Alex sat at the kitchen table, sipping her coffee and scrolling through her phone. She had just finished a long and grueling case, and she was looking forward to some downtime with her family.
As she scrolled through her social media feed, she saw a post from her sister, Eva. It was a picture of her and her husband, smiling and holding hands on a beach in Hawaii.
Alex felt a pang of jealousy. She had always wanted to travel to Hawaii, but her job as a detective made it difficult to take extended vacations.
Just then, her phone rang. It was her mother, calling to check in on her.
"Hi, Mom," Alex said, trying to sound cheerful.
"Hi, sweetie," her mother replied. "How are you doing?"
"I'm good," Alex said. "Just tired from the case. How's everything with you?"
"Oh, we're doing well," her mother said. "Your father is out in the garden, and I'm making your favorite lasagna for dinner tonight."
Alex smiled at the thought of her mother's lasagna. It was always a comfort food for her, reminding her of home and family.
"I'll be there," Alex said. "What time should I come over?"
"Anytime you like, dear," her mother said. "We'll be waiting for you."
As Alex hung up the phone, she felt a sense of warmth and comfort. Despite the challenges of her job, she knew that she had a loving and supportive family to come home to.
****
Later that evening, Alex arrived at her parents' house. The smell of lasagna wafted through the air, and she felt her mouth water in anticipation.
As she walked into the kitchen, she saw her father at the stove, stirring a pot of sauce. He looked up and smiled at her.
"Hey, kiddo," he said. "How was the case?"
"It was tough," Alex said, taking a seat at the table. "But we got the job done."
Her mother came in from the living room, carrying a tray of garlic bread. "Dinner's almost ready," she said, setting the tray down on the table.
As they sat down to eat, Alex felt a sense of contentment wash over her. She was surrounded by her family, enjoying a delicious meal and catching up on each other's lives.
"So, Eva's in Hawaii?" Alex asked, taking a bite of lasagna.
"Yes, she and her husband are celebrating their anniversary," her mother said. "They sent us a postcard."
Alex felt a twinge of envy, but she pushed it aside. She was happy for her sister, and she knew that her time would come to travel and explore the world.
As they finished their meal, Alex's father poured them each a glass of wine. They sat around the table, chatting and laughing, enjoying each other's company.
As the night wore on, Alex felt a sense of gratitude for her family. They were her rock, her support system, and her home. No matter what challenges lay ahead, she knew that she could always count on them to be there for her.
As she hugged her parents goodbye and headed out into the night, she felt a sense of peace and contentment. She was a detective, driven by a fierce commitment to justice, but she was also a daughter, a sister, and a member of a loving and supportive family. And that was something that no case or challenge could ever take away from her.
YOU ARE READING
Secrets of Willow Creek
Mystery / Thriller"Secrets swirl beneath the surface in the quaint town of Willow Creek, and the close-knit community is thrown into turmoil when a famous local artist is found murdered in his studio. Detective Alex Carter investigates the case. As she does, she un...
