by Rachel Hanna
Behind her, in the doorway, I see Dawson standing there with a smile on his face.
“I see you’ve met my sister?” I say to him. Amy turns and looks at him and then back at me.
“Is that your boyfriend?” she whispers rather loudly.
“No. He’s just an old friend,” I whisper back even louder. Dawson chuckles and walks back up the hallway. “Amy, what are you doing here?”
She smiles and sighs. “I’ve been a horrible sister to you, Indy. I guess when I heard you’d been hurt, I just freaked. We’ve already lost our brother and our parents… Well, we’re all that’s left.”
Her eyes are filling with tears which shocks me to my core. The only time I ever saw Amy cry was when her boyfriends would break up with her, and even then she would get herself together and plot her revenge against them later the same day.
“I haven’t exactly tried to be the best sister to you either,” I say, trying to extend my own olive branch. And it’s true. Just because she’s older doesn’t mean I’m blameless in all of this.
“I know I treated you like a lowly little sister when we were kids, Indy. I was such a brat,” she says with a laugh through her tears.
“I can’t really argue with that one.” That elicits an even bigger laugh from her.
“I was so happy to hear from you when you called, even though it wasn’t with happy news about Danny. But I have three kids, and being a mother has taught me a lot.”
“Oh yeah? Like what?”
“You know, I’ve seen my kids argue many times. But as a mother, it absolutely breaks my heart when I hear them say ugly things to each other. I realized that the same thing that breaks my heart now must’ve broken your heart as a kid. I don’t even let my kids call each other ‘stupid’ or ‘brat’, yet I called you those things regularly. I’ve wanted to apologize for so long, Indy, but I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me.”
I can feel the pain in her words, and I don’t think I’ve ever been so shocked in my life. Amy really feels bad, and she wants to make amends. A part of me wonders if Danny is somewhere orchestrating this - the reconnecting of his family.
“I hope you’ll accept my apology,” she says softly, reaching for both of my hands. “I’m not who I used to be, and I’d like the chance to be your sister.”
Now my own eyes are watering. “Of course I accept your apology, Amy. I won’t lie. You did hurt me as a kid, but we’re grown women now, and we can make different choices.”
She reaches out and hugs me tightly. I don’t have the heart to tell her that my medicine has worn off and my shoulder is killing me. Thankfully, she lets me go moments later.
“Now, where’s that niece of mine?” she asks with a smile as she wipes her eyes.
“Still at school. She usually gets home around three-thirty.”
Amy looks at her watch. “Oh. It’s not even ten yet. Well, what can I do to help you?”
I pause for a moment to think and then smile. “Do you like eighties movies?”
“Of course. Why?”
“How about we do a sister thing right now and you climb up here and watch a movie marathon with me?”
Her eyes get wide. “Really?”
“That would be the best medicine for me right now.”
Without question, Amy crawls up into the bed, snuggles up next to me and we start with Pretty in Pink. Having a sister might not be so bad after all.
After watching two movies, I send Amy out to get lunch for us and for Dawson who has been hovering around the house all day. I’ve heard the vacuum running a couple of times, and I think I spotted him wearing my apron in the hallway once.
“You know, Peach Valley is a very healing place,” I say as he dusts my dresser for the umpteenth time.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, since I’ve been back, I’ve met my niece and forged a relationship with her. I’ve seen Tabitha. I’ve reunited with you. I’ve made peace with this house. Amy came back…”
“A lot has changed in Peach Valley…” he says in a dramatic tone as if he’s doing the voice-over for a soap opera.
“You know what I mean. I hated the thought of moving back here. It felt like failure. Or reliving the past. But it has brought so much healing to my heart, Dawson.”
He smiles and sits down beside me. “Does that mean you’ll stay here for good? Give up Charleston and that salty ocean breeze?”
“I don’t know if I can promise that just yet, but I have decided to unpack my last suitcase if that makes you feel any better.”
“Food has arrived!” I hear Amy yelling from the kitchen. What a flashback to our childhood when I would hear her yelling all sorts of things around the house.
I start to stand up, but Dawson steps in front of me. “No. Sit down. I’ll bring it.”
“Dawson, I have to start moving. I’m getting stiff being in this bed so much.”
“Tomorrow. Just give it one more day, okay?”
I sigh and sit back down. “Fine. But tomorrow I’m getting up.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he says as he salutes me. A few minutes later, he returns with a sub sandwich, a bag of chips and sweet tea.
“I’m getting so bored,” I say as he and Amy plop down on the floor beside my bed. “You know, you two are welcome to eat at the kitchen table like human beings.”
Amy laughs. “I flew all the way to Peach Valley to check on my little sister, so I’ll stay right here.”
“And I walked two houses up here, so I’ll stay too.”
“You live two houses away?” Amy asks with a sly grin.
“Don’t start. You’re barking up the wrong tree,” I warn as I take a bite of my sandwich.
“Let’s not talk about trees,” Dawson interjects. We all have a good laugh at that as we enjoy our meals and reminisce about old times. Each of our stories are very different, but we all share the bond of Peach Valley.
I hear the bus come down the street. Amy looks nervous as she sits on the edge of my bed.
“What if she hates me?”
“She might.”
“Thanks a lot!” she says, lightly slapping my calf.
“We had a rough time at first, but we have a much better relationship now. It might take her awhile to warm up. She may have… questions.”
“I’d like to spend some time with her. Get to know her. If you don’t mind?”
“I think that would be great. We just need to go at her speed.”
Amy nods, and I hear the front door open. Dawson has gone to run some errands.
“I’m home,” she calls out.
“Hey, Harper, can you come here a minute?” I call back.
She appears in my doorway and glances at Amy before looking back at me. “Yes, ma’am?”
“Harper, this is my sister, Amy. Your other aunt,” I say with a smile. My stomach knots up as I wait to hear her response. She surprises me by smiling ever so slightly.
“Hi. Nice to meet you. You look more like my Dad than Aunt Indy.”
Amy sighs with relief and stands to hug Harper. I hold my breath hoping that she allows such a forward show of affection from someone she’s just met. She quickly glances at me, as if seeking approval, and I nod.
Amy kisses the top of her head and releases her grip. “You know, you have some cousins who really want to meet you.”
“I do?”
“Yes. I have two daughters and a son.”
“Are they my age?”
“Well, Abigail is ten. Cammie is eight and Stuart is five.”
“Are they here too?”
“No, sweetie. They’re back in Seattle, but we’re going to be seeing a lot more of each other now.” Amy looks at me and I nod in agreement that we will be making more of an effort now that some scars have been healed.
“I can’t believe I have cousins,” Harper says with a grin. “That’s like real family.”
It hits me how much Harper has missed having a family. We all have. Some reasons for th
e estrangement had been valid. Others had been plain stupid. I guess that’s how many families end up. Stupid fights. Stupid judgements. Stupid grudges being held from years gone by.
But there’s pure love in this room right now, and the feeling almost overwhelms me. We could’ve had this years ago had someone stepped up and been the hero.
The next two days pass quickly with Dawson coming in and out checking on me while my sister takes the lead. I feel him stepping back, allowing us time to get to know each other again.
Part of me is glad that he’s not with me 24/7 because it’s too hard to ignore my feelings for him when he’s around. The other part of me hates sleeping with Amy because she’s a cover hog and doesn’t give me the same secure feeling that Dawson does. Plus, she snores like a freight train.
Thankfully, I’m no longer relegated to my bed all day. I’ve been getting up and spending hours on the living room sofa. I even made myself some soup one day, but Dawson caught me and sent me back to the sofa. I think he enjoys taking care of me.
“When are you going back to work?” I ask him as he finally sits down beside me on the sofa. Amy has gone out to do some grocery shopping for me.
“Never. What if I just become your full-time house boy?” he says with that boyish grin that makes me want to do things I cannot do.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” I say, trying to keep my response light. His smile fades a bit and he leans his head against my shoulder.
“I would never want you to get hurt like this again, but I have to say I’ve enjoyed taking care of you, Indy.”
“Oh yeah? Shall I climb the fig tree again next week?”
He looks at me. “Seriously, if you ever climb even one branch into that tree again, I’ll take you over my knee.”
“Again with the promises…” I know I shouldn’t have said that, but it was too good to pass up.
He licks his lips and sighs before laying his head back against the sofa this time. “Do you think this will ever get any easier?”
“What?”
“Being around each other?”
“It’s not easy to be around me?”
He sits up and puts his head in his hands. “Not for me.” I watch him stand up and pace the room for a moment, obviously trying to gather his thoughts. “Sometimes, you make me believe it’s possible.”
“What’s possible?”
“The whole thing. Love. Marriage. Kids. The white picket fence.”
I feel my face flushing, but I don’t want to move. I need him to keep talking.
“But then I remember my mother.”
The wind blows right out of my sails. “You’re not your mother, Dawson.”
He sits down in a chair across the room. “I know that logically, Indy. But I saw - and experienced - a lot as a kid.”
“I know…”
“No. You don’t.” He says it sharply. “You only know very little.”
I grieve for him in this moment. I know what it’s like to have secrets. What it’s like to have pain that you can’t name or talk about. And I wonder how we lived just two doors down from each other for months, and I still don’t know what he was experiencing in that house.
“Dawson, have you ever considered counseling?” I ask softly.
“What?”
“I think it might help…”
He laughs in exasperation. “So now you think I’m crazy because I don’t want to fall into the marriage trap?”
My mouth drops open. I can tell by the look on his face that he’s immediately sorry he said that, but I don’t give him a chance to speak. Instead, I pull myself up to my feet and hold my hands up to keep him from trying to help me.
“Now, you listen here, Dawson Woods! Don’t put words in my mouth. I’m not trying to convince you to get married. But as your friend, I know you need help with your PTSD. Not just from war, but from the life you lived as a child. There are parts of you that are broken, and there’s help for you.”
He stands to face me. “I’m so sorry I said…”
“Seeking counseling doesn’t make you crazy. What makes you crazy is reliving a past that’s no longer happening and using other people’s mistakes to justify your own… and then refusing to get help to make your present life better!”
“Indy, I…”
“Enough. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. But just know this, Dawson. I’m not some desperate female looking to get married. Been there. Done that. Got the divorce decree to prove it. But I didn’t get divorced because marriage is bad. I got divorced because I married the wrong man.”
With that, I walk to my room and shut the door behind me before breaking down.
Chapter 12
Getting back to work has been both good and hard. It has been nice to see all of the kids again and get back to a sense of normalcy. I had no idea how much I missed their faces.
But it has also been difficult in that I’m still sore. Sitting behind my desk ends up making me feel stiff most days, so I’m looking forward to the winter break that is quickly approaching in a few days. I need some time off to enjoy family life without being laid up in my bed the whole time.
Once Amy knew I was okay, she headed back to Seattle. We’re planning to get the kids together a few weeks after the Christmas holiday, and I know Harper is really looking forward to that.
“Well, I’m so glad to see you sitting back behind that desk again,” Kent says after appearing in the doorway to my office. I’ve been avoiding him since Thanksgiving because I don’t want to send him any mixed signals, but I think my very presence in the school is doing that for some reason. I definitely don’t remember him being so focused on me back in high school.
“Glad to be back. Oh, and thanks for the flowers. They were lovely.” He sent me a dozen roses almost before I made it home from the hospital. Dawson put them on the back patio for some reason. They never had a chance.
“I was going to come by… But I heard Dawson was taking care of you?”
“Yes. He was a godsend,” I say with a quick smile. “So, what’s up?”
He pushes away from the doorframe and walks to sit down in the chair across from my desk. Seeing that he plans to stay for a bit, I put down my pen and take a sip of my morning coffee.
“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there’s a group of us going camping this weekend up in the mountains. Harper asked me why she wasn’t invited when she saw me in the hallway just now.”
“She did?”
“Apparently, some of the kids in her class were talking about it. I hadn’t mentioned it to you because of your accident, but I wanted you to know that you two are more than welcome to join us…”
I chuckle. “I’m not much of a camper.”
“Neither am I, honestly. But Brett Hawkins set this whole thing up, and if I don’t go then he’ll never let me live it down.”
Brett is well known around school for being the “sportiest” teacher. He rock climbs, runs marathons and is training to compete in the Iron Man competition. He’s not “big as a minute”, as my mother would say, but he can move like lightning.
“We’ve got about ten kids going, along with their parents, of course. Several teachers. Lots of tents. Big campfire. Beautiful creek next to the campsite. I think Harper would really enjoy it. Her friend, Olivia, is going too.”
I bite my lip. I want Harper to have these experiences. I know Danny would want me to let her go, but I’m not letting her go alone. How I wish Tabitha was still around because she’s the perfect person for this adventure. She lives for bugs and dirt and the sound of coyotes howling in the distance. I live for nice hotels, soft sheets and plush bath towels.
I guess this is what single motherhood will be like. Giving up what I want so that Harper can have what she needs.
“Okay. Sure.”
“Really?” he says, a look of shock on his face. “I was ready to keep pleading my case.”
I smile. “Well, feel free to bribe me with a high-p
riced coffee drink or some chocolates.”
Kent laughs. “Done.” I was just joking. He stands up and walks toward the door. “Shall I tell Harper the good news?” he asks when he reaches the doorway.
“Go right ahead.”
Before he leaves, he turns back. “Oh, and Indy? I can’t wait for this weekend. It’s going to be a blast.”
I don’t respond, opting instead to smile and take another sip of my coffee. But when I look back up, Kent is no longer standing there. Dawson is. And it’s apparent that he just heard what Kent said.
“Good morning,” he says, his face impassable.
“Good morning.” I look back down at my papers, but he doesn’t move.
“Listen, I just thought you should know that I’ll be out of town for a few days. I’m leaving Friday.”
I want to ask where he’s going. But I’m still mad and hurt, so I don’t.
“Okay. Safe travels.”
He hovers for a moment before turning back toward the hallway. But then he turns back.
“And you have a very fun weekend, Indy.”
Before I can look up, he’s gone.
“How much further is it?” Harper asks for the tenth time since we left home. It’s only an hour drive, but it sure seems longer when she keeps asking questions.
“Should be right up here on the left,” I say, glancing down at my navigation system while we wait at a red light.
I finally spot the campground and turn in. It’s definitely not glamorous, but I didn’t expect it to be. There are lots of cars in the lot, along with some campers and nicer motorhomes.
We park near the office, which is just a small cabin in the corner of the parking lot. As soon as I open my door, Kent is standing there like Johnny on the spot, ready to help me unload our bags. I packed light, as instructed.
“Welcome to paradise!” Kent says with a sarcastic laugh as he takes my duffel bag.
“How bad is it?”
“Actually, not too bad. Our campsite is a bit of a walk, so I hung out up here just to make sure you didn’t get lost.”
