“I, uh…thank you for being here for them,” she adds and then looks past me down the hall that leads into the waiting room where her family and some of the townsfolk wait patiently. “Where’s Papaw?”
I point over my shoulder down the hall. “He’s down here. I can take you to him.” I place both my hands inside my pockets, keeping my eyes forward and not on her, as I lead her down the hallway. Once we’re in the waiting room entrance, I announce, “I found someone for you, Earl.”
It’s the first time since arriving at the hospital that I see pure joy on that man’s face. Raine is holding back tears as she rushes towards him and practically jumps into his arms. I wish that I could share with her the lightness I feel in my chest or the warmth that floods me with having her here and seeing her smile.
Instead, I take a step back to give them some space. My eyes wander across the waiting room until they land on Raine’s mother, Shannon. She’s watching Raine closely with an unreadable expression on her face. If only I could read minds. What I would give to know what’s going through her thoughts in this moment.
Shannon has changed over the years, especially after she married Preston about four years ago. She seems to have been blessed with a second chance at life. I don't know if she and Raine have spoken over the years, but with the way Raine’s eyes are piercing into Shannon’s with a look of resentment washing over her, I assume they haven’t.
Shannon seems to be fighting an internal battle. Preston whispers something into her ear that calms her and has her relaxing in her seat. This is probably for the best as I see the relief in Raine’s eyes. Now isn’t the time to try and approach their issues. However, I hope things can be repaired for them in the near future so their heartbreak with one another can be resolved.
Maybe the same could happen for Raine and me.
One issue at a time, Ryland.
I sense movement to my left and catch the sight of Olivia and Luke making their way through the entrance. I walk over to greet my friends. Olivia gives me a small hug and then rushes to Raine’s side. Luke places his hand into mine for a tight handshake before following Olivia.
Once Olivia releases her hold on Raine, Luke steps toward her, and his face falls. He wraps her into a tight embrace, and they stand there for a while, rocking back and forth. He plants a kiss on the side of her head and whispers something into her ear before moving away and wiping a tear from her cheek.
The three of them take their seats across from Earl, and I’m unsure of what to do with myself, so I move over to stand next to Felix Grady, one of Pops’ and Earl’s good friends. He gives my shoulder a quick pat in greeting before returning his attention to the baseball game that’s playing on the nearby television.
Normally, when a baseball game is on, I’m hooked. It’s even my favorite team playing, the Utah Big Horns, and as Max Hunter hits a home run, instead of cheering, I’m fighting the urge to look over at Raine. I mean, how can I not look at her? I’ve prayed for years that I would see her in person again. It all feels surreal, and I don’t want to take this blessing for granted. But now isn’t the time to talk about our history.
She’s holding Earl’s hand and listening to something that Luke is saying. A slight grin pulls at her lips. I stand in silence, trying not to memorize every softened wrinkle of those lips, the height of her cheekbones, the curvature of her collar bone.
As if sensing me staring, she looks up at me. For the first time since she entered the room, she fixes her gaze intently on mine. Something twists and pulls between us. I feel it as sure as a touch against my arm, a squeezing to my chest.
We’re only empty shells of what we could’ve been, and our eyes are full of unsaid words. She blinks and returns her attention back to Luke, who hasn’t stopped talking. I feel the desirebuzzing inside of me to walk over there, to sit next to them, and let Raine know that, even after everything, I will always be here for her. But instead, I tell myself that I’m not worthy. I gave that right up ten years ago.
Chapter Six
Fourteen Years Before
Raine
“Should we check on the kid, Little Duck?” my Papaw asks from beside me.
The two of us are swaying together on the porch swing, enjoying the warmth of the morning sun, as he shares stories with me from when he was younger. He learned a lot about raising goats as a teen and explained how he had helped with sixty-seven births before he left the nest. I’m amazed at that number, especially since I gained my first experience this morning at the age of fourteen.
“Yeah, and her name is Anastasia.” I smile proudly and hop off the swing.
“I like that name!” Mamaw hollers from behind the screen door, which makes my smile grow. “It suits her.”
Before we’re off the front porch, a familiar orange boxy truck makes its way down the gravel driveway. Cliff Ferrell, Papaw’s best friend, always shows up at the farm on the weekends. He has always felt like a bonus grandpa.
“Cliff.” Papaw tilts his head in greeting as Cliffhops out of the driver's side. His bushy dark brows lift with humor as he gives Papaw a wave. “Did you come by to bring me back that trolley jack?”
“Actually, I did.” Cliff chuckles and moves toward the bed of his truck, Papaw following behind him. “It only took you twenty times of reminding me until I remembered.”
“I only needed it six months ago,” Papaw teased.
I take a seat on the front steps, knowing this conversation will last a while. Movement from inside the truck catches my attention, and I see a boy in the passenger seat. I can’t quite see his face from the reflection on the windshield, but I’m curious as to who he is. Cliff never brought someone with him before, besides his wife occasionally.
Before I can get a better look, Mamaw opens the screen door, drying her hands with a towel, and says, “Raine, would you care to gather the eggs for me?”
I nod in response before hopping off the porch and making my way to the fence that leads to the chicken coop. Daisy, our six-month-old Great Pyrenees pup, follows close behind me, and I’m thankful because I might need some reinforcements when I encounter Lucy the rooster. I’m not sure what it is about the warmer seasons, but Lucy gets extra protective over his hens. And he terrifies me.
I grab a scoop of chicken feed, open the coop’s doors, and toss the feed onto the ground. After I make sure all the chickens are distracted by food, I slip into the coop and gather a basketful of colorful eggs. I love seeing them all together—hues of olive greens, light blues, dark browns, light browns, and whites.
