The Return Home

San Diego, California

Colin loved classic Ford Mustangs. He was working on his newly purchased 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1. He had it in his toy car collection as a kid. Restoring this car had become a hobby for him. He was under his car when his phone rang in his pants pocket.

Fumbling, the wrench hit the pavement from his greased covered hands. His phone was ringing in his pants pocket. He pressed accept. "Hello, yes, this is Colin Carrington. Who is this?"

There was a moment of silence and an unfamiliar voice began speaking. "This is your cousin Greyson Carrington. Our family calls me Grey."

Greyson?

"I don't have a cousin named Greyson. Knock it off, Trevor. You picked a great time to kid around. I was working on my car." He was irked. He banged his head maneuvering his way out. He leaned forward with his elbows on the hood of the vehicle and used his speakerphone.

"I assure you this is not Trevor and I'm not laughing. I'm your cousin Greyson. Our fathers were brothers." His voice was all business.

"My father was an only child. You have the wrong Colin, sorry." His finger hovered over the end button.

Grey yelled out, "Wait! Before you hang up . . . is your brother's name Shayne?"

How did he know that?

"Yes." Colin didn't know who this voice was, but he was certainly intrigued.

"Shayne is our grandfather's name," he stated. Colin was rendered speechless. He didn't know how to respond to this information. Grey proceeded to fill in the details of this unknown puzzle.

Colin was completely dumbfounded. "My father had two brothers? He came from an oil family? How could this be possible?" He sat down on the asphalt driveway, covered in gook and grime from working on his car. It took a few minutes for this news to sink in.

Colin felt an unfamiliar heaviness in his chest. He was the son of the late Nicholas and Madalyn Carrington. His younger brother's name was Shayne. They were your average middle-class family living in San Diego, CA. They owned a modest two-bedroom home. Their father was the breadwinner of the family and was older than their mother. Today's phone call unleashed a floodgate of memories for Colin. The memories started to seep over and it felt like his head would explode. His recollections came one by one.

"No, Colin, we're not getting a dog." His father's voice rang in his head. He pictured his face turning crimson and his jaw tightening. He shook his head from side to side.

He pleaded, "But, Dad, it's free. My friend is giving it away. Shayne and I will take care of the puppy."

His father removed his glasses and rubbed his hooded eyes. "Dogs are a lot of work. And an added expense. We can't afford a free dog. The answer is no." Madalyn rose from her seat. Nicholas held his hand up like a stop sign. She sat back down, remaining silent. The kitchen table was covered in bills.

Colin had fond memories of his mother cheering in the front row at all their games. "I knew you would win, I'm so proud of you." Her kiss made contact with his cheek in front of the guys. He played it cool, because she was the best mom. He missed her terribly . . . her laughter, hugs, and encouragement. He missed the way her hazel eyes crinkled in the corner and lit up with love. He missed her very essence.

He'll never forget the day he was accepted into Harvard University. His mother casually handed him an envelope. "This came in the mail for you."

Colin anxiously opened the envelope. "Dear Mr. Colin Carrington. . . ." He picked his mother up, spinning her around the room. "I have a 5.0 GPA and I was accepted into Harvard this fall on a full scholarship." He was astonished.