Chapter Ten.
Three days flew by, and Lina's family finished sorting through her grandmother's clothes.
A few items were distributed amongst members of the family, including Natalie's siblings and their kids, for keeps.
While the rest of the clothes were donated to care homes as charity.
Lina only took a dress which left her mother and Catherine in awe.
Judging by the fact that she wanted to sort out her grandmother's clothes as soon as she could, they expected her to part with most of the items they had set aside for keeps.
Only Christopher knew the reason Lina chose the dress was because she embroidered it with her late grandmother 22 years ago.
The dress held a deep sentimental value to her and the very moment she realized her grandmother still had it, she clutched it tightly and cried sadly in front of her entire family, which she hardly ever did.
After everyone got their desired piece of clothing, Natalie hosted a dinner amongst their family so they could catch up with Lina, before she left for Istanbul.
Although she wasn't entirely happy about Lina's departure, she knew her daughter's mind was made up, so she chose to support her.
Everyone was at the garden for almost thirty minutes before Lina arrived for dinner.
'Failing to keep to time is something that didn't change about you, Lina.' Christopher teased his sister, immediately she showed up at the garden.
'I'm sorry, Chrisy.' Lina muttered.
'I ran into a couple of old school mates, so I lost track of time.' She added.
'You were catching up with your old school mates?' Christopher blurted in disbelief.
'No, they were trying to catch up with me, Christopher.' Lina countered.
'I would have replied subtly and walked out of the convenient store, but that would be rude, right?' She threw a rhetoric.
'And since when have you cared about being rude or not for the past 15 years. You just did what ever you wanted.' Christopher joked but that struck a chord in Lina.
He noticed Lina want silent after he made the joke, but he didn't mean to make her feel bad.
'I'm sorry. I didn't mean upset you.' Christopher said.
'I am not upset, Chris.' Lina snickered.
'You're right, you know?' She muttered.
'I became this person, 15 years ago.' She muttered coarsely and Christopher felt the pain and regret in her voice.
'Lina?!' He muttered and reached for her shoulders.
'I didn't mean to get on your nerves, I swear.' He added and Lina reached for one side of his face and stroked his cheek calmly.
She gave him a smile that was as warm as it was sad, then she said.
'You can no longer blame yourself for my emotions, Chrisy.'
'I know you will never say or do anything to hurt me.' She added and Christopher smiled back in response.
Then, he leaned in and hugged her so affectionately while Lina patted his back as she chuckled.
'Okay, you both can stop the public display of affection now and move to the table.' Catherine blurted after walking past them with a dish in her hand.
'It's time for dinner.' She added after they disengaged the hug abruptly.
'You're such a hater, Catherine.' Christopher made a jest at Catherine as he went after to her.
'I am not.' Catherine whined.
'Yes, you are.' Christopher went on teasing Catherine and took the dish she was holding from her, and helped her set it down on the table.
'You know I don't care.' Catherine went on with the playful banter.
'Yes, you do.' Christopher said and tickled her.
The sound of Catherine squealing to Christopher's tickled, sent Lina down a nostalgic path.
She recalled running with her siblings around this very garden, chasing after butterflies or any other beautiful bug, during summer holidays.
Catherine was always the squealing one and Christopher always tickled them until they were all rolling on the garden grass out of excitement.
Everyone stayed the same, except her.
She no longer recognises herself and it made her sad.
Natalie and Nathan joined them all at the backyard and they all sat to have dinner together.
Her uncle, Nate and aunt, Nancy brought their children along to the dinner.
Vivienne was also present with Sammie.
And as they ate, Nancy and Nate, engaged Lina and the rest of the family in endless conversations.
They asked Lina about her work and how she was surviving in the Middle East.
Talking about her job had never given her so much contentment as much as it did now that she was telling her own family about it.
They commended her for what she was doing for the girls and also told her that South Dakota could use a selfless person like herself, but Lina didn't like the idea of coming back to the America.
'Arkansas is experiencing a rise in rape cases as well, and with a brave lawyer like you, Lina, we may be hearing less of these cases in a few years.' Nate said.
'You're right, brother. But one sad thing is that most of these victims don't even talk about it.' Nancy added.
'If more NGOs are established here in Arkansas aimed at helping these victims, then more people will speak up.' Vivienne added too and Lina swallowed hard and uncomfortably.
'Yes, you're right, Viv.' Natalie said to Vivienne.
'Well, unfortunately Lina has no intention of leaving her job in the Middle East and she's leaving this weekend, as a matter of fact.' Catherine blurted and Nancy gasped, completely astounded.
'You're leaving?' Nancy uttered.
'Yes, she is.' Catherine blurted again.
'But, why?' Nate asked.
'I thought, you were back for good.' Nancy added.
'Actually, according to Lina here, her job and the girls over there are more important in her life.' Catherine retorted.
'Can you please stop it, Catherine?' Lina uttered.
'You're doing too much.' She added.
'So, when are you coming back?' Nancy asked to put down the tension.
'I don't know, aunt. I'm quite busy with work these days.' Lina replied.
'I know your work is really demanding, but you need to create time for family too.' Nancy said.
'Of course, aunt.' Lina smiled.
'So, that means Lina will be home this Christmas?' Catherine sputtered
'I don't know, Catherine.' Lina said.
'What was I thinking? I forgot you stop coming home for Christmas anyways.' Catherine uttered.
'Can you really stop it now, Catherine?' Lina spewed.
'I can't deal with your bullshit right now.' She added in fury that her parents could see she was drowning in rage.
Natalie was going to say something to stop the banter, but things already blew out of proportion.
'No, you stop this Lina.' Catherine fired back.
'I don't understand why you're always going back to that job like your life depends on it.' She added and members at the table shot a glance at one another.
'I can't do this right now.' Lina snickered and abruptly stood up.
'So, what will it take you to come back again?' Catherine yelled as Lina walked away.
She was already at the backyard door when Catherine shouted again.
'Will it take another death for you to return?'
Lina heard Catherine say and she stopped walking.