Georgia Summer

by Heather Colleen

  Over pan-fried pork chops, collard greens, and mashed potatoes, Georgia, Virginia, and their dad caught up while the twins played with more than they ate their food.

  “Charlotte, you eat your greens now, ya hear me?” Virginia scolded Charlotte. Charlotte rolled her eyes and Virginia pretended not to notice as she turned to Georgia. “I swanee, they’ve been on a hunger strike for the last couple of months.”

  “I’m sure it’s just a temporary phase,” Georgia assured her as she took the last bite of her potatoes.

  Her dad stood up from the table. “Why don’t I clean up and you two can take the girls outside to play,” he suggested as he took away their plates.

  Not wanting to waste a moment of playtime, Charlotte and Ella Mae shot out of their chairs, the front screen door slamming behind them. Seeing the little ones run outside unaccompanied, Millie took off after them. Millie didn’t have a mean bone in her, but she did have a protective streak when it came to the girls in her family.

  “Thanks, dad,” Virginia said as she held the door open for Millie.

  Virginia and Georgia went outside. Taking their seats on the padded porch swing, they watched the two girls flit around the yard like fairies, their blonde hair gleaming, catching the last bit of the sun’s rays in its final moments before it disappeared behind the horizon. As the evening turned into night, the fireflies came out in full force, dancing around Charlotte and Ella Mae and lighting up their round, curious faces.

  “Oh, to be that young again when everything was so new and exciting.” Virginia sighed as she looked on from the porch.

  “Life is still new and exciting, Virginia. What are you talking about?” Georgia asked with a laugh.

  “Well, maybe it is for you. You’re the smart one in the family that got out of this town and just finished up her first year of college!” Virginia said proudly.

  Georgia didn’t say anything. She knew she was considered to be the ‘smart one’ in the family. She had dreams of going to medical school one day. She looked over at Virginia. “You know, my life isn’t that exciting. I spent most of my year studying in the library. And when I wasn’t in the library, I was in class.” Georgia looked down at her lap as she reflected on her first year of college.

  It was true that she was considered to be a bit antisocial by her roommates. For the first few weeks of the school year they had enthusiastically tried to get her to go out with them to frat parties or to the bars downtown, but as Georgia consistently and unfailingly came up with excuses and turned them down, they eventually gave up.

  A firefly flew between them on the porch swing and Georgia gently clapped her hands around it. As she slowly opened up her hands to look at the firefly, its light flickered. It lazily lifted itself up from her hands and flew away, still flickering. Georgia’s gaze met Virginia’s. “And how have you been, Virginia?” she asked her sister.

  Virginia gave her a small smile. “Don’t get me wrong, I love bein' a mom, Georg…It’s just…” Her voice trailed off.

  Georgia nodded in understanding. “I know. You wish he was here.”

  Virginia sighed.

  Georgia looked at her sister, as always, with admiration. She was the spitting image of their mother with her blonde hair streaked from the sun, honey golden skin, crystal blue eyes, and freckles that dappled her nose.

  Growing up, Virginia had suffered from no shortage of attention from the boys with her beauty, but she had those bright blue eyes set on one lucky fellow all throughout high school. They had plans to marry after their senior year, but Charlotte and Ella Mae’s arrival just after Virginia’s graduation put things on hold. Her beau, Monty Cunningham, and she delayed the wedding for the fall that same year, but Monty skipped town shortly after the twins were born.

  Being the small town that it was, Willow Creek had heard its fair share of rumors following Monty’s departure. Whispers that Monty couldn’t handle his imminent responsibilities as a father, or that he didn’t want any part of the family business. Monty’s dad, Walter Cunningham, owned the local cotton gin that had been there for years and supplied a number of jobs to the community. Georgia wasn’t sure what she believed. All she knew was that Monty had broken her sister’s heart, which was an unforgiveable sin in Georgia’s eyes.

  “Do you still hear from him?” Georgia asked tentatively.

  “He still sends a monthly check, if that’s what you mean. But other than that, not a word,” Virginia answered, her voice wavering slightly.

  “And are you getting by okay?” Georgia asked, always afraid of what the answer would be.

  Virginia waved her question away with her hand. “Oh, don’t you worry about us, Georg. Between workin’ at Jud’s Drugs and the little bit of help from Monty, we’re doin’ just fine.” Virginia looked past Georgia through the window. Georgia followed her gaze and they both watched their dad in the kitchen as he put the leftovers away. “Obviously, dad helps, too. But I wish he wouldn’t worry so much,” Virginia said.

  Georgia nodded in agreement. “I know. I worry about him still with mom being gone.”

  Virginia placed her hand over Georgia’s on the padded swing. “Well, he’s got us still,” she said softly.

  Just then, Ella Mae called out, “Mommy! Charlotte smashed the firefly!”

  Charlotte yelled back in response, “Ella Mae! You said you wouldn’t tell!”

  Virginia rolled her eyes and spoke quietly enough so that only Georgia could hear, “And of course, we’ve got these little shits to keep us all entertained.”

  The two sisters laughed.

  “C’mon, girls!” Virginia called out. “We gotta head home! It’s past your bedtimes.” The twins protested, of course.

  Charlotte walked up to the porch begrudgingly. “But mom, the fireflies haven’t gone to bed yet!"

  Virginia shook her head. “And since when do you have the same bedtime as the fireflies? Now git inside and tell Grandpa goodnight.”

  Charlotte and Ella Mae ran inside.

  The two sisters stood up from the porch swing and Virginia faced Georgia again. “I sure am glad you came home for the summer. We missed you, Georg.”

  Georgia hugged Virginia. “I missed you, too.”

  ✽✽✽

  After Virginia and the girls left, Georgia decided to go on a walk with Millie in Maple Leaf Park. It had been their routine since Millie was a puppy. Georgia grabbed the leash from the coat hook next to the front door and Millie, having the routine still memorized from years of practice in spite of Georgia’s absence with school, trotted over to the door, her tail wagging.

  “Goin’ for a walk, Georg?” her dad asked from the couch. He had flipped on the TV and was watching the news.

  Georgia nodded as she looked over at the TV, catching a snippet from the anchor.

  “More American troops were deployed to Afghanistan today in further attempts to dismantle al-Qaeda…”

  Her dad shook his head at the announcer’s information. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks two years ago, there wasn’t much anyone could be sure of, but one could always count on the news to be reliably disheartening.

  Georgia hooked the leash onto Millie’s collar. “I’ll be back in an hour, dad.” She opened the door.

  “You be safe now, ya hear? Stick to the path in the park and keep Millie close," he cautioned.

  Georgia smiled and bent over to scratch Millie behind the ear. “Don’t I always? I’ll see you soon, dad.”

  ✽✽✽

  Georgia’s favorite place to walk was Maple Leaf Park. The park’s teeming setting of lush vegetation and tall, canopy-like trees was nourished by Sage River, which wrapped around almost the entire perimeter of the park. A paved road wound its way through the park for visitors to drive on, and for the more active, a walking path. Georgia couldn’t even begin to count the number of times that she and Millie had walked the meandering path that looped its way around the park.

  The lampposts had come on for the night, their soft light a gu
ide through the darkened park. As they rounded the curve of the sidewalk where the road intersected with the walking path, Georgia turned to follow the paved road out of habit. But Millie tugged against the leash as she took a step off the path, silently protesting against this decision.

  Georgia chuckled at Millie’s perked ears and earnest expression. “C’mon Millie, I just want to go down Firefly Lane for a sec.”

  Millie hesitated, and then reluctantly followed Georgia. They followed the empty paved road for a few moments before turning off again, this time onto a dirt road that was clearly not used very often and easily missed from the vantage point of the road, especially at night. Out-of-towners who drove through Maple Leaf Park had most likely never heard of Firefly Lane, and even for residents of Willow Creek it was not a well-known place. But for the young and young at heart that had taken the time to explore the park, it was perhaps the most beautiful spot in all of Willow Creek, particularly in the summer.

  Georgia walked down Firefly Lane with Millie into the group of the trees that separated the park from the river. In the dense, dark grouping of trees, it was nearly impossible to see. But as Georgia and Millie made their way out onto the other side closer to Sage River, it began to lighten again. They came out of the trees and into the clearing, and Georgia almost gasped with pure delight.

  All around her, dancing across the river and through the trees and the brush were golden fireflies. They moved and swayed together, perfectly synchronized to the rhythm of the night, their orbs of light always flickering, yet constant as one. It was otherworldly, and for a brief moment it felt like time had suspended itself for this age-old, yet still beautiful performance.

  Georgia watched for several minutes, enraptured by the visual feast of it all. It wasn’t until Millie gave a hard yank on the leash that Georgia snapped back to attention. She looked down at Millie, who was clearly ready to return to the park. Georgia sighed. “All right, girl. We can head back.” Millie’s tail wagged in response.

  Georgia took one last look at the river and its brilliant light show, and then turned to follow Millie back through the trees and into the park.

  They made their way back to the paved road from Firefly Lane, but just before they reached the road, they were hit by a powerful, almost blinding beam of light. A car came around the curve, its heavy bass music pumped up to a near deafening volume. Georgia held her arm across her eyes to shield them from the brightness, waiting for the car to pass.

  The car approached Georgia and Millie, and Georgia could only just catch a glimpse of the driver and the other passengers. Squinting, she thought she recognized at least one of them from her high school. The other figures were too hard to see in the darkness. Still holding her arm over her eyes, she waited for them to be on their way so that she could return to the walking path. But as the car drove by in front of her, one of the passengers let out a long wolf whistle directed at her. Georgia heard the others laugh, and one of them yelled out something she couldn’t quite understand over the blare of their music.

  Georgia shook her head as the car sped off down the road, its engine revving loudly. “Some of us never grow up, I guess,” she muttered under her breath. She quickly returned to the walking path with Millie, who was all too glad to follow.

  ✽✽✽

  As Georgia and Millie walked down Magnolia Lane, Georgia could finally feel the tension dissipating in her neck and shoulders. It had been a long day of driving, and she was relieved to be home without the pressure of finals weighing down upon her. She inhaled deeply through her nose, taking in the fragrance of the magnolia blossoms. Now that night had fallen, the jasmine had bloomed, as well. The two scents combined were almost intoxicating, but to Georgia, it was the nostalgic scent of her childhood summers.

  Back at the house, her dad was still watching the news. Georgia hung up the leash and Millie trotted back to her bed.

  “Goin’ to bed, Georg?” her dad asked.

  “Yeah, I’m pretty tired. It’s been a long week.” She sighed as she slipped off her shoes.

  “I’m sure, with finals and all. Well, sleep in a bit tomorrow. I’ll be up early in the mornin' but I’ll try not to wake you,” he said as he scratched his head.

  “Thanks, dad. Goodnight.” Georgia gave him a kiss on the cheek and headed up the stairs.

  After showering and brushing her teeth, Georgia collapsed onto her bed. She was exhausted from the week and fading fast. She yawned and looked around her room, comforted by the familiar, calming blues. Gazing back up at the ceiling, she watched the fan spin in circles. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she soon drifted off into a deep sleep.

  Chapter 2

  Willow Creek County Fair

  Five Summers Ago

  “I’ll take one cotton candy, please,” he said, taking out his wallet.

  The man behind the booth nodded. Reaching into the cotton candy machine with the cone, he began to catch the cotton, the pink fluff gathering around the cone as it grew into a puffy cloud. The man handed him the candy. “Here you go, young man.”

  “Thank you, sir.” He exchanged his money for the candy and turned around, looking for his girlfriend, but she was nowhere to be seen. His cesious shaded eyes scanned the crowd, and he knitted his dark eyebrows together as he wondered where she might be. He began to walk, his long stride and tall height making it easy for him to see over others as he made his way past the rides and booths.

  It was pointless to try to yell for her over the loud music and the commotion of the county fair. It was opening day, and people had come from far and wide to take in the sights and sounds of the annual event. Young families milled about with their children, the parents attempting to restrain their kids as they pulled at their hands, begging for another candy or to go on the next ride. Carnies called out from their booths, enticing the fairgoers to buy more tickets, to play another game, to try another treat, but he didn’t hear any of this as he walked briskly, holding the cotton candy protectively close to his chest.

  He neared the farm animal arena and the crowds began to thin. Few people wanted to see the animals as they rested and waited for the next competition. He approached the stables, hoping he would find her there. Walking through the wooden doorway and into the shade of the stables, he felt instant relief from the sweltering sun. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw her, leaning against a stall and petting one of the horses.

  Landon held his breath as he watched her for a moment. Though he had been dating Emmarie for almost a year already, her beauty never failed to catch him off guard. She was tall, thin, her long limbs graceful and highlighted perfectly by the black halter dress she was wearing. Her raven colored hair gleamed against her caramel skin, brushing across her bare back and shoulders.

  “There you are,” he said as he came closer to Emmarie.

  Keeping one hand on the horse as she stroked its nose, she turned and looked back at Landon, smiling. “I made a friend,” she said softly as he came and stood in front of her, the horse's face between them.

  “I figured I’d find you here,” Landon said. He held out the cotton candy to her.

  Her eyes lit up, and she took it from him.

  “Have you ever tried cotton candy before?”

  She shook her head as she inspected it closely.

  Landon reached over and grabbed a small puff from the cone, holding it out to her.

  She smiled at him playfully, and then took it and popped it into her mouth. She laughed as it instantly dissolved on her tongue, gleeful from the syrupy, sweet taste.

  “You like it?” he asked, his eyes laughing as he watched her eat the cotton candy with the excitement of a small child.

  She nodded eagerly. Taking another puff, she held it out to Landon before taking another piece for herself. Her gaze shifted from Landon back to the horse, and she reached out again to pet its smooth hair.

  Landon watched Emmarie, mesmerized by her beauty. He wondered what was going on behind those dark, sable eyes. Emmarie
had come from a long line of Native American ancestors, her quiet strength and dignity a testament to her heritage.

  She ran her hand along the nose of the horse, absorbed in her thoughts. Finally, she spoke, her voice sounding as distant as her thoughts, “Can you believe that this time next summer we’ll be in Boston?” She shook her head, unable to believe it herself. The small town of Willow Creek had been all she had known for her entire life. Now that she and Landon were about to start their senior year of high school, she found herself both excited and nervous for what was to come in the next chapter of their lives.

  “It’ll be here before we know it.” Landon sighed, looking at his girlfriend. He could read her like a book, and knew she had mixed feelings about leaving Willow Creek one day. He reached over and took her hand. “Emmarie,” he said.

  She looked up, her dark eyes questioning.

  “It’s going to be okay. We’ll have each other.”

  She smiled, a flicker of relief in her eyes as she heard his comforting words.

  “Besides,” Landon added. “You’re going to be so busy in art school that you won’t have time to worry about much else.”

  She nodded in quiet agreement. Releasing Landon’s hand, she reached up again, running her fingers through the horse’s dark mane.

  Landon watched her carefully. Emmarie was guarded about her thoughts and feelings, but Landon was the exception. With Landon, she didn’t have to worry about expressing herself and showing her true feelings. She felt safe with him.

  Dropping her hand back down to her side, she leaned against the wooden frame of the stable. Her eyes met Landon’s. “I love you,” she said softly. Though she had said it hundreds of times before, the phrase never sounded old or overused to her.

  “I love you, too,” he said. They held each other’s gaze for a moment before Landon broke the pause. “Do you really have to go to Tennessee next week?” He didn’t bother to conceal the disappointment in his voice.