“Come on,” she said, her hand resting gently on my arm. “Let’s get you inside. I’ll make you something. You look like you haven’t eaten in days.”
I chuckled, a genuine laugh this time. “Actually, coffee sounds good, Mom.”
She led me into the house, the familiar warmth of the kitchen hitting me as soon as I stepped in. Everything seemed to be just as I remembered it.
I settled onto one of the stools at the kitchen island, watching her as she grabbed a mug from the cupboard and poured me a cup of coffee.
She placed the steaming mug in front of me, her eyes still searching mine. “So,” she said, her voice hesitant. “How was the drive?”
I shrugged, taking a sip of the coffee. “Long,” I said. “But I’m here now.”
She hesitated, her gaze dropping to her hands as she fiddled with a dish towel. “We’re… we’re glad you’re back, Colton,” she said, her voice soft. “But… we don’t want you to feel obligated to be here.”
“I know, Mom,” I said, cutting her off. “But I’m staying. I’ll be honest, I didn’t want to come back. Not really. But I know you and Dad need help. You’re not getting any younger, and I can see the strain. I want to be here, to help.”
She nodded, a grateful look in her eyes. “Thank you, honey. That means a lot. How is Cade? Does he know you’re back?”
“He’s doing alright. It’s been a while since I’ve talked to him, so I haven’t told him yet.” I paused, a tension settling in my shoulders. “I haven’t… I haven’t talked to anyone else.” I didn’t have to say who the ‘anyoneelse’was, she knew.
Her eyes softened, and she reached across the island to place a hand on my arm. “Ember?” she asked gently.
I nodded, my jaw tightening. “Yeah.”
She sighed, her gaze drifting towards the window. “Colton, Idon’t know what you faced over there. I don’t know what you saw. But I do know what you went through afterwards. You suffered. And I remember your father when he came back from his time overseas. He was… different. He needed space, time to heal. I understand that. But it’s been long enough, don’t keep pushing everyone away, honey.”
She paused, her eyes searching mine. “You need to find a way to make amends, Colton. With everyone. Especially with Ember. You and Cade were inseparable as boys, but there was always something with you and Ember. Laura and I had several conversations about it over the years, especially as you two got older.”
We talked for a while, and I listened as she filled me in on the local gossip around Rose Valley. “Mom,” I said, setting down my mug. “I think I’m going to go unpack. Maybe get some rest.” The exhaustion finally hitting me.
She nodded, her expression understanding. “Of course, honey. Your room’s just as you left it.”
I stood up, pushing away from the island, I bent down to give my mom a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Mom.”
Turning I headed down the hallway towards my room.
Chapter 6
Ember
“Cade! Watch it, I don’t want to get all wet.” I yelled to my brother when he jumped off the rock, into the creek and water sprayed all over me.
“Jesus, Ember, why come swimming if you don’t want to get wet?” He laughed, the sound echoing off the trees behind us.
’Because Colton was here,’ is what I wanted to say, but of course, I didn’t. Me and my best friend Sara tagged along with my brothers and Colton to the Rock, a popular swimming hole with kids. It was late August, and the sun was hot, the air thick with the scent of honeysuckle and damp earth, and the water was cool and inviting.
I glared at Cade, pushing a wet strand of hair out of my face. Sara, like always, tried to diffuse the situation. “Come on, you two, it’s too nice a day to fight.” She had a huge crush on Cade and was always trying to impress him. She’d even put on her new bikini, the bright pink one she’d begged her mom to buy, and wasnow positioned perfectly on a flat rock, posing like she was some kind of swimsuit model, trying to get his attention.
My 12-year-old eyes, however, were drawn to Colton as he was talking with some of their friends. He was lounging on a larger rock a couple feet away, his long legs stretched out in front of him. My eyes were caught on the water droplets that were clinging to his tanned skin. He was two years older, more mature than my brother, and had something about him that suddenly over the summer made my young heart flutter.
Cade, oblivious to my newfound crush on his best friend, continued to tease me. “Look at Ember, she’s acting like a princess. Afraid to get her hair wet.”
I rolled my eyes, trying to act cool in front of Colton. “Shut up, Cade.”
He grinned. “Make me, sis.” I saw the mischievous glint in his eyes that told he was up to something.
Before I could retaliate, he lunged forward, grabbing my arm and pulling me to my feet and towards where the deeper water was. I yelped, trying to pull away, but he was too strong. “Cade, stop it!”
He ignored my protests, dragging me further to the edge of the rock. “Come on, Ember, lighten up. Have a little fun,” he said as he threw us both in the water.
