I didn’t stop. I just kept walking, my heart pounding. As I reached the porch steps, I saw Owen, coming around the side of the house, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern. But it quickly turned to disgust when he saw who I’d been talking to.
Not bothering to say anything, I went inside, slamming the door shut with a force that rattled the windows. Leaning back against the door, I closed my eyes, trying to stop the flood of tears that threatened to spill over.
“Ember?” Mom’s voice, soft and worried, drifted from the living room.
The sound of my mom’s voice was all it took for the dam to break.
“Mom,” I said as I stumbled towards her, the tears finally falling, and collapsed into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably. The years of hurt, the anger, the confusion, all came pouring out.
Mom held me close, stroking my hair. She didn’t say anything, just let me cry, let me release the years of pent-up pain and anger.
“Get it out, honey,” she whispered, her voice soothing and relaxing. “Let it all out. I know you’re hurting, sweet girl.”
I sobbed harder, my body shaking with the force of my tears. It felt like my heart was breaking all over again, like all the carefully constructed walls I’d built around my heart were crumbling. It was all too much.
I sobbed harder, clinging to her. “He just… he just showed up, Mom. After all this time. After everything.”
She pulled back slightly, her eyes searching mine, filled with a familiar mix of love and concern. “I know, honey. And it’s not fair. But… maybe you should listen to what he has to say.”
I recoiled, pulling away from her. “Listen to him?” I asked in disbelief. “Mom, are you serious? He cut me out of his life without a word! And now you want me to just… listen?” My voice rose, tinged with disbelief, shaking my head at her. “ How can you say that, mom? Whose side are you on?”
Her expression softened, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Oh, honey. I’m on your side. Always. You know that. But I also know Colton. I’ve watched him go from a boy to man, and I know he’s hurting too, in his own way. I just can’t believe he would stop writing to you for no reason.”
I scoffed. “Well, he did,” I whispered almost to myself.
She took my hands firmly in hers. “I know it seems that way, sweetheart. But when I was talking to him, I saw something in his eyes. He’s not the same boy who left here, Ember. Cade mentioned it years ago, when he was home on leave. He saw the changes in Colton. He said… he said the things they saw, the things they went through… it wasn’t easy.”
“That doesn’t excuse what he did,” I said, my voice tight.
“No, it doesn’t,” she agreed. “It wasn’t right how he handled things.But he’s hurting too, Ember. In his own way. And maybe… maybe if you listen, you can understand that hurt. Maybe you can understand why he made the choices he did.”
“I don’t want to understand, Mom,” I said, tears welling up in my eyes again. “You can’t just erase years of silence and hurt. I just want him to leave me alone.”
“I know that, sweetheart. But maybe you can start by just listening to him, Ember. Please. I know that man loves you. And deep down… underneath all that hurt and anger, I think you still love him too.” Her gaze was sincere, her words tugged at the fragile strings of my heart. “I just want you to be happy. And if there’s even a chance… just a small chance… that talking to him could lead to that, then isn’t it worth it?”
Chapter 11
Colton
Istood there, watching as Ember retreated inside. The echo of the door slamming shut behind her ringing in my ears.
I didn’t miss the look on Owen’s face when he saw me.
I watch as he walks toward me. He’s taller than I remembered. With a six-year age gap between us, I never knew him as well as I knew Garrett and Cade. Back then, he was just the kid brother, always getting into trouble like his siblings. The last time I spoke to Cade, he mentioned Owen was majoring in digital media and getting ready to finish his junior year.
“Colton,” he said, his voice flat.
“Owen,” I replied, keeping my voice neutral.
He stopped a few feet away, assessing me with his eyes. “I’m surprised to see you here.”
“It’s good to see you, O,” I said, meeting his gaze, referringto his nickname we all called him when he was younger.
“You hurt her,” he said, his voice low and not acknowledging me saying it was good to see him. “You hurt her bad. And it’s Owen.”
Ouch. Ok that kinda hurt.
“I know I did,” I said, the words heavy with regret. “And I’m trying to fix that.”
