I sigh as I watch the mountains pop up on our drive, taking in the greenery and the fresh plants emerging after a long winter that surrounds us.
This place was my home for fourteen years, and I don’t feel the same attachment as I do when I see Everton. I’ll admit to its beauty—livelier plants and shades of green.
“What’s going on with Faith?” Camden asks.
“Things are good. Really good, actually.” I smile, thinking about her.
“No, shit. So, you did get the girl?” His eyebrows shoot up as he glances quickly at me. I realize I haven’t taken the time to update him on my life.
“Don’t look so surprised, asshole. I busted my ass to get her, and I’m glad I did.”
“Moving was worth it, then?” He taps the steering wheel.
I look out the window, watching the city fly by, and nod. “Definitely worth it. She wasn’t the only reason why I decided to move back, but she’s the best reason. I got a dog and a horse,” I add.
Camden chuckles. “Back to your cowboy ways,” he jokes.
“Did I ever lose it?” I lift my eyebrows.
“No, that’s for sure.” He shakes his head, chuckling. Camden used to tease me about my cowboy boots and my fascination with horses in college.
“It’s good to see you,” I say. He’s my best friend, and I’m used to having him around daily.
“You, too. I should go back and visit you again. Maybe ride a horse.”
I let out a deep laugh. “There’s no way I’m letting you ride a horse under my supervision.”
“I’ll just have to find someone else to supervise me, female and preferably single.” I shake my head, grateful the women I know in Everton are taken. No one needs to be a victim of Camden’s spell. While I was always more reserved when it came to women, Camden was a charmer. He still is.
“Poor woman,” I mock.
“Lucky woman. I’ll give her a different kind of ride.” I throw my head back, most of my stress leaving me as I laugh at his ridiculousness.
“Thanks for the laugh. I needed it.” I clap my hands, seeing the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance as we approach Charlottesville. The hour drive goes by quickly as I catch Camden up on my life in Everton, the work I’m doing to get the fertilizer approved, and my relationship with Faith.
“How’s work?” I ask him.
“Great, I’m building a new dating app for a client.”
“Sounds like it’s right up your alley,” I comment. Camden has experience creating applications for his clients, and dating apps seem to be popular.
“It sure is. Plus, there’s big money in those right now.”
“I bet. Everyone wants to find love.” I smile to myself, thinking about Faith. No dating app would’ve brought me the girl of my dreams.
“Are they gonna make you test it out?” I taunt.
“You’ve been watching too many girly movies, my friend,” he throws back at me.
“Hey, just saying, someone is going to have to test it out.” I lift my hands in mock surrender, smiling.
“You’re a jackass,” he shakes his head in amusement. “Anyway, will you have time to get together before you leave?”
“For sure. Let me see how my mom is and what’s going on at home, and we’ll make plans.”
“Sounds good. I’ll be here this week and then fly to Georgia for a meeting.” Camden tells me as he takes the exit toward my mom’s house.
“Perfect, I’ll call you.” It will be good to hang out with him while I’m here.
“Good stuff. If you need any help here, let me know. My hours are flexible.” I appreciate his offer, and he reminds me why he’s my best friend. It’s good to have someone in town I can count on if need be since Allyson is away.
“Thanks, man. That means a lot. Hopefully, I’ll be calling you so we can have drinks and nothing more serious than that.”
“I don’t know about you, Easton, but I take my drinks quite seriously.” Camden looks at me out of the corner of his eye, shaking his head as if he were disappointed in me.
“I must’ve forgotten, the whiskey king shall not be offended for his choice of poison.” I make fun of him. I don’t know anyone else who takes a glass of scotch more seriously than he does.
“Laugh all you want,” he shoots back.
When he pulls into my mom’s driveway, we both grow serious. I wipe my hands on my jeans and take a steadying breath. “Thanks for the ride,” I clap his shoulder. “I’ll let you know about that drink.”
“Sounds good. Good luck, and call if you need anything.” Smiling gratefully, I grab my bag from the trunk and take a deep breath before lifting my closed fist and knocking on the wooden door to my mom’s house.
After a few moments, the door swings open. “Sweetie!” My mom beams, pulling me in for a hug. “You’re here.” She takes a step back, holding my shoulders and taking me in. She’s dressed in a pantsuit she wears for work, her short hair styled perfectly.
“Hey, Mom.” I kiss her cheek, walking into the house and closing the door behind me. “How are you?”
“I told you I was fine, Easton. You didn’t have to fly out here to check up on me, but I am happy to see you.” Her eyes crinkle as she smiles, sadness swimming in them.
“I wanted to come. I’m fortunate to have a bit more flexibility now, and I can travel.” I’m also more fortunate that the cases I’m working on aren’t as strenuous as the ones in the past.
I walk further into the house, observing every inch of it to see if anything gives me a sign that she’s not doing well, but it all looks the same as always.
“Did you get your phone fixed?” I ask her, following her into the kitchen.
“I did,” she grins sheepishly. “I lost track of the day of the month, and I had missed my payment. That’s why you would get a disconnected service message. I paid at the store, and they got it up and running in no time.”
My eyebrows pull together. She’s never missed a payment before. “Have you spoken to Ally?”
My mom nods. “She called me this morning during her lunch break. Honestly, you and your sister are treating me as if I were a child, or worse, an incapacitated senior citizen.” My mom crosses her arms.
I hug her. “Sorry, Mom. We don’t want you to feel that way, but we were worried. Put yourself in our shoes. If you had called us multiple times, and we didn’t answer, you would worry, too.”
“You’re right,” she relents. “But I’m the parent. I am okay.” I nod, still not believing her completely. “Now, tell me about Everton. How is everyone?”
She takes a seat at the kitchen table, and I join her. “It’s great. It looks the same as when we moved, except for some shops and restaurants that have closed. Clarke’s is still there, and so is The Mad Batter. Mrs. Engle says hello. Actually, most of the town has asked about you.” I leave out the part about them asking about my dad too, but my mom doesn’t miss a beat.
“Have you told them about your father?” She reaches for my hand with a sad smile.
“Yeah, Mom,” I sigh. “Everyone was asking how you guys were, and I told a few people. After that, they made themselves responsible for spreading the news. Small town charm,” I chuckle.
My mom’s eyes brighten. “That is Everton. Nothing goes unnoticed in that town. I remember when I first visited with your dad when we were in college. So many speculations were made. It was quite funny.” She stares off as nostalgia washes over her.
“They were lucky to have you in that town,” I tell her.
“Thanks, sweetie. How’s work? And your friends? Have you seen any of them? Do they still live in town?” She fires out questions.
“Whoa, slow down,” I tease. “Work is good. I love what I’m doing, and Mr. Jacobson is retiring soon, so he’s been recommending me to some people in town that don’t fit into his schedule.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“Yeah, and the best part is that I get out of work at a decent time. I can go out,
enjoy life a little more,” I add.
“I’m happy to hear that. I know you were stressed here.”
“Yeah,” I sigh. “I am worried about you, though.” No need to beat around the bush. I’m here for a reason, and as much as my mom says that she’s okay, she’s not acting like her normal self. She seems more tense than usual.
“For no reason,” she says sternly. “I’m fine.” Standing from the table, she asks, “Do you want something to drink? I’m going to make tea.”
I stand with her. “I’ll grab a glass of water.” I head to the kitchen, filling her kettle before she can and serving myself a glass of water.
“I’m not incapable,” she frowns.
I hug her tightly. “I know you aren’t, Mom, but I’m here, so let me make you tea, and let’s talk. Is that so much to ask for?” I look down at her.
She shakes her head stubbornly and wraps her arms around me. “It’s nice to have you here.”
“Now, tell me the truth…” she pauses. “Are you and Faith back together?”
I peer down at her with raised eyebrows and chuckle. “What?” I scratch my jaw, feigning confusion.
“Don’t act like you weren’t looking forward to seeing her when you moved.” She gives me a knowing smile.
I tilt my head back and take a deep breath, laughing to myself. It’s as if she knew all along, even though I never told her about wanting to see Faith again.
“Yes, I have seen her. Yes, we are together. This move has been great. I feel like I’m finally where I belong,” I confess to my mom, knowing she’ll understand.
“I’m happy for you, and I know your dad is as well,” she sniffles, looking away from me and grabbing a mug from the cupboard. I don’t miss the way she subtly wipes under her eyes. She places a teabag in the mug, and when the kettle whistles, she pours the hot water over the tea bag, steeping it.
By the time she looks at me again, her emotions are controlled, and she’s smiling. “Tell me how things are with Faith.” She walks back to the table, holding the mug.
I tell my mom about Faith, how it felt to see her again. Then, I tell her about Cali and Smoke, how I look forward to working the ranch, even if just for my own pleasure.
“You still love her,” my mom comments, catching me by surprise.
“Huh?” I widen my eyes.
“Faith. You still love her,” she smiles. This time it reaches her eyes.
“I do,” I nod. “I always knew I did, but I wondered if I loved the memory of her. When I saw her, I knew what I felt wasn’t based on nostalgia.” I don’t hold back.
“I’m happy you got a chance to see her again.”
We continue to talk about Everton, Allyson’s time in Spain, and my mom’s work while she drinks her tea. It feels good to see her after a few weeks away, and I’m glad to see she’s better than I imagined.
When she suggests we go out to dinner, I agree, heading to my old bedroom to take a shower and get ready. Maybe my mom was right to say I was overreacting. Maybe Allyson and I were worrying for no reason. A simple mistake can happen to anyone, and I know that I need to add reminders on my phone, or I’ll forget my own payments and appointments.
Relaxing for the first time in a week, I send Faith a text message letting her know things look good here and promising to call her tonight.
Easton
I drop my mom off at the university for work so I can keep the car during the day. Driving around Charlottesville, I take in the city, the shops, and the people walking around. Some days, I can’t believe my early adult life happened here—that I lived here instead of on backroads like I always imagined I would.
Stopping at The Brew House, the coffee shop near campus, memories of college hit me. I remember starting that new chapter, living in a dorm instead of at home, so I could get the whole college experience I always wanted. I had fun, even if I did attend the University of Virginia, because I got a huge break on tuition since my mom works there. Despite wanting to go to college in Wyoming so I could reunite with Faith, out-of-state tuition was more than we could afford, and by then, I was no longer a Wyoming resident.
I order a black coffee and bagel and pay the barista before walking to the end of the counter to wait for my order. Some college students run in and out of the coffee shop, while others sit with friends or study groups. With my coffee and bagel in hand, I take a seat at an empty table and check my phone, smiling when I see a message from Faith. Instead of writing back, I call her.
“Hey,” her voice comes through my earpiece.
“Hey, babe. Are you getting ready for work?” I take a drink of coffee while I listen to her response.
“Yeah. I just took Cali out, and I’m heading to work. She misses you. Smoke is good. Gavin came by and fed him and Star. He told me Smoke seems to be adjusting well.” She catches me up on my house, and I wish I were there with her. I like having her stay at my place. Last night, when we had our video call, watching her lie in my bed filled me with a mixture of emotions—pride, love, desire. I want her there permanently.
“That’s good to hear. “
“What are you doing?” Her voice sounds further away as she mumbles something, and then I hear the roar of the engine.
“I’m having coffee now. Just dropped my mom off at work so I can use the car.”
“She was okay this morning, too?” Faith’s voice sounds close again, and I assume she had me on speaker before.
“Yeah, it’s weird… Well, not weird, but you know what I mean. She seems okay, but something about her also feels forced.” I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s like my mom is putting up a front to ease my mind.
“I’m sure she’s okay. She must still be grieving your father’s death, but that’s normal.”
“Thanks, Faith. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You would be just fine without me, but I’m glad you choose to be with me,” her voice softens.
I smile. “Always.”
“Ugh, I gotta go, babe. Sorry,” Faith says.
“Don’t be. Have a good day. We’ll talk later.” I end the call and eat my bagel while scrolling through my phone. I stop at a picture of Faith and me on her Instagram account and smile. This woman has me wrapped around her finger.
After I finish my breakfast, I drive back to the house. Looking around, I find family pictures spread out in the living room. I smile as I look at them, picking up a few frames and reminiscing.
I miss my dad. He was the pillar of our family, always level-headed. He’d be the one to turn any challenge into a positive situation. As the man in the family, I feel like that responsibility falls on me, but I’m not as strong as he was. I still need his advice and support. I swallow back my emotions and sit on the couch, turning on the television to kill some time. I should’ve brought some work to do while my mom is teaching.
My eyebrows furrow when the screen remains black, a bouncing message on it, informing me that I need to call the cable company if I want to reconnect service.
I check to make sure I have the cable box turned on and that all the settings are correct, then I scroll through. Every channel says the same thing. Writing down the error number on the screen, I get in the car and drive to the cable company’s storefront to figure out what’s going on.
I take a seat to wait my turn once I walk into the store. My leg anxiously bounces as time slows down. I look at the number on my ticket and then the board on the wall with the current number being helped—six more people. Taking a deep breath, I run a hand down my face. Could it be that my mom forgot to pay for her cable the same way she forgot to pay for her cell phone service? She’s usually so on top of these things.
A message from Camden comes in while I wait, and I’m grateful for the distraction.
Camden: Drinks today?
Easton: Yeah… how’s six?
Camden: Works for me… Tap Room?
Easton: Perfect. See you then
Having drinks with Camden will b
e good. It’ll keep my worries at bay for a little while, and Tap Room in Richmond is my favorite brewery.
My head snaps up when the board reads my number, and I walk to the available customer service employee.
“Hi,” I greet the man.
“How can I help you?” He lifts his eyebrows into his receding hairline.
“I got an error message when I turned on my TV today. It said something about reconnecting and this number.” I hand him my phone, so he can see the code the television displayed.”
“Let me see.” He begins typing on the keyboard, the tapping and clicking of the mouse coming in quickly. “Do you have an account number?” He looks up at me with pursed lips.
“Um, not on me…”
“There’s not much I can do without an account number, but this code means a payment hasn’t been made.”
“Fuck,” I murmur. “If I give you the name on the account, can you help me?”
“What is it?” He seems less than pleased by my question.
“Charlene Locke.”
The man looks up at me with wide eyes. “Are you Charlene?”
“It’s my mom. I came to visit her, and I noticed the TV wasn’t working this morning. She’s at work, so I thought I’d come see what’s going on.”
“Unless you have a letter signed by her, stating you are able to get information on her account, or she comes in person, I can’t help you.”
“That’s bullshit. I’m her son, and I want to pay her bill. Can’t we do acts of kindness? This is why the world’s so backwards.” I run a frustrated hand through my hair.
“Sorry, rules are rules,” he shrugs, not the tiniest bit sorry.
“Look.” I lean forward, holding on to the counter. “I’m sure you’ve got a mom… Someone you love more than anything in the world. She gave you life, raised you, held your hand when you got hurt. My dad passed away a year ago, and she’s still dealing with his death. I came to help her out, so give me a break. Tell me how much she owes, and here’s my credit card.” I bring out my card, sliding it over to him.
The man clenches his jaw and stares at me. He breathes out, and I think I’ve won him over until he says, “I am sorry, but I can’t give out that information. It’s against the rules, and if my manager finds out, I’ll get fired. Bring your mom by, and we’ll sort this all out.”
My Way to You: A Second Chance Romance (Love in Everton Book 7) Page 18
