At some point after she had entered Michigan, Belinda had stopped calling her parents. It wasn’t intentional, by any means; it was just that… well, they already knew she was on her way home, what was the point in giving them a play by play when she was so close? She also didn’t think they would like to know that she had stopped just outside of Scarlet Oak for a few days. After Belinda had accidentally let slip the reason why her group had been forced to return to America, her mother had been adamant that she return home as quickly as possible. Lucille was likely going to be in a mood considering Belinda had made that first call more than five months ago. She was home now, and that was all she really thought mattered in the end. As Belinda pulled her van into her parent’s driveway, she could feel excitement bubbling up in her stomach. She was looking forward to seeing her parents, but more than anything, she was practically vibrating with joy at the thought of seeing Glenda again. How long had it been? Her head told her months, when in actually it had been more like years. She stared at the house for a moment, picturing what her sister was doing inside. Had she changed much? What was she up to now? True, her mother had mentioned something about an apartment, but Belinda had been forced to cut the conversation short when someone spilled paint on the protest banner she had been working on.
‘We’re home?’ The child-like voice entered her mind as Mayara stuck her head up from the backseat. The familiar rested her head against Belinda’s arm, blinking curiously up at her. “Yes, we’re home,” she answered with a smile as she reached up and stroked the fur on the bridge of the capybara’s nose. Mayara made a squeaking grunt and turned to prance through the back of the van; Belinda was pretty sure it was supposed to be an excited dance more than anything else.
With the duffle bag on her shoulder and the familiar at her side, Belinda made her way up to the front door. She had barely finished her first knock when her mother tore open the door; apparently, they hadn’t been expecting company. “Belinda!” The surprise was obvious in Lucille’s voice. She watched as her mother’s expression went from shocked, to relieved, and then disgusted as her eyes traveled down to Mayara.
“Belinda Serenity, you have got to be kidding me.” The smile on her face brightened a few amps. For all that she disliked her mother’s constant need to nag, she had missed it.
“She’s my familiar, mom! Her name is Mayara and she’s been keeping me company all the way home.” Belinda took a step forward past her mother into the house. The capybara barely had a foot in the door when her mother sounded off again.
“It is not coming into the house.”
Belinda didn’t say a word as she bent down, picked up Mayara in her arms and proceeded to carry her up to her old bedroom. Lucille was muttering under her breath. The conversation wasn’t over, she knew that much, but she was not about to let her familiar sit outside, especially when she was so anxious to show her off to Glenda. Through the shut door, Belinda could hear the shower running. Carefully, she twisted the doorknob to let herself in. “Wait right here, just so I can say hello,” she instructed as she set Mayara on the closest bed. Her familiar nodded in understanding, watching with unwavering attention as Belinda entered the bathroom connected to their room. One step in – she had to stop herself from giggling. Two steps – she was careful not to let slip on the bathroom rug. Then, in one swift move, she threw back the shower curtain and wrapped her arms around her naked sister’s body. “SURPRISE GLENNIE! I’M HOME!”