My eyes wander around his house when I walk back in with Cali. Feeling lonely, I hop back in my car and drive to the center of town to take a walk. Fresh air helps, and so does seeing people out in the street, greeting them as I go into shops.
When my phone buzzes in my pocket, I quickly pull it out. I find a message from Poppy instead of Easton like I hoped.
Poppy: Are you going tonight?
Faith: No, I’m gonna stay home
Poppy: Are you sure you’re okay?
Faith: Yeah, just tired
Poppy: If you need anything call
I’m grateful that Poppy doesn’t insist. I’m not in the mood to be surrounded by people. My friends will ask about Easton, and I rather avoid their pitiful stares.
I walk into Homegrown, a small country shop that I used to love when I was a girl and look through the aisles and tables. They have everything from home decor to toys. I take my time looking through everything twice. I’ve learned that small treasures are hidden in this store, and you should always search more than once.
I smile as I see a small football Luke would love and grab it. Sifting through a table piled with things, I find a napkin holder. My eyes light up when I see the red wooden barn design on the holder. Reminding me of the barn with our initials, I take the napkin holder with me. Easton will love it, or so I hope.
Thoughts of him make me somber. If he ends up moving back to Virginia, maybe he’ll take the holder with him so he’ll always remember me. I shake my head. I’m so confused about what is going on right now.
After I pay for my things, I continue walking up and down Main Street, starting to get bored of the same view. I walk into The Mad Batter and wave at Mrs. Engle, the owner. She serves the best pastries in town.
“How are you, Faith?” she greets me as I stare at the glass display before me, trying to figure out what I want.
“I’m good, and you?” I try for a smile.
“Enjoying the day. What can I get you?” She smiles genuinely.
“I’ll have a latte and a slice of cherry pie.”
“Great, take a seat, and I’ll take it over in a second.”
I thank her and sit, opening my phone. When I don’t see anything from Easton, I open my e-book app and continue reading our book club pick of the month. If my real-life romance is in shambles, at least I can get swept away in a fictional one.
I thank Mrs. Engle when she drops off my pie and coffee and take a satisfying bite of the sweet cherry before getting back to my book.
“Hey, Faith.” My eyebrows pinch together when I look up. I smile, realizing it’s Tinley and Matthew, Harris and Knox’s friends. Matthew is a Hollywood producer, and his wife, Tinley, used to act as well. They’re great people, and I bet they’re already in town for the wedding this weekend.
“Hi, guys.” I stand to greet them. “Coming in for a treat?” I smile.
“Guilty,” Tinley raises her hand. I love the cupcakes here. “And Matt pleases me.”
Matthew smirks, shaking his head in amusement at his wife. “Are you going to watch Knox and Sutton tonight?” he asks.
“I don’t think so. I’ve had a few late nights, and I want to try to catch up on sleep. I’ll see you guys on Saturday, though.”
I wave them off as they head to the counter to order, and I watch them leave. Surely, if two celebrities can make a relationship work, then so can Easton and I…right?
…
I sit on the couch, my phone in my hand, after sending Easton a message asking if everything was okay. It’s been hours since I called him as I was leaving work, and I haven’t heard from him. Cali lies next to me, or more like on top of me, as I break Easton’s rule of keeping her off the furniture. She’s comfy, and I could use the extra loving.
I run a hand down the length of her body as she breathes deeply. Dogs really are the best. I scoot down on the sofa, careful not to drop the remote on the floor and place it on the coffee table. Cali shifts and I hug her to me as I watch the baking competition on the cooking channel.
When my phone rings, I jump up to a seated position, causing Cali to look at me as if I were insane. “Sorry, girl,” I pet her head. I sigh in relief when Easton’s name flashes on my screen and answer the video call, wondering what the hell happened today.
“Hey,” I lift my eyebrows.
“Hi, I’m so sorry. My phone ran out of battery, and I just got it to charge now. How are you? Are you mad?” He frowns, his eyebrows pulled down as stress lines his face.
“I’m okay. I was worried and wondering what had happened. What’s going on?” I sit back, Cali’s head on my lap.
“Is that Cali on the couch?” he asks, his eyes widening a bit.
“I needed comfort,” I say, not feeling sorry.
“God, Faith, I’m sorry.” Easton runs a hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean to go silent on you.”
“It’s okay…” I trail off. “How’s your mom?”
“Eh…” he shrugs. “She’s okay. She’s been talking openly to me instead of pretending everything is fucking peachy, so that’s a start. She definitely wants to move, so that’s where I was this afternoon. I met with a realtor that can help us put the house on the market and find her a smaller place. She’ll have to downsize, so that means getting rid of stuff and only keeping what’s most valuable to her.”
“That could be good for her,” I say.
“I hope so. I feel like besides helping her with this house stuff, there’s not much else I can do to help her. I can’t make her feel happier. I don’t know if to stay and help her pack, go back to Everton, wait until she’s moved and settled. I have no fucking clue what to do. I feel torn.” His voice drops, and his eyes cast downward.
My heart cracks a little, hearing the uncertainty in his voice, and I’m taken back to fourteen years ago when he told me his family was moving.
“You have to do what feels right.” It’s the only thing I can tell him.
“I don’t even know what feels right at the moment. I’m torn. I don’t want to leave you again,” he whispers.
I swallow hard and take a stabilizing breath. “Take your time to figure this out… Be with your mom and do what you need to do for your family. I won’t get in the way of that, tearing you in two. I won’t be responsible for your guilt or have you resent me later because you couldn’t do what you felt you needed to support your mom. If you need to stay in Virginia indefinitely, then do that, but I’ll need to take a step back. My heart can’t handle not knowing if you’ll be back in Everton for good or just to pack your things to return to Virginia.” I hate telling him this.
“Faith, you’re what I want… You’re the future I want.”
I nod, slow tears trailing down my face. “But I won’t let you put me before your family.”
“That’s not…” He sighs in frustration. “You’re not in the way. You’ve given me the strength to deal with this. I’m coming back for you, mark my words,” he grits out.
“I hope so,” I smile, wanting to believe him. Right now, all I see are the same patterns happening again from when we were young. Maybe we really aren’t meant to be together.
“I’m going to let you go. I’m exhausted.” I end the conversation before I let him see the emotions that are running through me. He starts to argue, but I hang up and silence my phone.
Letting Cali out before bed, I tuck myself into Easton’s sheets and inhale deeply, memorizing his scent as my tears drench his pillow. Easton will always be my greatest love, but it seems as if destiny has other plans for us.
Easton
What in God’s name just happened? I stare at my phone in disbelief. Did Faith just break up with me? Did she tell me to move to Virginia? I honestly have no fucking clue.
If she thinks I’m going to let her go that easily, she’s mistaken. I may need to help my mom pack and move once she finds a place, but I’m in no way jeopardizing my relationship with Faith for that. Who says I can’t do both? Yes, it sucks that
I’m away from her at the moment, especially after what we lived through when I moved the first time, but this is different. I may be confused about what steps to take, but I’m one-hundred-percent certain that I want Faith in my life.
I walk out of my room and find my mom at the kitchen table, looking through the papers with listings of available apartments in the area. I met with the realtor today, who seemed optimistic about selling quickly and finding a place for my mom to live.
“Hey,” I take a seat across from her. “Do you see anything you like?”
“There are some nice apartments,” she nods. “I love this house, but it may be time to downsize and start fresh. A place closer to campus would be nice, as long as it’s not where all the students are living,” she jokes, and it’s good to see her light humor make an appearance after two emotional days.
“When are you leaving back to Everton?” my mom asks.
I look up at her and frown. “I don’t know. I spoke to Mr. Powell and told him I needed more time here, and I understood if he needed to hire someone else. You need me right now, and I don’t want to leave you with things half-completed.”
“Easton, look at me.” I lift my gaze to my mom’s. “You can’t do that. You can’t put your life on hold like that. You made a choice to move to Everton, and I agreed that it was the best choice for you.”
“I’m just staying until you’re settled into your new apartment.”
“And what if that takes three months? Or six?” she challenges me.
I scrub my jaw, my stubble scratching my palm, and sigh. “I don’t know.”
“You can’t stay here that long. I won’t have it. You have a life to live in Everton, a girlfriend who will miss you.” I don’t even think about telling her what Faith just said over the phone. “Easton, your dad wouldn’t want you to put your life on hold because of this. That’s no way to live. How long will Faith be willing to wait for you to help your old mom move? I’m very capable of doing it myself or hiring help.”
“You shouldn’t have to hire someone when you have a son who can help you.” I cross my arms in frustration.
“Sweetie, this is your greatest gift and biggest downfall.” When I look at her in confusion, she chuckles and continues speaking. “You’ve got a big heart, but you tend to put others before yourself. I would hate for you to put your life on hold any more than you already have because of me. I’ve always felt guilty for making you move in high school. Your father and I would talk about it all the time, and I’m frankly surprised it took you this long to move back home.” When I try to speak, she raises a hand to stop me.
“Your dad and I knew how much you loved Everton, and it was a difficult decision to pack us all up and bring us to Virginia because of a job offer, but the opportunity was too great to pass up. However, your happiness and your sister’s were always our priority. We knew Allyson would be okay since she was younger when we moved, but we weren’t sure how you’d adapt. You had your relationship with Faith, your friends. Leaving Everton meant leaving all of that behind, and to this day, I wish it hadn’t worked out that way, but it did.
“Your father and I made a choice, it was what we thought would be best for all of us. Now, it’s your turn to choose what’s best for you. I’m going to be okay. I’m still grieving your father, and in some capacity, I probably will be for the rest of my life. What I will not permit is for you to give up your dreams in order to be present for me. I know I have you and your sister, no matter how far away you are.” My mom smiles, tears in her eyes.
“I feel torn,” I tell her the truth.
“Answer me, frankly, where do you want to be?” My mom looks at me seriously.
“Everton,” I don’t hesitate.
“Then, that’s where you’ll go. It’s your turn to live your life, and it’s my turn to let you go. I won’t hold you back.” She’s stern in her words, repeating herself to make sure I understand exactly how serious she is. I nod.
“Now, I’m going to go to bed, and maybe we can call the realtor to make an appointment to see this apartment tomorrow.” She hands me a paper with a listing for a two-bedroom apartment. Smiling, I agree and kiss her cheek.
When she’s in her room, I grab my phone to call Faith again, but it goes to voicemail. I huff out a breath and stand. Feeling restless, I begin stacking things in the house that my mom will probably want to take with her to the new apartment. Might as well get a head start.
…
I haven’t heard from Faith in two days, and I’m starting to lose my mind. Gavin let me know that the horses are okay, and when I asked if Faith’s car was at my house, he said he hadn’t seen her.
I tug my hair at the roots and hold in a frustrated yell to not scare my mom. She doesn’t have classes on Fridays, so we’ve been packing up the house all morning. Well, I started on Wednesday when I got disheartened by Faith’s silence and put my energy into something else, anything that would keep me somewhat sane. Apparently, packing up a house helps, even if it’s not the sanest experience, and I got a good chunk packed these past two days.
Fortunately, my mom loved the apartment we saw on Wednesday and immediately put an offer. It’s a great deal, and she got the call today that she was approved. It’s happened so fast, but it has been on the market for a few months, and the owners were desperate to sell since they were already living elsewhere. The best part is that it’s move-in ready, so I’d like to get her settled in as much as possible before I leave back to Everton on Sunday.
We were able to get all of my mom’s payments squared away without any issues in the last couple of days, so there are no obstacles when it comes to selling the house. A few people have already inquired about it, but no one has made an offer yet. According to the realtor, it’s still early, and it’s a good sign that people are showing interest this early on. I’m hopeful it will sell.
“How is it going in here?” My mom looks into the living room.
“Good. I have almost everything you want to keep packed in boxes. I’m going to head to the donations center in a bit to drop off more donations, and I can grab lunch.”
“Sounds good. Take your time. I’m finishing up my bedroom.” She smiles, seeming truly relaxed for the first time since I got here. When I hear her talk on the phone and say Allyson’s name, I smile and grab the bags we’re donating. Ally will keep her entertained for a bit, so I can run out and do these errands.
I wave at my mom and hop in her car, driving to the donations center. Once I’ve dropped off the bags, I drive to a sub shop near the house and grab lunch for both of us. When I pull into the driveway about thirty minutes later, I stare in confusion at the unfamiliar car sitting there, which was not there when I left.
When I open the door, wondering if it’s an interested party looking at the house, I stop in my tracks. I lean in and hear giggling. It can’t be. I walk into the kitchen and almost drop the bag with our subs.
“What are you doing here?”
“Nice to see you, too, big bro.” Allyson stands from the kitchen table where she’s sitting with my mom and hugs me tightly. “How are you?” She leans back and inspects me.
“I’m good. What…” I scratch the side of my head. Allyson laughs.
“I came to surprise you guys.”
“What about work?” I ask, wondering how the hell she managed to fly all the way from Spain without us knowing. I look at my mom. “Did you know she was coming?”
“I had no idea,” she shakes her head. “She called me when you left, and next thing I know, she’s knocking on the front door.”
“Wow,” I breathe out.
“I had to come see how you were doing,” she smiles over at my mom. “We were worried. The office is pretty much set up in Madrid, and I asked if I could spend time with you since you weren’t doing well. I negotiated a bit, so I’m here for ten days, but I am technically working while I’m here and meeting with my boss to give updates on the office.”
“Does that mean you�
��ll be coming back soon?” I ask.
“Um…” Allyson bites her lip. “I’m actually staying in Spain for a while. They offered me a more permanent, long-term position to get the office off-the-ground. The pay is great, especially compared to the cost of living over there, and being able to say I’ve worked internationally is a huge perk when it comes to my résumé. After five years, I can come back to the office here or choose to stay in Spain,” she explains.
“Wow… That’s fantastic,” I say, congratulating my sister. Staying in Spain for five more years is insane.
“Thanks. But, I’m here now, and I heard someone was bringing lunch.” She smiles eagerly.
I laugh and hold up the bag. “One mistake in not announcing your arrival; I only have two subs,” I shrug.
Allyson shoves my shoulder and yanks the bag from my hand. “Give me half of yours.” She laughs as she runs away from me, tearing open the wrapper and stealing half of my sub. Pieces of my honey mustard chicken fall to the ground.
“Careful!” I call out.
Ignoring my warning, she takes a bite and dances around.
I chuckle and shake my head. “Grab a plate,” I order. She makes a mocking expression, twisting her face up, and grabs three plates. We sit at the table, catching up in person. As Allyson tells us all about Madrid, I watch with a smile. It feels good to have us all together. And although my dad’s not physically here, his presence is felt.
“I hear things between you and Faith are rocky,” Allyson whispers after we finish eating lunch while she helps me pack up in the living room.
“Yeah. I’ll talk to her on Sunday when I fly back.” I sigh, taping up a box.
“Actually, you’re flying back tomorrow. I bought you a flight. You leave at four in the afternoon.”
“What?” I lift my eyebrows.
“When Mom mentioned you were going to put all of that on hold to stay here, and she had noticed you hadn’t spoken to Faith for most of the week, I took the liberty of booking a flight for you. Easton,” Ally reaches for my hand, “you’re happy in Everton. You’ve been hoping to see Faith again since forever. Don’t screw it up for something like this. Mom is fine, and I’ll be here to help her finish moving. Besides, I think someone is really interested in the house. They’re coming tomorrow to look at it.”
My Way to You: A Second Chance Romance (Love in Everton Book 7) Page 20
