continue rolling my suitcase into the room. Once I step inside the smell of ciagarrets disappears. The room smells just like how my mother used to smell. This is probably her old office, but all the furniture that was there is gone now

I'll have time to unpack my suitcase later. Right now I need to be downstairs to say Hi to my grandfather. Setting my suitcase down to the side I make sure it's good before making my way back downstairs. When I open the backdoor the backyard is fully decorated.

A lot of families that I haven't seen in a while are here. My grandpa is in a wheelchair in the middle of the yard. He's bobbing his head to the music. Everyone else is sitting at the table eating. When I walk out everyone's eyes go to me.

"Joelle. I can't believe my eyes." One of my cousins says. When I was younger I used to have play dates with her all the time.

Smiling I walk over to her. "Hailey I haven't seen you in so long." She pulls me into a warm embrace. My cousin is 2 years older than me and her hair is a lot different. She's a 5'8 blonde and I'm a 5'4 brunette.

"I know! I'm so glad you're here. I heard you were opening a daycare." She holds my hands into hers. Nodding I look at my grandpa. He doesn't look happy at all.

"Yeah, It's going to take a year to be built so I'm just looking for a job now until it is."

"Well, I'll be sure to take my daughter there." She says motioning for a little girl who looks just like her to come over. The little girl waves at me and I smile. Isn't she just the cutest?

"Joelle I heard you're looking for a job?" My grandpa asks rolling his wheelchair over to me. He looks so frail. I can't believe I left him on his own for so long.

"Yes, Grandpa I am?" Tilting my head in confusion I wait for him to finish his sentence. He takes a minute to talk again.

"There's a man looking for a nanny not far from here. I know you like kids so you should take the job." He smirks as if he's planning something.

"I'm supposed to be taking care of you, not someone else's child." Crossing my arms I give my grandpa a stern look.

"I told you not to come here. I'm fine on my own I don't need your help." He starts to roll away from me. "Think about that job. It'll give you something to do around here." He rolls his eyes at me.

He's such a grumpy person when he doesn't get what he wants. Though the nanny job doesn't sound like a bad idea. I don't want to commit to a real job just to have to quit. I'll have to ask my grandpa more about it after the party.