Because of Haven Beach

3 | regenesis

regenesis (n.)

a rebirth; fresh start

* * *

"READY to go?" my mom asked, hoisting our suitcases off the baggage claim conveyor belt.

I took my green suitcase from her. "Yep. Is Uncle Ricky here?"

She glanced down at her phone. "He actually sent Aunt Kelli to pick us up. Keep an eye out for her... She's in a White Chevy Equinox."

We walked out the automatic doors with our luggage in tow. Stopping on the sidewalk, my mom scanned the endless line of cars waiting at the curb. I didn't know what a Chevy Equinox looked like, so I pretended to look for my aunt too.

"There she is." Fumbling with our suitcases, I followed her to the white SUV.

"Michelle, it's great to see you!" Aunt Kelli embraced my mom before turning to me. "And Charlotte, you have grown so much!" In a flash, she wrapped me in a bone-crushing hug. Not being used to affection from anyone but my mom, I stiffened but eventually relaxed.

"Thank you. Uh, what should I do with the suitcases?"

Kelli pushed a button to open the trunk. "Just throw 'em there."

I played Tetris with the suitcases as they started chatting and made small talk.

"Thanks for letting us stay with you, Kel," my mom said when I rejoined them on the sidewalk. "I don't know what we would have done without you."

"It's what family is for." Aunt Kelli walked behind the car to slam the trunk shut. "I won't lie, we're all excited to have you back home. Especially Ricky and Ella, but don't tell them I said that... It's been what? Seventeen years since you've returned?"

"I think so. I was pregnant with Char, and you were newly married and pregnant with Ethan."

My mom and Aunt Kelli were neighbors as kids. Even though Kelli was three years older than my mom, they were thick as thieves when they were younger. It was obvious their friendship was partially due to Kelli's crush on my mom's older brother, but she didn't seem to mind it. In fact, plotting to get Ricky's attention made their friendship stronger.

Kelli eventually got her way and started dating Ricky during their freshman year of high school. The pair ended up going to college together and moved back to Haven Beach after graduation. They soon got married, and the rest was history.

"The good old days," Kelli chuckled. "when we were young, dumb, and thirty pounds lighter."

"Ugh, don't remind me," my mom groaned, patting the non-existent flab on her stomach.

"Why don't we get going?" Kelli asked, opening the car doors for us. "We have a long drive ahead of us."

We hopped into the car and merged onto the highway, driving toward wherever Haven Beach was.

"So, Charlotte, you're a senior this year?" she asked, making eye contact with me via the rear view mirror.

"Yep." I looked out the window and marveled at Boston's architecture. The city beautifully combined modern and old buildings, all on the same streets. While I wasn't a stranger to cities, it was definitely a stark contrast from the relative modernity of Chicago.

"Well, as you probably remember from Cousin Amanda's wedding last year, Ethan's your age too. I'll make sure he shows you around school tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" I asked, my voice dripping with panic. Nobody told me that I was starting school tomorrow. On a Friday, nonetheless.