Splinters: Part One

Part One | 52

I swallowed before exiting from my car and walking up to the porch with Grady. I was almost shaking as my fist knocked on the door three times. I anticipated seeing Jo for the past two and half hours and now here I am.

No one answered.

"Maybe I should go stand over there," Grady said, pointing behind me, but I didn't pay attention to him and knocked again.

I wondered what she looks like now. Has her hair gotten longer? Does she wear makeup? What if her voice got deeper, if she got taller...

When the door opened, I was surprised to see the eyes of a boy who was maybe fifteen.

"Sup," he said, leaning against the door frame.

"Um, hi," I greeted awkwardly, glancing at Grady behind me. "Does Josephine McCarty live here?" I looked over the boy's shoulder to see if anyone else was there, specifically Jo.

"Yeah." He narrowed his eyes at me. "What's it to you?"

I raised an eyebrow at him skeptically. "I need to see her."

"No can do," he crossed his arms and stood up straight. "Josie doesn't like strangers."

I rolled my eyes. "If that were true, she would've never accepted living here."

"Hey, Seth, who's at the door?" someone else asked.

Just then, a girl with dark blonde hair came into view. She pushed passed the boy, a bright smile on her face. "Hi."

I took a step back, not prepared for her outgoing demeanor.

"Hey! Come on, guys, who is it?" another voice questioned, except I knew this one.

Once Josephine saw my face a few feet behind her foster siblings, the biggest smile I've ever seen appeared on her face. "Brayden?!"

Immediately, she pushed through the boy and girl and hugged me. With my arms around her waist, I lifted her up and did a half spin, trying to keep our balance. Her hair did get longer, the tips of the strands meeting my hands just at the small of her back. I held her for what seemed like forever. Gosh, I missed her. I missed her so much. I placed Josephine back onto the ground, but she pressed her body into mine even harder, her cheek at my chest and my chin on her head.

"Kids, what's all the fuss over-"

Jo pulled back then, but her hands were still held at my sides. We both looked toward the front door. A woman around the ages of fifty stood with the rest of the foster kids. She was a little bigger with short, curly strawberry blonde hair and bright green eyes.

"Josie, who's this?"

Josephine stepped back from me. "M.G., this is Brayden," she pointed behind me, "And..."

"Oh," I pulled Grady up the porch. "This is my friend Grady. He came with me."

M.G.'s face lit up. "Brayden?! The Brayden we've heard so much about?"

Josephine rolled her eyes playfully. That's the Jo I know.

M.G. came towards me along with the other girl. Seth still stood at the door frame, glaring at me.

"Well you boys can come in if you'd like," M.G. offered.

"M.G.," Seth whined.

"Be nice to our guests," she scolded lightly, poking his shoulder as we all piled into the house.

"What are you doing here?" Jo questioned, Grady at my side as we made our way - I guess into their living room.

"I wanted to see you," I said truthfully. "I haven't seen you since I left."