Author's note:
This is the opening chapter of a three-part series. Each subsequent chapter will be submitted following the publication of the previous one.
Lisa pulled into her mother's driveway. Both her and her brother were visiting for the holidays after their year in college had just finished up. She decided to take some time off work so she could enjoy the summer. Working and studying to become a lawyer had taken its toll, so she decided to treat herself to a summer off before graduating.
Just days ago, she broke up with her high school sweetheart. After all her assignments, exams, and the drama and heartbreak, she was glad to be home. To her it was somewhere safe and somewhere that she could recover.
She had tears welling up in her eyes when she caught her reflection in the glass panel on the doorway and quickly tidied herself up. Her shoulder length brunette hair was tied into a ponytail. She wore denim shorts and a dark purple button-up tank top with one button undone to provide some relief from the heat.
Helen opened the door to greet her daughter and Lisa wrapped her arms around her before her mother could even speak. Tears came from both of them as they hugged each other tightly having not seen each other for nearly a year.
"Hey, Mom," Lisa began, after withdrawing from the hug. She wiped her tears away and immediately felt better. "How have you been?"
"Oh, me? I'm fine, Dear. Most importantly, though, how are you?" Helen gestured to her daughter to sit down in the kitchen. They were almost identical in appearance with long dark hair and radiant blue eyes.
Helen chose a more casual appearance. She wore jeans and flat slip-on trainers with a form-fitting t-shirt -- her comfort clothes in contrast to Lisa's summery attire. With the AC on in the house, she wore a light blouse over the t-shirt for some extra comfort.
"I'm good, all things considering," she said. She fell silent for a moment and became nervous. Helen placed a caring hand on her shoulder and allowed her to experience her emotions. "Actually, I'm pissed... I'm
angry
. Why did he turn out to be such a piece of shit, you know?"
Lisa broke down crying and Helen took her in her arms. She continued to cry into her mother's shoulder. They both missed this, supporting each other.
"There, there, Lisa. You're safe here," Helen said. A special feeling came across Helen in that moment. She was alone in the house for so long that it felt so good to have some company. But also, it felt even better that her daughter returning meant that she could be a mother again, that she could care for her.
They sat at the kitchen table and caught up, primarily talking trash about Lisa's now ex and how he was a cheater, worthless, a lying pig and a plethora of other justified insults. They even laughed as they each competed over who could tell the nastier insults. It was these kinds of mother-daughter interactions that they each missed.
Lisa was already feeling better. The last few weeks had been mentally tough and lonely for her. She hadn't been taking care of herself as a result. Weeks of not working out or eating properly resulted in a lack of energy and a dark cloud residing over her. Only in this moment was it beginning to lift.
"Anyway, I'll just get my bags from the car and unpack."
"I've made your bed, Lisa dear. And I've had a brand-new shower installed which should make you feel as right as rain." She hugged her daughter tightly once again and allowed her to get settled.
Lisa was just walking to her car when there was a familiar sound. It was her mother's old car, now driven by her brother. She could hear the noisy engine from down the street. Excited to see her younger brother, she stood there waiting in the driveway with an excited smile.
"Still driving that... thing, Luke? You ever think about upgrading? Or is it a case that a car is as only as good as the driver?"
"Nice to see you, too, Sis. That's an incredibly witty comment... for a lawyer. How much of the eight-hour drive did you spend thinking of that?"
Luke got out of the old car and took his sunglasses off. Lisa noticed that he hasn't changed much. He still wore baggy shorts and t-shirts. Although he was in better shape than she remembered, he still had a bit of a belly. She put it down to a consequence of him being around girls on campus. His dark hair was still a mess, though, and she chuckled at that.
"It's good to see you, Luke," she said and reached in for a hug. He was shorter than her, but not enough that she had to adjust her posture.
"And you, too, Lisa. I hope you're doing good. Well... all things considering." They shared a long hug. While their relationship was centred around sibling banter, it was moments like this that meant a lot to her. They separated and Luke went to open the door.
"Eh... Luke?" She stood there, with her heavy suitcase.
"What's up?"
"Are you going to use those muscles to help me carry my suitcase? Or are you still useless?"
"Do you want me to
help
you carry it, or, do you just want me to carry it?" he replied with a smirk.
"Ugh! Luke. C'mon. I've had a long drive and you're a guy. You should be helping a girl out, no?"
"Sexist much?"
"Sue me," she replied, then gestured him over. "I'm sleeping in my room. You can put it on my bed."
Back inside, Luke was in his room. He stayed home occasionally to help out their mom with odd jobs around the house -- replacing light bulbs, fixing the internet and cutting the grass to name a few. With the heat outside, he was itching for a shower, but he heard the shower's humming noise and assumed Lisa got to it first.
Lisa never treasured a shower more. The hot water against her skin made her feel comfortable - a warm, safe feeling she longed for. Hot water dripped and flowed down her voluptuous naked body. It cleansed her and made her more mentally prepared to recover over the next few weeks.
She lathered herself taking note about how she let herself get out of shape. She was in great shape but it was a little bit of extra fat in the stomach and around her arms that made her realise that she needed to pull herself out of the rut. She was thrilled at this surprise moment of motivation, a sure sign she was back on track to becoming her normal self.
