6 Chapter 6

Once past farmland and a pit stop in San Jose, I drove on to Arroyo, entering town around six p.m. As I circled down the freeway off ramp, I thought how I was back to square one and didn’t particularly like the idea. Where had I been? Square two? Three? Four?

Four years had passed since returning at my mother’s death, and I saw a few things had changed. My favorite Mexican restaurant was gone and a second Starbucks had replaced a great burger joint. Other changes undoubtedly lurked, but for the most part, the town seemed its old self. I turned up Camino Real, then came to Russell Drive, where my house stood on the corner. I parked and stepped out to see how the place felt.

Before, on trips to see my parents, I’d been much the visitor. It was their home, not mine, and showing up one day to reclaim it didn’t automatically make it welcoming. It was going to take time. Fortunately, that was one thing I had in abundance.