1 Coming Home

I know I'm not the successful lawyer that my dad wanted me to be but he should know by now that I enjoy what I do. I enjoy helping the less fortunate. Pro bono has always been my passion. I've never been the big city hotshot lawyer they've molded me to be. I'm only twenty-four and if I could have my way, I would move back home and start my own firm. Of course, that would never happen, for as long as I live on the money of my parents, I'm but only a slave to them.

It's that time of the year where they say joy is spread and family time is important. It's the season of Christmas but why does it feel like family time is forced and that pretenses are created. Oh, joy! Can't wait to see my mom and dad again. I stand in line with the most expensive plane ticket my parents could buy. Why they just couldn't get me a ticket like all the other normal people, I don't know.

I find my seat after being escorted to it by the stewardess. I've just taken my seat when another one appears.

"Miss, can I get you anything before we take off for Dallas?"

I can see the misery written on the flight attendant's face as she also probably knows the season that lays ahead for her.

"I'm fine, thank you"

She nods and walks away with a fake smile on her face. I stare out of the window as the plane slowly makes its way to the runway. I see the city lights dance before my eyes as the plane moves a bit faster. I've tried so hard to avoid my parents at all costs but I guess I can't avoid them forever.

"Please put on your seatbelts as we're ready to take off in two minutes. We hope you'll enjoy flying with us"

I check if my seatbelt is correctly locked in. I'm not very fond of flying but my parents insisted that I fly. They believe flying is the safest mode of transport. The plane starts to take off and I feel my stomach making summersaults and I regret eating dinner tonight. The plane stabilizes and the seatbelt sign goes off.

I get comfortable and try to lose myself in a book I've been reading for almost a few weeks now. I don't have a lot of time to myself as I'm always busy with some sort of emergency that needs my attention right away. I feel so guilty to leave for these few days as I know how many innocent people out there needs my help to maybe get out of jail to visit their families. This makes me just angry to think that I've got to sacrifice all this time just to become my parent's little play doll.

I take a deep breath and try to focus on the book once more. The flight goes by in a wink and we land safely at the Dallas airport. I'm collecting my luggage when I see an old familiar face standing with a board that reads "Miss Knightley"

"Sam!"

I run toward him as he has been more of a father and friend to me than my parents could ever be. He has been driving me around from primary school to high school to my prom. He was always happy to see me and he even helped me get rid of a few boys I wasn't interested in.

"Miss Knightley!"

He gives me a bear hug as he is almost twice my size.

"I've missed you so much, Sam!"

"Me you too, Miss Knightley"

"How have you been?"

"I've been good thank you and you, Miss Knightley? Did you do anything your parents wouldn't approve of?"

I slap him against his big shoulder jokingly and say. "I'm always doing something that I'm not supposed to and definitely something my parents don't approve of"

We laugh together as we walk towards the car. Of course, my parents send Sam with the limousine. Sam opens the door for me and I take my seat inside. It's exactly as I remember it. It drips of abundance and it lives well up to the name "Knightleys" around these parts. How else would a Knightley travel?

Before I get to my parent's house, which I so lovingly call "The House of Terror", I wanted something so bad that I've missed in the big city. I ask Sam to take me to my favorite place in town. They make the best hot cocoa in the land. We drive through the snowy streets and the town is a snowy Christmas story. It's decorated with lights and Christmas trees on every corner.

There's a good reason I want to move back here and open my own firm. This town and the people in it have always been good to me and I would like to give back to them. I've almost saved up enough money to be free from my parent's grip on my life. I just need a few more months. Sam stops in front of the green door shop. It's still early in the morning and the sun is almost up.

I walk up to the door and is just about to knock when I saw someone already inside. That's strange? I'm usually the only one that knows that Mr. Sinclair is open before seven in the mornings. I open the door and the bell on the door rang as I enter the shop. Mr. Sinclair always goes over the top with his Christmas decorations as his wife always loved decorating the shop when she was still alive. Now he makes sure to celebrate her with every decoration he can find, making sure you don't miss the spirit of Christmas.

A man is sitting at the bar and he's clearly enjoying the company and his hot cocoa. Mr. Sinclair quickly turns his attention to the door as the bell rang and then his face lights up.

"Aaahhh Miss Knightley! What a pleasant surprise?!"

He comes from around the counter and gives me a big hug. I return the hug as I have many fond memories of this place.

"I thought I'll never see you again?! Did you come for some hot cocoa?"

"You bet I did!"

"With tiny marshmallows as always?"

"How else should you drink it?"

You both laugh and walk to the counter. I find a seat while Mr. Sinclair makes the cocoa. My attention is quickly returned to the stranger not sitting too far from me. His cowboy hat stands next to his cocoa on the counter. It's clear to me that he's a true cowboy in every sense of the word by the looks of his brown boots and tight blue denim complimenting his body. He takes a sip of his cocoa and his shirt can't contain the bulging muscles it's trying to hide. Then he puts his drink down and it's as if he's only noticing you know for the first time. He looks my way with his piercing blue eyes that search mine and then he smiles, nodding his head.

"Howdy"