Chapter 4
Lizzie
“Guess who’s going to board a plane in just two days?” I say to my sister.
“Madonna? Tom Cruise?”
“If Tom Cruise is boarding the same plane as me, I will not object to sitting in the seat next to him.”
“I can just picture his dreamy eyes looking straight at you and saying, ‘I have the best seat on this plane’ and winking right at you,” she says with a dreamy sigh.
I laugh. “Wow, you’re really going the whole nine yards on this meet-cute aren’t you?”
Gabby giggles. “You know what they always say about me—“
“That your head is always in the clouds.”
I can practically hear my sister rolling her eyes over the phone as I smile.
“My head isn’t in the clouds. It’s firmly on my head on dry, safe, boring land. I just can’t help it—I love stories that are entertaining and beautiful. Something that packs adventure into everyday life.”
“I get it. Stories are really one of God’s great gifts to man,” I reply, thinking about it.
I get why Jesus told so many parables. It’s like we just understand stories better…
and they help us understand the deeper meanings in life, and in ourselves.
How many characters have I seen myself in when reading a book?
Too many to count. Too many times I’ve seen my reflection in them.
“This is why you’re my favorite, sis. You just get me.”
“Not because I bring you back goodies when I see you?”
I can almost hear her mischievous grin on the other side of the phone.
“It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact you’re bringing me back Belgian chocolate. Absolutely nothing at all,” she deadpans.
I laugh. “Alright, sis, I better go finish packing. I’m so looking forward to seeing you again!”
She sighs dramatically. “I know, it must be so hard to be away from such an excellent specimen of human like me,” she tries to deadpan but snorts at the end.
I cackle. “You have no idea, Gabs.” I’ve missed her so much while I’ve been away.
When your sister is your best friend, there’s something so special about the bond.
It’s even harder when I haven’t found any best friends here.
Sure, I’ve made some friends. But there’s something about having a best friend that just gets you.
And when that’s your sister? I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
“Love you sis, see you on the other side of the world!”
“See you soon!” I grin. I can’t wait to see my whole family. I have other sisters and a brother, too. But Gabby is the one I’m closest to.
I put down the phone and head towards my closet to pack.
I’m only going to be gone for two months, so I only need to pack one suitcase.
It takes me a little over an hour to have everything packed and ready to go.
It feels so much better to have everything ready to go so I don’t need to feel stressed tomorrow.
Packing at the last minute is definitely not my thing.
The thought of seeing my family again is making me so giddy.
I’ve loved the life I’ve built in Belgium, but I also love home.
Belgium has been such a fun chapter in my life.
Just like every chapter, there’s pros and cons.
But I’m excited to be present in the moment with my family and friends and enjoy now.
Tomorrow is never guaranteed. So I’ll make the most of the next two months soaking up sunshine and laughter.
Even if I already am excited for more adventures here, too.
I make my way towards the shower to get ready for bed, and I’m contemplating what I’ll be doing over the next couple of months. I know I’ll be by the beach a lot—maybe every day if Gabby has her way. I’ll sink into some routine. And maybe some adventures. Who knows?
I just know I’m ready.
Tom Cruise didn’t sit next to me. He wasn’t even on the flight. Shame, really.
As I’m grabbing my bag, the anticipation is rising. I just can’t wait to see my sister and my parents on the other side.
I drag my luggage towards the exit past customs, and as the door opens I scan the area for my family. I clock them at the top left, and I see Gabby with a sign.
Oh no.
What on earth?
“Welcome home from jail!” the sign says. She’s also got a bouquet of balloons waiting there for me. My mom is behind her trying to contain her laughter.
People start staring at me as I approach closer, like they’re wondering who’s coming home from jail.
“Gabby!” I gasp.
She can’t hold in her laughter anymore—she throws the sign on the ground and runs straight for me. Her arms tackle my neck so hard I’m convinced some sport missed out on recruiting her.
I laugh, but with her squeezing my neck it comes out more like I’m choking on air.
“Sorry, sis!”
“I can’t believe you actually made that sign!” My eyes widen at her. I look around and still see people staring. Probably wondering what felony I committed.
“Embarrassing you is like my second job. I had to greet you in the only way I knew how.” She shrugs, because embarrassing me is her favorite thing to do.
“You don’t even have a first job. You’re finishing college.” I narrow my eyes.
She makes a show of contemplating by putting her index finger on her chin and looking up.
“You’re right. Embarrassing you is my only job.”
Mom finally comes and gives me a big hug.
“Filha! You look so European!”
“I’m not even sure I know what that means,” I say as I raise my eyebrows at her.
She waves a hand. “You’re pasty pale from not being in the sun. And so thin too! I’ve got your favorite sitting at home that will do just the job.” She pats my face with a motherly touch.
“You have some brigadeiros ready?” My eyes light up and my taste buds flare to life at just the thought of my favorite condensed milk chocolate truffles.
“It’s been too long since I’ve seen you so I had Ilda whip them up for you.”
I sigh happily as I walk.
It really is good to be home.
“Where’s Dad?” I ask, suddenly realizing he’s not here. I’d been so wrapped up in our greeting, I hadn’t even thought to ask.
“He got caught up with work, but he’ll be home by the time we arrive. He really wanted to be here to see you, though,” Mom says, her voice tinged with regret.
“That’s okay, I get it. I’ll see him soon enough.” I smile to show her I’m not upset.
The airport doors open and a hot blast of wind engulfs us as we make our way out, like it wants to carry us in a bubble of heat. The wind carries the smell of salt and the sun hangs low in the sky, ready to clock out of its shift for the day.
Climbing into the car, rolling the window down and having the sweet breeze ruffle and frizz my hair up feels like the most natural thing in the world.
We talk about my flight and some of the adventures I had as we make the trip back to the farm.
Turning onto the drive, the house comes into view, its blue shutters glowing in the light, flower bushes spilling color along the path, and mango trees standing proudly to the side.
Memories flood back—countless afternoons spent scrambling up those mango trees, the scent of ripe fruit in the air, and the laughter of long-ago summers echoing in my mind.
I remember the day I ate about ten mangos in one sitting. Let’s just say I spent the entire evening in the bathroom.
As we walk up to the porch, I see my dad approaching from the side of the porch.
“Filha,” he says with more excitement than I’m used to hearing. Dad’s aristocratic background taught him to be on the more reserved side than the side that shows any emotion. So to see the emotion on his face makes my heart tighten a little.
“Pai!” I say and wrap my arms around him.
We walk into the house and I’m greeted by the rest of the family.
Oh, and the new addition of the parrot, of course.
It seems he learned to squawk, “Lizzie Bell” instead of “Elizabeth”, but it turns out I like Lizzie Bell.
Maybe he and I will get on just fine. I mostly get on well with my mom’s animals.
It was always the housekeepers my sisters and I liked to terrorize most growing up.
I feel so sorry for the times we wreaked havoc on them.
“I taught it to sing, ‘oo-na-na’” my sister Lara gives me a conspiratorial wink.
She whispers something to the parrot—whose name I learn is ‘Pimenta’ which means spicy.
Because apparently, he’s a spicy bird that comes out with all sorts of nonsense.
The fact Lara taught it to sing the song that embarrassed my mother like never before makes him embody the name Pimenta.
“Don’t even get Pimenta started on that!” my mother yells from the kitchen.
“oo-na-na, oo-na-na,” the parrot squawks.
We can’t hold in our laughter.
Mom used to encourage us to sing and play guitar at church all the time, and most of the time we didn’t feel like it.
There was a day where we were just so tired, that when we got up on the stage, my sister Lara became unhinged.
Instead of singing a very sweet chorus sound of ‘oo-na-na’ before the lyrics began with our voices harmonizing, Lara started roaring it into the microphone, completely deadpan.
She sounded like a caveman came to life, grunting out every syllable.
My mother never volunteered us to sing again after that. We were such a menace growing up, my parents certainly had their hands full.
We settle in comfortably onto the couch, ready to talk the night away.
“So, tell us all about Belgium.” Lara says, as she slinks both her arms on the armchair.
“I don’t even know where to start!” I sigh back onto the other armchair in the room.
“Well, what do you think of it? Are you enjoying living there?” My brother, Theo, pipes up. He’s the youngest of the family at eighteen, and growing up, he had to put up with a lot from us girls.
“I’m loving it. It’s different to Brazil. I love Brazil so much, but there’s just something about Europe that’s magical.”
“You’re staying for two months right?” Lara pipes up.
“She sure is! Not a day less!” Gabby looks over at me grinning.
“I can have about two and a half months off since the Blancs don’t need me these next couple of months.
But I’ve got it all set to be back working for them in September.
” Autumn. One of the most beautiful times of the year in Europe—we don’t really get what feels like a true autumn here in Recife.
It's too tropical on this side of Brazil for that.
“Do you want to stay there for good?” Theo asks.
“Diving straight in, huh?” I laugh. “I don’t know what five years from now looks like.
But I can tell you that today, I’m loving it.
I’m looking forward to going back. But not before spending time with you guys.
” I smile at them, and they grin back, like they understand exactly what I mean without me saying anything more.
We carry on talking for a while. By the time everything winds down, I’m so ready to climb into my bed after having a nice shower.
Thoughts of Europe drift in and out of my mind as I settle into sleep.
I don’t know what the future holds. Spontaneity and I are mostly friends.
But I also love to plan things out, too.
So I’ll enjoy the fact I’m here for now, and that I get to go back to such a beautiful corner of the world when we’re done.