The house came alive long before the guests arrived.
Evelyn moved from room to room with a soft urgency, adjusting cushions, checking the placement of flowers, calling out reminders as if the walls themselves might forget their duties. The curtains were drawn just enough to let in the afternoon sun, warm and golden, spilling across the tiled floors. From the kitchen drifted the rich smell of spices and simmering dishes, layered with the faint sweetness of baked pastries cooling on the counter.
Thalma stood at the staircase, watching it all unfold.
It felt strange : this kind of noise, this kind of anticipation ' all for her. Back then, celebrations had always felt distant, something happening around her but never quite touching her. Now, the house buzzed with her name without anyone saying it out loud.
"Thalma," her mother called gently, appearing at the foot of the stairs. "Come down, sweetheart. You can't hide forever."
Thalma smiled faintly and descended, her steps careful, her heart beating just a little faster than usual.
"You look nervous," Evelyn teased, smoothing invisible creases on Thalma's sleeve.
"I'm not," Thalma lied.
Evelyn laughed softly. "You are. And that's okay."
Before Thalma could respond, the doorbell rang.
The first guest had arrived.
Evelyn clapped her hands once, excitement flashing across her face. "That must be Sandy."
She hurried to the door, and the moment it opened, laughter flooded in.
"Oh my goodness, Evelyn!" Sandy's voice rang out as she stepped inside, arms already opening for a hug. "This house looks amazing!"
Behind her stood two girls, both tall, both striking in different ways.
"This must be Thalma," Sandy said, pulling back to look at her properly. "I can't believe how grown you are."
Thalma felt her cheeks warm as the girls smiled at her.
"I'm Mira," one said, confidence dripping effortlessly from her voice. "And this is my sister, Lena."
Lena smiled softly, her eyes observant, almost gentle. "It's nice to finally meet you."
Before the introductions could settle, the doorbell rang again.
And again.
Soon, the living room filled with voices, overlapping greetings, and the comfortable chaos of women who had known each other long enough to skip formalities.
Zoe arrived next, loud and radiant, pulling Evelyn into an embrace before gesturing dramatically behind her. "My boys are outside pretending they don't know how doors work."
Two young men stepped in, one grinning, the other rolling his eyes.
"I'm Ethan," the first said easily, already scanning the room. "And this grumpy one is Lucas."
"I'm not grumpy," Lucas muttered. "I just hate crowds."
Thalma hid a smile.
The last to arrive was Reene, her presence calmer but no less warm. Her children followed closely: Noah, tall and composed, with a quiet confidence that seemed effortless, and Elise, who looked around the room with wide, excited eyes.
"This is amazing!" Elise exclaimed. "Your house is beautiful!"
The party began before anyone officially announced it.
Food was laid out across the dining table in generous portions, plates passed around, glasses filled, laughter spilling freely. Music hummed softly in the background, growing louder as the adults relaxed into their seats.
Evelyn watched it all with a proud smile, her eyes constantly finding Thalma in the room.
"So," Sandy began, leaning forward conspiratorially, "tell us everything. How long has it been since she left?"
"Too long," Evelyn replied immediately. "Far too long."
Questions flew easily.
"How was school?" "Was it lonely?" "Did you like it there?"
Thalma answered politely, carefully, feeling both seen and exposed. Each question peeled back a layer she wasn't used to showing so openly. Mira chimed in with playful comments, Ethan cracked jokes, Elise listened as if every word mattered.
At some point, the parents drifted into their own corner, laughter rising as stories from years ago resurfaced. The children naturally gravitated together, forming a loose circle near the balcony.
"So," Ethan said, leaning against the railing, "do you like being back?"
Thalma hesitated. "I think… I'm still figuring that out."
"That's fair," Noah said quietly. His voice was calm, grounding. "Coming back doesn't always feel like coming home right away."
She looked at him then and something subtle shifted.
Noah met her gaze briefly before looking away, as if aware of the weight of the moment but unwilling to press it.
Conversation flowed easily after that. Mira teased Lucas until he laughed despite himself. Elise asked Thalma endless questions about her life abroad. Lena watched, occasionally stepping in with thoughtful remarks that surprised everyone.
Thalma felt lighter. Seen. Included.
Yet, beneath it all, a quiet curiosity stirred.
She found herself noticing Noah more than she meant to the way he listened, the way he spoke only when he had something to say, the way his presence felt steady rather than overwhelming.
When the party began to wind down, guests gathering bags and exchanging final hugs, Thalma stood near the doorway with Elise.
"You should take my number," Elise said suddenly, pulling out her phone. "We're definitely hanging out again."
Thalma smiled and nodded, exchanging contacts.
As Noah stepped closer, he hesitated briefly before speaking. "Hey… if you ever want to talk or just need someone to show you around, you can reach out."
Her heart skipped, just slightly.
"I'd like that," she said.
They exchanged numbers.
Later that night, after the house quieted and the last dish was washed, Thalma lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Her phone buzzed softly.
Unknown Contact: It's Noah. Just wanted to make sure you got home… well, upstairs… safely.
She smiled.
For the first time since returning, curiosity wrapped around her thoughts : gentle, warm, and promising.
And somewhere between familiarity and something new, Thalma realized that coming home didn't mean standing still.
Sometimes, it meant beginning again.
To be continued...