Coming Home
By
Anya Merchant
Copyright © 2015 by Anya Merchant
All rights reserved
Kindle Edition
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons is entirely coincidental. This work is intended for adults only. It contains substantial sexually explicit language and scenes that may be considered offensive by some readers.
CHAPTER 1
The air inside the car was still, almost suffocating. Max hadn’t said anything since they’d left the funeral, since before they’d even arrived at it, other than a few words to ward off well-wishers. The black suit that he’d been given to wear for the occasion folded strangely, feeling a little bit too stiff for him to move freely.
We haven’t said much to each other in days.
Max’s stepmother, Kim, was behind the wheel. Even in her drab, black mourning dress, she was beautiful. She kept her eyes focused on the road, with only the slightest hint of the tears she’d shed minutes earlier showing through.
I wish I knew what to say to her. It can’t be easy.
Kim slowed to a stop at an intersection and turned on one of the car’s turn signals. The sound of it clicking made Max feel as though he was being put on the spot, a contestant on a game show with time ticking away for his answer.
“I… I think she’d appreciate that you came all this way to honor her, mom.”
Kim glanced over at him and smiled.
“Thank you, honey,” she said. “My mom and I… Well, we weren’t on the best terms. It’s part of the reason why you never met her, Max, and why I haven’t been back here for so long.”
The car drifted forward through the localized business district of Newhaven, the small, Midwestern town that Kim had grown up in. It had taken the two of them an entire day of driving to make the trip out, Max and his mom switching off every hundred miles or so.
“Why didn’t you get along with her?” Max had been grasping at a question, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he felt like he regretted him. His mom, sweet and amicable as always, just smiled and flicked a couple of strands of hair out of her face.
“I was still a teenager when I left, a rebellious one, at that.” Kim was glancing at a couple of houses and stores they were driving by as she spoke. “We would talk every now and then over the phone, but with how often the three of us were moving for your father’s job, our relationship slowly fell to the wayside.”
Max nodded.
“I guess I understand that.”
In truth, Max understood it far better than he cared to admit. In the 18 years of his life, his father had moved him and Kim to dozens of different towns, never staying in any one for longer than a year. IT was a lonely way of life, devoid of the basic friendships and relationships that most teenagers thrived on.
The closest person in my life has been my mom, for years and years. How sad is that?
Max tried not to make the connection to the fact that his mom had just lost her mom, and instead focused on the road in front of them. Kim took a turn and pulled the car onto a long, well-maintained road that led through a standard looking suburban neighborhood.
“Well, here we are.” She reached over and rubbed Max’s shoulder encouragingly as they pulled into an unremarkable driveway in front of a blue, two story home.
“This is your childhood home?” asked Max. “I was expecting something a little more…”
A little more what? Run down, or decrepit? From the way mom always described it, I thought it would look like a place worthy of running away from.
“Well, it’s ours now,” said Kim. “It’s already late in the afternoon. We can rest for tonight, and then start packing up tomorrow morning.”
Disappointment stabbed into Max’s chest as he heard his mother’s words. Going to the funeral and packing the old house up were, of course, what they had come out to Newhaven to do. Unfortunately, it brought up familiar emotions, given how often he’d moved throughout his childhood. It had essentially meant restarting his life each time.
Mom’s already moved out of this neighborhood. Now I get to do it, too, without ever actually moving in.
Max climbed out of the car, trying to suppress the frown that was creeping across his face. He stretched his arms and glanced over at one of the adjacent houses.
A teenage girl was sitting on the front porch steps, staring at her phone. She was dressed casually in the hot summer weather, a pair of tiny athletic shorts and a neon pink tank top. Max’s gaze lingered on her for a second, and when she turned and caught him looking, he flinched away.
“I’m sorry…” The girl’s voice was sympathetic, and she stood up and began walking barefoot across the grass over to him.
“What?” Max scratched his head and tried not to ogle the girl’s body.
“You’re Mrs. Wilson’s grandson, right?” The girl came to a stop in front of the perfectly manicured dividing bush that split the lawns of the two houses apart.
“Uh, yeah,” said Max. “I didn’t really know her that well, though.”
He looked back toward the car. Kim was pulling their overnight bags out of the backseat. Max felt like he should have been helping her, but there was something about the girl that he couldn’t pull himself away from.
“She was a nice woman,” said the girl. “My mom has lived next to her for, well, pretty much her entire life. She went to school with Mrs. Wilson’s daughter, which I guess means…”
The girl glanced over at Kim. Before she could say anything more, the front door to the girl’s house opened, and another woman stepped out of it.
“Kim…” The new woman was smiling mournfully and directed her full attention at Max’s mom. She was wearing a flirty summer dress that she filled out quite nicely.
Max expected his mom to stop what she was doing and join the conversation, but she continued on her way toward the front door of their newly inherited house. She paused before unlocking it, setting a bag down turning her eyes toward the new woman.
“I’m not interested in rehashing old times, Jen,” said Kim. “I’m only here to honor my mother and tie up loose ends.”
The woman, Jen, walked along the hedge, positioning herself a little closer to Kim.
“We still have loose ends, Kim,” she said. “I don’t want to fight with you. It’s been years, decades. All I want to do is-“
“Just leave it be, Jen,” said Kim. “What’s done is done. We’re different people now, and things aren’t the same as they were back in high school.”
“Then why can’t we just sit down, as adults, and-“
Kim finally got the door unlocked, and unceremoniously stepped through it, disappearing before Jen could finish her sentence. Max awkwardly scratched his head and then looked back at the teenage girl, who seemed just as confused as he was.
“I’m Rose,” said the girl, reaching a tentative hand over the hedge.
“Max. Nice to meet you.” He took her hand into his and slowly shook it. It was warm and soft, and that, along with the friendly expression on Rose’s face, made him feel a little sad.
Maybe Mom’s reaction is the appropriate one. I’m probably never going to see this girl or her mother again. We’ll be gone in a couple of days, just like always.
“Rose, it’s almost time for dinner,” said Jen. “We should give Kim and her son a little bit of space to mourn.”
Rose nodded and then walked over to the front door of her house. She looked back at Max and flashed him a small smile before disappearing inside. Instead of following after his mother, he took a se
cond to look around the neighborhood.
There was a soft summer breeze on the air. The sun was slowly and methodically setting on the horizon, lighting up the sky with beautiful shades of orange and pink. Up and down the street, cars were pulling into driveways, and people were retiring into their homes for the night.
This is where my mom spent her childhood and grew up. I never had a place like this, not for any appreciable length of time, at least.
“Max?” Kim leaned out the doorway, her dark dress looking every bit as somber as it had at the funeral.
“Yeah, sorry, here I come.”
CHAPTER 2
The inside of the house looked like it had been frozen in time. Max slowly explored the first floor stepping through the coat room and into the living room. A large CRT television sat across from a flower printed couch, both looking as though they’d gone unused for several years.
Everything was impeccably clean, but Max could still detect a faint hint of dust in the air. The floorboards creaked in certain spots, but overall, the house had a warm and welcoming ambiance to it.
“It’s just like it was when I left.” Kim strolled out of the kitchen, her arms folded tightly across her chest. “They never changed anything…”
This must be overwhelming for her.
“Mom, you don’t have to stay here if you don’t want,” said Max. “I’m sure that we could afford a hotel room for you if the memories are too much. I’ll chip in.”
Kim shook her head.
“No, this is exactly where I want to be,” she said. “Though it’s a little infuriating that Jen still lives next door. I had thought that she’d moved out of state after marrying her husband.”
Max shrugged.
“Maybe she came back for some of the same reason that we did,” he said.
Kim frowned and walked back into the kitchen. Max followed behind her slowly.
“Your grandmother left the cupboards fully stocked,” she said. “It’s bringing back a lot of memories. I think a good portion of my culinary flare comes from her, you know.”
“That’s great.” Max walked over to the counter and took a seat on one of the stools alongside it. “Listen, Mom, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
Kim raised an eyebrow at him, turning away from the kitchen utensil drawer she was rummaging through.
If I don’t bring this up now, we’re just going to fall right into the usual pattern.
“I’m going to be a senior, this upcoming fall,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I’d really like it if for once…”
His mom was listening with a somewhat worried look on her face. Max could tell that she already knew what he was going to ask.
“Well,” he continued. “I want to settle down for the year, and not have to move. Switching schools all the time has never been good for my grades, or my stress levels.”
Or my social life, for that matter. I don’t remember the last time I made a real friend.
“Honey, I understand how frustrating it is.” Kim walked around the counter to him and set a hand on his shoulder. “Your father’s job is really what’s to blame for it. He’s a critical part of the company. They need him in different cities, travelling all the time.”
“I know that, Mom,” replied Max. “But it’s really hard.”
“I don’t like it all that much either.”
“Mom, I’ve never gotten a chance to relate to people my own age.” Max made eye contact with her and sighed. “The only person I have to talk to most of the time is, well, it’s you.”
Rather than being put off by his admission, Kim actually seemed flattered. She rubbed his shoulder gently and then brought her face in close to his. It made Max feel a little uncomfortable and a little strange.
“Let’s talk to him,” she finally said. “This isn’t where I want to settle down, Max, with Jen living next door and all the bad memories this place holds. But I understand where you’re coming from, and we do own the house, at least for now.”
Kim led him out of the kitchen and into the living room. She rifled through her bag for a minute before pulling out her laptop. Max took a seat on the couch as she set it up on the coffee table.
“Your grandmother didn’t even set a WiFi password for the router.” Kim smiled sadly at him. “That’s the type of neighborhood that this is.”
After getting the computer connected, Kim opened up Skype and requested a connection with Terrance, Max’s father. The two of them waited for a couple of long seconds, and then the screen shifted to the face of a familiar figure.
“Kim? Max? Heeeeeeeeey!” Terrance was smiling broadly at the two of them. It took Max a moment to realize what seemed off about him.
He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and there was laughter in the background. It was easy enough to tell that he was in a hotel room, which given the nature of his job, wasn’t unexpected. His demeanor was cheery, and given the circumstances, it almost felt like he was throwing his happiness in Max and Kim’s face.
“Hello dear,” said Kim. “We just got back from the funeral.”
“Oh, you did, huh?” Terrance scratched his head and glanced over his shoulder. “Well, that’s, uh… hold on just a second.”
The image cut out, followed by what sounded like a muffled conversation and a door closing.
“Sorry about that!” Terrance was back on screen. “One of the, uh, maids was at the door. How are you two doing?”
“We’re hanging in there, Dad…” Max suppressed a sigh.
He’s making it obvious this time. How in the world does Mom put up with this cheating asshole?
“Terrance, my mother left us the house,” said Kim, softly. “That was part of the reason I wanted you to come out with us. It belongs to us now, and Max… well, you know how hard the moves have been on him.”
“What?” Terrance was staring at something in the background of the frame. “I’m sorry, we might have to talk about this later.”
“Dad, I don’t want to have to move anymore,” said Max. “I just want a single year where I-“
“Not everything is about you Max,” said his father, cutting him off.
“I don’t have any friends.” Max was shaking his head and gritting his teeth, the honesty of his words biting at the edges of his soul. “Dad, I feel like an outcast. I haven’t learned to be a normal teenager…”
“Max, this is stupid.” Terrance frowned and shook his head. “I hate to be blunt, son, but it’s your own fault if you’re lonely.”
“Terrance!” Kim frowned and crossed her arms.
“I’m serious, Kim. You need to learn how to put yourself out there, Max. Nobody likes a shy guy. When’s the last time you asked a girl out, or really tried to make a friend?”
Max shook his head and stared blankly at the screen.
He doesn’t get it. Every time we move, I become nobody.
“Anyway, I uh…” Terrance looked beyond the perspective of the computer screen and smiled at something in the background. “I gotta go. You two will be coming home soon enough.”
The screen went black. Max looked down at the ground, feeling his frustration building. He looked over at his mother and saw that she had an empty expression on her face.
“He’s probably right, Max,” she whispered. “With the property taxes, and what it would take to move everything across the country to get here, maybe we should-“
“No!” Max spoke in a louder voice than he’d been intending. “Mom, this is my last chance. I want to stay here.”
Kim frowned at him and then stood up from the couch.
“Max, this place holds a lot of bad memories for me,” she said. “Some of them in living form. I’m not exactly thrilled by the prospect of living next to my teenage rival, as a 36 year old woman.”
Is that what this is about, the next door neighbor? If I could convince Mom, it wouldn’t matter what Dad thought.
“Can we at least stay for a day or two?” a
sked Max. “It will take us that long to finish packing, anyway.”
Kim sighed and then shrugged her shoulders. She reached down to the bottom edge of her mourning dress and pulled on it, adjusting it on her fit frame a little.
“Yes, of course,” she said softly. “Max… Don’t let what your father said go to your head. I’m your mother, but I’m also your friend.”
She opened her arms and Max stood up into them, pulling her into a hug. Her body felt soft against his, and he had to work to keep from noticing how pleasant her breasts felt pushed against his chest.
I shouldn’t think things like that.
CHAPTER 3
Dinner was a straightforward, if unimaginative affair. Max sat in the living room watching TV while Kim cooked chicken breasts, roasted potatoes, and green peas.
There was something about being in the house that made Max feel warm. He had never known his grandparents on his mom’s side of the family, but their personality and touch exuded from every corner of the home. They had been good people, to the end.
“The food is just about ready,” said his mother. “You can come into the kitchen and have a seat at the table, if you’d like.”
“Alright.”
The food smelled amazing. Kim had changed out of her black dress and into a white t-shirt and black yoga pants. She wore a pink apron over them casually, and seeing her caused Max to feel a bit uncomfortable in his formal suit.
“Well, what do you think?” She smiled at him as he looked down at his plate. “I may not always have gotten along with my mom, but I can’t argue with her taste in spices.”
“It looks great, Mom,” said Max. He picked up his fork and knife and started digging in.
The two of them always had dinner together. It had been a regular part of their life for as long as Max could remember. Terrance had always been an absentee father, and never contributed much to the conversation even in the occasional dinners that he would manage to be home for.
“It’s a little hard for me to believe that I spent 18 years in this house,” said Kim.
Coming Home (Taboo Erotica) Page 1
