The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave, and it feels even better to come back.

The vehicle stopped at the driveway entrance, the back door opened, and a young woman stepped out. Closing the back passenger door, she spoke softly to the driver, telling him that she wanted to walk the rest of the way.

As she watched the car fade from sight, she smiled, removed her stilettos, stepped off the pavement, and dug her toes into the soft earth. She closed her eyes and sighed, “Had it really been three years since her return? How wonderful to be home at last.”

She paused, looked around, and took a deep breath before starting down the dirt road toward home. Along the way, she took in the sights, sounds, and smells of her beloved vineyard. The neat rows of grapevines, the nearby stream, and the birds, butterflies, and other critters that made their home here were a bit overwhelming. Stopping at the covered bridge for a moment, the young woman wiped her eyes on the hem of her skirt, laughed that she never had a handkerchief when needed, and then continued on, thinking how much Grey will love this place.

She noticed the Aviary had a fresh coat of paint, and the Winery, Poured Decisions, had been spiffied up as well in anticipation of her return. As she rounded a bend, Belle Reve came into view. She stopped at the entrance, listening to the horses, the chickens, and the ducks as they heralded her arrival. She longingly looked toward the barn and then to the front door of Belle Reve. Smiling, she whispered to herself, “I’ll be there shortly; I’ve missed you too, my babies.” Climbing the steps onto the porch, she opened the front door and disappeared inside.