It is early Friday evening when they finally arrive home.      Melinda looks up at the house in the dimming autumn light and smiles. "It's good to be home," she says.      Greg shuts off the ignition and stares up at the house with her. "I agree."      She turns to him and shakes her head in disbelief. "Last time I was here, I thought my world had collapsed and there would be no way to retrieve it. And now… Now I have you with me. I never thought you would want to see me again…"      She trails off, feeling herself get choked up with the thought of what could have been.      Greg places his hand on the side of her face. "Let's not think of that now. What matters is that we're here. Together."      She sighs and nods, a soft smile on her lips.      Greg grabs her suitcase from the back of the car as Melinda walks to the front door. She takes a deep breath, inhaling the crisp, fall air. It smells like wood smoke. She imagines people sitting by their fireplaces, laughing and talking, holding steaming mugs of apple cider and cocoa. 'Just like what my family did when I was a child,' she thinks. The thought summons a sudden pang of regret for walking out on her father. 'I miss him,' she thinks.      Just then, she is broken out of her reverie by the sound of a familiar voice coming from the direction of the porch.      "Melinda," the voice says.      She looks up and sees the figure before her, her heart sinking. "Wayne."      There is silence as she waits for him to speak, she standing in front of her house, Wayne with his hands stuffed into his pockets, his eyes locked on hers.