by Tessa Elaine
I make our meeting for two weeks out, and plan to head there in the next week. I can already feel the panic attack that is coming from even considering going back there. Maybe I can get in and get out before anyone notices. I make all the arrangements and pack to leave. I hope I'm making the right decision, why does this feel so wrong? I blow it off and go to bed. I have a long week ahead of me, I need all the rest I can get.
Chapter 3
Lucas
Another day of work, I never thought my life would become so routine. It's only been two years and it feels like so much longer. After my father's heart attack two years ago, he had to retire. So naturally since I'm the oldest I had to take over the family business. I put all my dreams on hold when my parents needed me. That's what family does right? My younger sister and brother help as much as they can. Sarah is only 24 and works as a part time counselor for the school and Logan is 20 and living at home with our parents.
We all take turns helping mom and dad with things around the house. Tonight is my night. Since I started running the company I have made some changes. Dad still stands over my shoulder like he still runs the place, but I deal with all the employees, contracts, and paperwork. He’s having a hard time letting go, I don't blame him, he started this company from nothing. Next to my mom and us kids, Wayne Construction is the most important thing to him.
When I get to work, the day starts just like any other. I go through all the emails and calls from the customers. I don't know how I would keep my head if it wasn't for my best friend Wyatt. I hired him as my right-hand man as soon as I could. I've known that guy my whole life, we have been through some shit together. He was there for me when I had to step up with Wayne Construction. I made him the superintendent over the job sites. I don't trust anyone like I do Wyatt.
My days are long and my nights are quiet. A year ago, I bought a little piece of land across the creek from my parent’s property and built my own house. It's not much but it's home.
Some nights I'm glad I'm so tired when I get home, I just shower and pass out. If I don't, I look out the window and get mad as hell. I can see her parents ranch from my house. I told myself I was over her a long time ago, she's the one that ran off. Then there's some nights she’s all I can think about. It's been seven years and I still wonder how she is, what she's doing, or if she is okay?
What is wrong with me? She will never come back. My sister Sarah was a mess when Elena disappeared. She didn't leave an explanation or say goodbye. I get dealing with losing both your parents must have been hard, I can't imagine. What she didn't realize was what it would do to those that loved her when she just vanished. She changed her number and left everything behind. When she first left I would call her Aunt Grace once a week to see how she was doing. Grace was vague but would tell me she was dealing in her own way. That lasted a year until I stopped calling. She didn't need me so why waste my time, it hurt to know I wasn't enough.
When the door to my office opens it pulls me from my thoughts. I really need to stop thinking about her. Wyatt walks in and flops down on the couch next to the door.
“What’s up?” I ask without looking up, if he sees my face he will know what I was thinking. He knows me better than anyone.
“Come to see if we are still going out Friday?” Wyatt is always trying to get me to go out, I don't say yes often but these next few weeks are going to suck. What the hell, why not?
“I already told you I would.” But I've told him that before and backed out at the last minute.
“Just making sure,” he stands to leave “tell the folks I said hello.”
“Will do.” I call to his back as he walks out the door.
I finish up with everything at the office and head out. I'm heading out to my parents’ house. It's not a long drive so I make it there in no time. I pull into the driveway in front of the house I grew up in.
My childhood home is a large two-story cabin like house, with a metal roof and a full basement. My favorite part is the huge west facing patio that’s perfect to watch the sunset on. This place is amazing. I walk up to the front door and my mom opens it to greet me before I even have a chance to knock. My mother is a short woman with a petite frame, but don't let her size fool you. She is one of the strongest women I know. She gives me a kiss on the cheek and pulls me in for a hug.
“Son, I thought that was you that pulled up.” She has a sixth sense when it come to her children, she calls it “mother's intuition”. That just means none of us have been able to get away with anything.
“Well I come over every Wednesday about this time, so who else would it be?” I get a slap to the back of my head.
“Don’t get smart with me boy, I asked Sarah to come for dinner too.”
Well the whole gang will be here. As I walk through the house my brother is coming up from the basement. The three floors are connected by a custom wooden staircase. When Sarah and I moved out Logan got the whole basement to himself. I told mom now he is never going to leave, but I think she secretly loves her baby never leaving home. I don't know why, the guys a slob.
I walk into the kitchen and dad is in his chair with the paper as always. He gives me a nod and ask about business, the usual conversation.
“So how are thing?” He sits his paper down and looks me in the eye. My father is a big guy and I don't mean fat. He is six foot five with broad shoulders and big arms. Some people think he use to lift weights but that's just home grown and hard work. That's where I get my size, though I'm not quite as tall as my dad. I'm only six foot three but I have his wide shoulders. I get the same looks, people think I live at the gym. But that's far from it, I don't have time for the gym even if I wanted to. Between Wayne Construction and helping my family I hardly have time for my own hobbies.
“Things are going good, we took two more projects before winter hits.” He gives me that look.
“You sure that was a wise decision?” If he didn't think I knew what I was doing why did he have me take over.
“Yes sir, my guys are hard at it, and will have them done before the first hard storm.” I'm confident in my crew and I'm confident in Wyatt to keep everyone on task. We sit in silence as mom finishes dinner. I hear the front door open, that must be Sarah.
“Family I'm here,” she calls as she walks through the house.
“In the kitchen dear,” mom calls back to her. Sarah comes in and as always mom and dad fawn over their only daughter.
“How is work?” Dad asks. After Sarah finished with college she got a job at the elementary. She's a school counselor, she has always been one to help those in need. She gets that from our mother, along with her small frame and long blond hair. Dad says Sarah looks just like mom did at that age.
“It's going great, the head of the school board has offered me the position at the high school.” She beams with excitement. I'm so proud of my sister, she works hard for what she wants.
“That's great dear, we are so proud of you.” Mom and dad give her a hug and congratulate her. Mom finishes dinner with Sarah's help and when it's done we all take our seats at the table to eat. Mom makes Logan's plate like always and dad scowls at her.
“Eva, you keep babying that boy and he’ll never leave.” Mom just smiles at dad sweetly.
“Now Bennett, who said I want him to leave? He is my only child at home. He can stay as long as he wants.” Dad just shakes his head and Logan smiles. Sarah and I have dinner here once a week so I don't know how she misses us so much, and I just live on the other side of the creek.
We all finish our dinner; Logan and I are left to do the dishes. After we are done, all of us make our way to the family room. Dad hands me a beer and I just look at it, he never offers me a beer.
“You're going to need that,” he says and now I'm worried. We all sit down and dad lets out a slow breath.
“What’s going on dad?” Sarah and I exchange worried looks.
“Well as you know that prick Sebastian Breck has been pressing a lot of us to se
ll our land, and you all know where I stand. He can have it over my cold dead body.” This can't be good. “Well he keeps coming by and he seems to think if he buys the Brighton Ranch... it's a big enough piece of land that he can run the rest of us out.” I stop breathing, and can see the color drain from my sister's face. I have a bad feeling about this. Sarah speaks up first, she knows it's a sore subject for me. I've never kept anything from her about Elena and I. I'd bet what happened between us made Sarah madder at her former best friend.
“How can he buy the Brighton Ranch? Nobody even knows where Elena Brighton ran off to.”
Mom and dad share a glance and the hairs on the back of my neck stands up. Sarah catches it too.
“Do you two know where she ran off to?” Sarah looks pissed, I don't blame her. It was hard when her childhood best friend left without saying goodbye or keeping in touch. Sarah took it really hard, then when she found out about us and seen how torn up I was, it made it worse.
“Well, not exactly,” mom speaks up.
“I received a phone call from Elena's Aunt Grace. Elena will be here in a few days to sign the ranch over to Sebastian Breck.” Dad looks at Sarah, then to me. Sarah just looks like she's in shock.
I can't believe what I'm hearing. I slam my beer down, get up and walk out the door. I can't deal with this shit. Seven years she’s been gone and when she finally decides to come back it's to sell us all out. I shouldn't be surprised. That's what she does, cut and run. I hear the door open and close behind me and I know it's Sarah.
“Lucas wait, are you okay?” Fuck no I'm not okay.
“Why wouldn't I be?” I ask as I walk to my truck, but my sister is hot on my trail. She won't give up that easy.
“It's me Lucas, and I know what she means to you.” I spin around so fast she almost runs right into me.
“Meant, Sarah. What she meant to me. I don't have any feeling for Elena anymore. That's ancient history.” Sarah knows I'm full of shit.
“Is that why you stomped out of the house. I'm not stupid, you can talk to me.” I know I can talk to her but there's nothing to say. What's done is done.
“Sarah, really I'm fine. I'm just pissed that with the Brighton ranch Sebastian Breck will be a bigger pain in the ass.” She knows I'm only telling a half truth, but she doesn't call me out. Instead she gives me a quick hug and lets me head home.
When I get home, I head straight to my bedroom, I can't help but stop and stare out the window that's facing Elena's ranch. I think of our first and only date. I had just turned twenty and Elena just turned eighteen that day. I've been in love with my sister’s best friend since the summer she came back from her aunt and uncle's place in the city. She had just turned fifteen.
That's when I first noticed she wasn't my annoying kid sisters friend that follows me and my friends around. But I waited until we were both adults before I asked her out.
I snuck off right before dinner, I knew she would be doing chores. I walked over to the ranch and hide in one of the stalls. I couldn't help but watch her work for a bit. She was stunning just in jeans, a t shirt, and cowboy boots. Her long brown hair in a ponytail, her beautiful brown eyes that can see right through my bullshit. Her skin looked so soft with the perfect tan from long hours in the sun. I was just standing there staring at her when I knocked over a rack and scared her. She immediately knew someone was there, I had to show her it was just me so she wouldn't freak out and run. I stepped out and used the nickname I gave her awhile back.
“Hey Laney.”
She screams, “Are you trying to kill me?” I can't help but smile.
“Now why would I want to do that?”
“I don't know maybe because you are a pain in my butt.” That stung a little, but I didn't let her see it, I just played it off. She asked what I was doing there and if I dropped Sarah off. She kept looking behind me. I'm guessing to see if my sister was with me. But what she didn't know was that I was there for her. She looked shocked when I told her that I was there alone, to see her. When I took a step in her direction she backed away so I stopped and just went for it. I asked her to go out for her birthday, but she seemed to think it was my sister's idea to throw her a party at the lake.
I didn't like the idea of my Laney around a bunch of drunk asshole. “No,” I told her I just wanted it to be me and her. She looked shocked and she thought I was joking with her. Why would I do that? I know my friends and I got a kick out of playing pranks but I would never have played about taking Laney out. I finally talked her into saying yes, which was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I mean, I know she liked me, so why the hesitation? But that didn't matter she said yes.
I picked her up at seven the night of her birthday. I felt like a million bucks and had planned the perfect date. So, I thought it would be perfect, and I guess it was, until that phone call when her whole life changed. I jump when I hear my phone ring and it pulls me back from the past. I look down and see its Wyatt, what does he want?
Chapter 4
Elena
I thought this drive would take a lot longer than it did. Eight hours should not have gone by so fast. I left Seattle Washington at six in the morning, it is now four o'clock in the afternoon. I made it to the town line at three with just a few stops for gas and food. But now I can't make myself cross the line into Eureka. I've been sitting here for an hour, too scared to go back to my past. I pick up my phone for the third time and finally call Aubrey. It rings once then twice and finally she picks up on the third ring.
“Hey chica?” She sounds out of breath, I really hope she wasn't doing what I think she was doing.
“Did I interrupt something?” I ask getting ready to hang up.
“No, I wouldn't answer the phone if I was getting laid.” I'm sure she's not joking. “I was just getting in some Pilates. What’s up? Did you make it okay?”
I'm quite for a minute, not sure if I want to say anything.
“Elena?”
“Yes, I made it. But... I'm at the town line,” I close my eyes and rush out the rest. “I've been sitting here for an hour. I don't think I can do this, I’m about to turn around and come home. Maybe this Mr. Breck will just come to Seattle and I can sign the papers.” That would work... Right? Aubrey sighs and starts to talk some sense into me. I really just want her to say “Yes, come back home!”.
“You know Elena, you will regret it if you don't do this. Just go rent a room for the week, hear what he has to say, then do the walk through of the ranch. If you like what he has to offer, sign the papers and head home.” She makes it sound so easy. I hope things go that smooth.
“You're right, I will call you when I get settled in tonight. Thank you.”
I hang up the phone and start the car. I have to give myself a little pep talk before I can do this. In and out, no trouble at all. I cross the town line and feel like I jumped back in time. I drive down the main road through town and not much has changed. My favorite book store I loved growing up is still on the corner. Vance's diner is still busy as always. Maybe I'll stop by and grab some dinner after I get checked in to the B&B. Eureka is so small there are no hotels, the only place to rent a room is the Bed and Breakfast that's ran by Mr. and Mrs. Johnson.
It really is weird coming back here after so many years. The town might not have changed, but I have. As I make my way through town and get a few head nods and waves. I forget how friendly small-town life is. You don't get any of this in the city.
I pull into the drive of the large Victorian style home that was turned into a B&B in the sixties. It's absolutely stunning, on the outside it has an elegant look with the light blue siding and the white trim. It has a beautiful porch that wraps around most of the house, and it runs off to the side into a gazebo. It's a classic Victorian home that the Johnson's turned into the Inn.
When I make my way inside I'm stunned by how magnificent this place still is. The inside has a rich brown hard wood floor, cream colored walls that give it that old but classic look. To my left i
s a sweeping mahogany staircase, that leads to the second floor. Off to the right is the parlor. If you keep going straight down the hall it leads to the dining room and the most amazing kitchen I have ever seen. I make my way through the Inn, calling out to whoever is here.
“Hello, is anyone here?”
“I'm in here.” I hear a soft voice coming from the left of the parlor. I open the door that is cracked and step into a beautiful study. I look around until I spot Mrs. Johnson on a ladder cleaning the bookshelf. When she turns around to see who came in she looks at me with wide eyes. I shift from foot to foot feeling slightly uncomfortable. I know she recognizes me, she knows who I am.
“If I didn't know any better I would say I was looking at a ghost. You look just like your mother.”
I look away uncomfortable with this conversation and unable to make eye contact. I know if I do I might start crying. I clear my throat.
“Ahem... yes I would like to rent a room for a week.
“Now why would you need to rent a room when you have your family ranch?”
I don't say anything, I just start picking at the invisible lint on my sweater. I think she understands because she walks to the desk and starts checking me in. we are both quiet while she runs my card and gets my key. She walks me to my room and shows me where everything is on our way, she also lets me know when meals are served.
When we are at my room she asks, “Do you have any more bags that you need brought up?”
“No this is it, thank you.” I only brought the one suitcase and my toiletries. I'm only going to be here a week. She gives me another look, like a long-lost friend. Next thing I know she's giving me a hug.
“It's so good to have you back here, your parents are missed in the community fiercely, and I know you are too.” That makes my stomach knot up, if I don't get away I'm going to lose it.
“I'm not back, I'm only here for a week.” It comes out a little sharper than I intended, but she just gives me a smile that says, whatever you say.
