I remember waking up early the day Will was to come home. I couldn't wait to wrap my arms around him and hold his body close to mine.
I was all smiles as I went down to breakfast. The breakfast cook had Will's favorite breakfast of ham, eggs, and toast laid out. I damn near brought tears to my eyes. I really don't know what I would've done if I had lost him.
On the way to the back yard I passed him mom and she smiled at me. She had been so kind to me. She communicated as best she could with her choppy English. Most of the staff spoke decent English and they were nice enough to serve as translators. Really the only person who acted like they didn't want me there was his dad. I could've sworn he whispered something under his breath every time he saw me. Will later explained to me that he was probably muttering insults, but he's too much of a gentleman to insult a guest to his face.
My heart started to pound when I heard a car pull up. I just knew it was him! I ran to the door to welcome him home. I saw that I wasn't the only one who had that idea.
The door opened and he stepped in. Rebecca immediately threw her arms around him. They held each other for a few moments and then she stepped aside. Since I was a guest in their house I let his mom hug him next.
When she let go I saw his dad standing in the hallway. I knew Will was no longer close to his dad, but I still thought that the man was there to hug him too. Instead he sneered and said something in French that seemed to devastate Will. He practically fell into my arms and nuzzled his face into my neck.
Then his mom said something to him. He looked back at her and nodded. "Come on, let's go to my room," he said to me.
I took his arm and walked beside him so I could catch him if he was still weak and happened to fall. Once we were in his room I closed the door and helped him undress down to his underwear. "I'm not a helpless baby you know," he protested.
"I know, but you still look pretty pale. I just wanna help you."
"You're sounding like my mother and sister. It's a little scary."
"We act like this because we love you, you silly fucker. Mind if I ask you a personal question?"
"You should know better by now. My life is an open book. I can't imagine that there'd be anything about me you don't already know, but if there is, go ahead and ask."