Georgia Summer

by Heather Colleen

  “Landon!” she shouted, running towards him.

  Hearing his name called out, Landon turned around, a confused expression on his face.

  Georgia could hardly hear the security agents telling her to stop.

  “Ma’am! This is a secure area!” one of them yelled at her as she raced by, but Georgia didn’t care.

  Jumping into Landon’s arms, she held onto him as if he were life itself.

  Landon held her tightly, lifting her off the ground as they held onto one another.

  “I love you,” she whispered to Landon.

  “I love you, too,” he said as he clutched her tightly.

  “Excuse me, but this is a secure area! You’re going to have to step aside, ma’am,” a female security agent said, stepping closer to Georgia and Landon.

  A more authoritative agent shushed her, though. “Give them a minute,” he said quietly, looking at Landon’s military uniform.

  The female agent pursed her lips together exasperatedly, but she heeded his order.

  Georgia held Landon’s face in her hands, her blue eyes dark with pain. “Come home soon. Come home safe,” she said firmly.

  “I will. I promise,” Landon assured her.

  Georgia leaned in and kissed him, closing her eyes tightly as she tried to not cry. She pulled away, and Landon gently set her feet back down on the tile floor.

  “Sir? Ma’am? I’m sorry, but we have to keep the line moving,” the male agent said as he stepped forward.

  “Of course. I apologize, sir,” Landon said, looking over at the agent. He turned his attention back to Georgia. “I have to go now.”

  “I know,” Georgia said. She could feel her hands shaking. She steadied them by holding on tighter to Landon, her arms still around his neck. “I love you, Landon Young.”

  “And I love you, Georgia Summer.” He gave her that barely-there smile, and Georgia instinctively smiled back.

  She forced herself to let go of him and took a step backwards.

  Landon turned and walked over to the metal detector, glancing back at her with that hopeful smile.

  Georgia lifted her hand, waving goodbye. The line began to move forward again, and Georgia stepped to the side so that the people could file by, but she barely noticed them as they shuffled past her. She watched Landon grab his bag on the other side of the detectors and toss it over his shoulder again. With his tall height and uniform, he immediately stood out from all of the other people there.

  Landon began to walk down the hall that would take him to his gate, but just before he disappeared from her view, he turned around and waved back at Georgia, smiling.

  Georgia waved back at him, giving him a hopeful, encouraging smile through her tears as she felt her heart shattering inside.

  Landon turned around again and continued walking. Georgia looked on anxiously, hoping he would turn around and wave to her again. But he kept walking, and then he was gone.

  Chapter 33

  Not Here But Not Gone

  It was dark when Georgia finally returned home from the airport. As she parked her car in the driveway and turned off the ignition, it felt insufferably silent. Georgia got out of the car and slammed the door shut. She walked up to the porch slowly, feeling numb from the pain she felt inside.

  Georgia felt lost without Landon. Fate had been cruel to her, dangling love in front of her like that, and then snatching it away. Georgia sniffed sardonically as she shook her head. How ironic to have fallen head over heels in love with Landon Young, to have finally gained her father’s blessing, only to have it all ripped away from her. This stupid war, she thought to herself as she reached the top of the porch steps. It wasn’t fair, not fair at all.

  Georgia let herself into the house. Millie greeted her, her tail wagging eagerly. Georgia locked the door behind her and bent down to pet Millie, thankful for Millie’s undying support.

  “How’d it go?” she heard her dad ask.

  Georgia looked up to see her dad standing in the doorway of the kitchen, his silhouette blocking the light. “Okay,” she managed to say as she stood up.

  Her dad nodded and came into the living room. “You gonna be all right, Georg?” He sounded concerned.

  Georgia nodded stiffly. She was barely able to speak as her eyes filled with tears. She didn’t want to cry in front of her dad. She had already cried enough in public today. All she wanted to do was run upstairs, crawl into bed, and sob until she fell asleep. Georgia made for the stairs.

  “Georg,” her dad said.

  Georgia stopped, her foot on the first step of the stairs. She looked back at her dad.

  “Everythin' will look better in the mornin’. It always does,” he said.

  Georgia nodded. She began to walk up the stairs, her feet unbearably heavy as her thoughts returned to Landon.

  Her dad watched his daughter as she went up the stairs, disquiet etched into his tired face.

  Georgia had hoped that her room would offer some level of comfort after saying goodbye to Landon. But as she walked in and shut the door behind her, she was caught off guard by the strong scent of gardenia that hung in the air. Georgia’s eyes roamed over to the gardenia-filled vase on her dresser. Its fragrance was beautiful, yet torturous as she remembered Landon giving them to her only two days ago.

  Georgia collapsed onto her bed. She rolled over on her stomach, but felt something prick her skin through her shirt just below her collarbone. She reached up and felt along the breast pocket of her shirt, and took out the picture Landon had given her. Rolling over onto her back again, Georgia held the picture up, gazing at Landon.

  Even in the picture she could still feel those steel blue eyes gazing back at her with such intensity that she felt she might blush. Georgia felt her eyes brim with tears again as she thought of Landon on board the plane, flying farther and farther away from her with every passing moment.

  Georgia brought the picture down to her lips and kissed it. She then leaned over to her bedside table and propped it up carefully against her clock. Not bothering to undress or shower, Georgia crawled under the covers, curling up into a ball as if it were midwinter and not summer.

  Burying her face, she cried into her pillow until it was soaked with tears, and until she could cry no more. Only then did she finally fall into a fitful sleep, her mind taunting her with vivid dreams of Landon.

  ✽✽✽

  The next morning, Georgia awoke early, well over an hour before her alarm clock was set to wake her for her morning shift at Duke’s. She rolled over on her side, and then reached up to turn on the lamp. The lamp filled her room with soft light, and illuminated her nightstand.

  Georgia’s eyes traveled down to where she had propped Landon’s picture up next to her clock, and she saw Landon gazing back at her from his picture. Georgia was glad she no longer had any more tears to cry as she stared at his handsome face. Though it had only been one night since she had said goodbye to Landon, she didn’t want to feel sorry for herself. Georgia knew how easy it was to sink into the black hole of sadness, and how difficult it was to climb back out. She had experienced the feeling before when her mother died. But still, Georgia couldn’t help but feel that everyone she had ever loved with her whole heart had left her. First her mom, and now Landon.

  Knowing she would be unable to get back to sleep, Georgia got out of bed and began to get ready for work.

  ✽✽✽

  Georgia’s shift at Duke’s passed slowly and painfully. It was as if the world had stopped turning since Landon left. Georgia found herself looking up anxiously every time she heard the bell jingle over the door, praying that somehow, she would see Landon walk through it again and give her that barely-there smile.

  It didn’t help that it was also a slow morning at Duke’s. Barely half of the booths were full, and Georgia could count on one hand the number of customers that had ordered coffee from her. Georgia was disappointed. She had been relying on a busy morning at the diner so she could distract her thoughts fr
om Landon.

  When she finally finished up her shift, Georgia was grateful to leave. She felt exhausted as she walked home, her mind tormenting her with visions of Landon. As she arrived home and let Millie outside, the engine of a car turning on diverted her from her thoughts. She looked across the street and watched as Mrs. Sullivan backed down her driveway and drove away. Georgia’s eyes roamed back to Mrs. Sullivan’s home, taking in the blooming daylilies and hydrangea blossoms in her garden.

  Without thinking further, Georgia walked briskly over to Mrs. Sullivan’s, Millie on her heels. Standing in front of one of the flowerbeds, Georgia began to pick the flowers, selecting only the most perfect blossoms and focusing specifically on the yellow daylilies. When her arms were nearly overflowing with flowers, she turned around and crossed the street again with Millie, leaving Mrs. Sullivan’s flowerbed almost naked.

  After letting Millie back inside, Georgia grabbed her car keys. Taking her keys and the bouquet of fresh flowers, Georgia crossed the yard and got in her car. She turned on the engine and drove away from her house, making her way across town.

  When she parked her car a few minutes later, she was outside of Willow Creek Cemetery. Gingerly picking up the flowers from the passenger seat, Georgia got out of the car and walked into the cemetery, appreciating the shade from the weeping willows overhead that stood on either side of the iron gates. It was hot outside, and the humidity hung in the air like a damp blanket.

  Georgia weaved her way through the cemetery to her mother’s gravestone. The cemetery was a quiet and peaceful place, tucked away from the rest of the world where one could collect their thoughts. Georgia sifted through her own thoughts as she followed an invisible path that led to her mom's grave.

  When she reached her mom’s grave, she knelt down slowly, and lovingly placing the bouquet on the gravestone. She arranged the blooms so that they framed her mother’s name. Georgia sat back on her heels and sighed.

  “Hi, mom,” she said softly. She reached over and traced her finger along her mother’s name in the worn stone, outlining ‘Delilah Summer.’ “I brought you some flowers. I know how you always loved fresh flowers.” Georgia reached out and touched one of the hydrangea petals, feeling its smoothness. “A lot has happened in the past week…” she started, her voice trailing off as she thought of the fateful, fortuitous sequence of events that had led to her falling in love with Landon. “I fell in love,” Georgia said, laughing a little as she wiped a tear away. “Never expected that to happen, but I guess you don’t really ever expect to fall in love, do you?”

  A cool breeze caressed Georgia’s cheek, a welcome reprieve from the heat and humidity. Georgia smiled as she felt the breeze against her skin. She knew her mom was there, listening to every word she said.

  “And now, he’s gone…back to Afghanistan,” Georgia said sadly. “You’re gone…Landon’s gone.” She sniffed as she felt the tears pricking her eyes. A tear spilled over onto her cheek. “Is everyone I love going to leave me?” she whispered.

  Georgia felt the cool breeze again, this time lifting her hair off the back of her moist neck and wrapping itself around Georgia, comforting her. Georgia closed her eyes.

  She could see her mom in her mind, just as beautiful as ever with her blonde hair, sun-kissed skin, and crystal blue eyes. Her cool, soft hands wrapped themselves around Georgia. Georgia felt her body relax, and her breathing slowed as she felt the presence of her mother there with her.

  A loud hum began, interrupting Georgia’s thoughts. It was quiet at first, but she could hear it approaching, growing louder and louder. She opened her eyes and looked around, trying to figure out where the noise was coming from.

  Shielding her eyes from the sun, Georgia looked up and saw the source of the sound in the sky as a plane flew overhead, its engine much louder now as it soared directly over the cemetery. Georgia watched the plane fly on, its engine growing softer as it became smaller and smaller on the horizon, leaving just as quickly as it came.

  Georgia smiled as she looked up into the sky to where the plane had disappeared, her hand still over her eyes. Just because Landon wasn’t here didn’t mean he was gone, Georgia realized. Somewhere, far away over the ocean, he was living, breathing, and she could feel his love for her, alive in her heart and in her soul.

  Landon had promised her he would come home, and Georgia believed him. She had to. She had to have faith in their love for each other, and trust in the hope that they would one day be together again.

  Her head still tilted back, Georgia closed her eyes. She let the warm sunlight wash over her face as she felt her heart soar with hope.

  Chapter 34

  The Truth That Can’t Be Told

  It was close to dinnertime when Georgia’s dad arrived home from work. Georgia had been sitting on the porch swing for most of the afternoon, avidly reading as if her life depended on it with Millie at her feet. Georgia was desperate for a distraction in the lonely hours of the afternoon, and reading was the best way she could take her mind off of Landon.

  She was now reading, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” She had read it before for her studies in high school, but now that she could read it at her leisure, she found herself far more entertained with the characters and their many romantic entanglements.

  Georgia looked up as she heard her dad pull into the driveway. Marking her page and closing the book, she smiled at her dad as he walked up the porch steps. “Hey, dad.” She placed the book beside her on the table.

  “How are you, Georg?” He took off his cowboy hat.

  “I’m good,” Georgia said with a sigh.

  Her dad leaned against the porch railing and looked at her. “You seem like you’re doin’ well,” he said, choosing his words carefully as he regarded his daughter. He knew Georgia was trying to distract herself from Landon’s recent departure.

  Georgia chuckled and looked down at her lap. “Just trying to keep busy. I’ve been reading most of the afternoon.” She leaned down to stroke Millie’s silky ears. “How was work?” she asked, sitting back up.

  “It was good.” He rubbed his forehead for a moment as he reflected on the day. “Oh, I talked to Virginia this mornin'. I invited her and the girls over for dinner. They should be here soon.”

  “Oh.” Georgia’s eyes fell down to her lap as she remembered her last conversation with Virginia, and how angry she had become when Georgia called Monty’s character into question.

  Georgia’s dad came over and sat down next to her. “Landon told me what happened with Monty, and that girl, Emmarie,” he said, lowering his voice. “That was her name, right?”

  Georgia looked over at her dad and nodded. “He told you about all that?”

  “He sure did.” Her dad sighed and then shook his head. “Terrible…I wish he told me back when it happened.” Her dad massaged his temples, squeezing his eyes shut.

  Georgia was silent for a moment as she stared down at the concrete porch, wishing that Landon had, too. “He didn’t tell you or anyone that it happened because it was what Emmarie wanted,” Georgia said softly.

  Her dad was quiet. He knew the statistics all too well of unreported crimes, especially when it came to assault.

  Several moments passed as Georgia’s words hung in the air.

  Finally, her dad spoke, “I don’t like keepin' secrets, Georg…but I think it goes without sayin' that we can’t tell Virginia what happened with Monty."

  Georgia looked over at her dad, her blue eyes darkening with pain. “I know,” she said quietly. “The truth…it would kill her, dad.”

  Her dad rubbed his forehead again. “I doubt Willow Creek will ever see the likes of Monty Cunningham again.” His eyes roved across the yard and the neighborhood. “But for now and the foreseeable future, we need to let Virginia believe in the Monty she knew. We can’t forget that Charlotte and Ella Mae are still Monty’s daughters.”

  Georgia was quiet as she let her dad’s words soak in. She knew she could never tell Virginia what
happened.

  “And as for Jace Montgomery,” her dad went on.

  Georgia froze. Had Landon told her dad about what happened with Jace in Maple Leaf Park?

  “He’s a seedy character. I’m gonna keep my eye on him,” her dad said with resolve.

  Georgia internally breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t want her dad to know that Jace had attacked her. Georgia was quite positive that her dad would murder Jace if he found out what he had done to her. “You don’t have to worry about me telling Virginia,” Georgia said, directing the conversation back to her sister.

  Her dad looked over at her.

  “I don’t want to hurt Virginia. And sometimes, well, you have to protect the ones you love most…even if it means not telling them everything.”

  It fell quiet between them for a few moments while they listened to the cicadas buzzing in the magnolias.

  “Well, I think tonight will be a good opportunity for the two of you to patch things up,” her dad said, breaking the silence.

  Georgia turned to look at her dad.

  He gave her a knowing look. “Virginia told me that things didn’t end so well last time you saw each other.” He raised an eyebrow.

  Georgia started to roll her eyes, but caught herself. She knew it was futile to try to stay angry with her sister, and she didn’t want to be angry with Virginia. She was not only her sister, but also her best friend. “You’re right,” Georgia said resignedly. “We’ll patch things up tonight.”

  “Good.” He stood up. “Wanna help me get dinner started then? I thought we could grill some burgers.”

  Georgia grabbed her book and stood up. “Sure, dad.”

  Her dad held the front door open for Georgia, but Millie slid past her first into the house, heading straight for her comfy bed. “Ladies first,” her dad said with a chuckle.