Chapter 8 Welcome home, Camilla

The plane landed just before evening, and Camilla could feel her heart beating fast as she stepped out of the airport, dragging her suitcase behind her.

It had been four whole years since she last breathed this air, since she last walked on this ground and it feels strange.

As she walked out of the arrival hall, her eyes scanned the crowd, and then she spotted Mr. Robert, the family driver, standing by the entrance with a small smile already forming on his face.

He had been driving for her family since she was a little girl, and even after four years, he still looked exactly the same, maybe just a little more gray in his hair.

He spotted her at the same time and gave a small bow. "Miss Camilla, welcome back. Look at you, all grown and beautiful"

"Oh thank you Mr. Robert!" Camilla smiled wide and walked faster towards him. "It's so good to see you again. You haven't changed one bit"

"Ah, you flatter an old man" he chuckled, already reaching to take her suitcase from her hand. "Your parents have been counting down the days for your arrival. Come, come, the car is this way"

"How is your family? Your grandchildren… Amanda and Fia must be so big now" Camilla asked as they walked together towards the parking lot.

"They are growing too fast for my liking" Mr. Robert laughed, loading her bags into the trunk of the car. "Three more grandchildren have been added to the list…Peter, Kendrick and Kendra. You will see them one of these days”

"Oh wow. I really have been away for long" she laughed kindly at the News,

He opened the back door for her, and she slid in. Mr. Robert got in and started the engine, and soon they were driving through the streets. Nothing have really changed over the year.

The forty minute ride home felt like it took forever and Camilla kept looking out the window the whole time

When the car finally stopped in front of the house, her hands were shaking a little as Mr. Robert came around to open the car door for her. Stepping on the porch, she was about to hold the door handle when the door swung open

"Camilla my angel!" her mother screamed, both hands flying to her mouth.

"Mom…" was all Camilla managed to say before Olivia threw her arms around her, holding her so tight like she was scared Camilla would disappear again.

"My baby is home. My baby is finally home" Olivia kept saying, over and over, tears already running down her face

Her father came out too and pulled both of them into a hug "Look at you" he said, holding Camilla at arm's length to look at her properly. "You've grown so much. My little girl is now all grown"

"Dad, you saw me just eight months ago" Camilla laughed, wiping the single tear that slid down her cheek

"Still, every time I see you, you look more grown. Time doesn't wait for anybody" her father said, shaking his head with a proud smile.

They all walked inside together, her mother still holding her hand like she didn't want to let go

"We are so sorry we couldn't come for your graduation" Olivia said suddenly, her face falling. "Your father had that big seminar in Geneva, the one he had been preparing for almost three months. It was the same week as your graduation, and by the time we found out, it was already too late to change the flight"

"And I couldn't let your mother travel alone all that way" her father added. "You know how she gets lost even in the mall here"

"I do not get lost! Do not exaggerate in front of my daughter" her mother said, hitting his arm playfully, and Camilla laughed enjoying the couple's banter.

"It's okay, really," Camilla said, and she meant it. "You guys came to see me three times in four years. That's more than enough. I understand"

Her mother squeezed her hand. "Still, we felt so bad missing it. We watched the video your friend sent us over and over"

"Ben sent you the video?" Camilla asked, surprised.

"Yes! That boy is so sweet. He said he didn't want us to miss it completely after we told him how bad we felt for not being able to make it" her mother said, smiling.

They settled into the living room, and Camilla sank into the milk color couch. Nothing had really changed… only for the larger chandelier in the middle of the living room. Even the small was still the same… home!

"So how are your friends? Ben and that loud girl, what's her name again? Errrmmm…" her father asked

"Sherry" Camilla said, chuckling. "They're good. They said to greet you both. Ben said to tell you thank you for the scented candles you sent last time you visited, he wouldn't stop talking about it"

"It was nothing. It was just an appreciation for taking care of our baby girl" her mother laughed. "And Sherry, is she still her troublesome and loud self?

"Always" Camilla said, shaking her head with a smile. "She hasn't changed one bit"

"Oh, that girl is a time bomb. And her mouth will get her in trouble one day" her father said with a laugh, "And speaking of, Max was just asking the other day when you'd be…"

"George!" Olivia cut in sharply, shooting him a look that made him stop mid-sentence. "I'm sure Camilla is tired from the flight. Let's not bore her with too much talking before she's even settled"

Her father blinked, glancing between his wife and his daughter, like he wasn't quite sure what he had done wrong, but he let it go. "Right, right. Sorry, love"

Camilla felt something tighten in her chest at the mention of Max's name, but she quickly pushed it down and forced a small smile, not wanting her parents to notice her discomfort.

Her mother reached out and touched her face gently "We missed you so much, Cam. This house has been too quiet without you"

Camilla felt her throat tighten, "I missed you guys too. So much"

"Go freshen up" her father said, standing up.

"Take your time, wash up, and come down for dinner. Your mother has been cooking your favorites since morning like she's feeding an army"

"I did not cook since morning" her mother said, rolling her eyes, "maybe just since afternoon"

Camilla laughed and grabbed her suitcase, heading up the stairs to her old room

Everything was clean and exactly the way she left it, her books still on the shelf, her old pictures still on the wall. Her bed looked inviting like always…

She dropped her bags on the bed and sat down for a moment, just breathing it all in. She was home,

Just then her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out, expecting it to be Ben or Sherry checking if she landed safely

But it wasn't,

Max! It was a message from Max.

Her whole body went still instantly. Two years since he had stopped calling, after she ignored every single one of his calls until he finally gave up. And now, out of nowhere, his name was sitting right there on her screen.

Her hand trembled as she opened the message.

It read..

~‘Welcome home, Camilla’

Her heart was pounding so loud she could hear it in her ears. Only three words… and now she felt haunted,

He already knew she was back!