Modern Family: More than Family

Haley walked into the house still smiling faintly before she fully realized it.

Which was embarrassing.

She dropped her bag near the stairs and tried to compose herself before anyone noticed the very obvious glow currently happening to her face.

Too late.

Claire appeared from the kitchen almost immediately.

And one look at Haley's expression made her pause.

"Oh."

Haley narrowed her eyes instantly.

"Don't."

Claire lifted both hands innocently.

"I didn't say anything."

"You mentally said things."

That actually made Claire laugh softly.

Then before Haley could defend herself further, her phone buzzed in her hand.

She glanced down automatically.

gael: got home safe

Haley blinked once.

Then immediately frowned in confusion.

Her fingers moved quickly across the screen.

haley: what

Another instant reply:

gael: you said text you when i got home

Haley stared at the message.

Then slowly looked toward the front window.

Wait.

Her eyes widened slightly.

haley: there is physically no way you got home that fast

Three dots appeared.

Then:

gael: technically i'm very close to home already

Haley frowned harder now.

Then another message came through before she could answer.

gael: i'm moving back into the house next door

Silence.

Complete silence in her brain for a full second.

Then:

"What?"

Claire looked up immediately.

"What?"

Haley stared at her phone like it had personally betrayed her.

Then back toward the window again.

Then at the phone.

Then finally:

"Oh my God."

Claire slowly stood straighter.

"What happened?"

Haley looked at her mother in disbelief.

"He's moving back next door."

Claire blinked once.

"Oh."

Haley pointed accusingly at her immediately.

"Why are you reacting like this is normal?"

Claire failed completely at hiding a tiny smile.

"I'm not saying it's normal."

"You're definitely not saying it's bad either."

Fair.

Then Haley looked back down at her phone, heart suddenly beating much faster than it should have.

Next door.

Again.

That changed things.

A lot of things.

Then another message buzzed through:

gael: before you accuse me of strategic proximity

A second later:

gael: it was always temporary staying away

Haley sat slowly onto the couch, still staring at the screen.

Because part of her knew that was true.

The house next door had been his before everything exploded.

Still—

the idea of him being that close again made something inside her chest tighten and warm simultaneously.

Then she typed carefully.

haley: this feels suspiciously convenient

Immediate response:

gael: probably

That pulled a helpless laugh out of her before she could stop it.

Claire noticed immediately.

And suddenly Haley realized something terrifying:

she was happy he was coming back.