A Fire That Burns

by Kirsty-Anne Still

  Without meaning to, Austin felt her eyes water as her mother turned, slamming the door while leaving the house.

  Again Austin flinched as the door made contact with its frame.

  The moment the door bounced back after unsuccessfully closing Tom sprung to life. “C’mon, let’s go down to the house and see if dad’s up for something to eat. She’ll come around,” Tom said to Austin and he could see her disapproval of his plan. “I know you think you can easily just sit inside and hide away, but you’ve got a lot of people that have been waiting for you to come back home.”

  “Well we know that can’t be true,” Austin scoffed miserably but followed him out of the house regardless. “I’m not even acknowledged by my own mom anymore.”

  “That’s just mom,” Tom tried to play that fact away.

  “I hate that we are just about walking distance between everything!” Austin groaned to her brother as they walked down the road changing the subject. “Everything is literally one street.”

  He laughed at her over exaggeration, “That’s Point Arena. Might be small, but it’s bursting with opportunity,” Tom replied as he put his arm around his sister’s shoulder and tightened his grip on her a little. “So what’s made you feel so agoraphobic all of a sudden?”

  “Big cities,” Austin replied nonchalantly at her brother. “Big, big cities all full of life and people.”

  “Ah, so Austin Pearson decided to hide in the crowds eh?” Tom teased as they rounded onto the Pearson house driveway.

  Austin looked all around. “Tommy,” Austin said as she looked away from the old Armstrong home, “This really isn’t a good idea.”

  The door opened and her head snapped round completely as a strong baritone voice spoke up. “Aussie,” Austin’s father said as he saw her, his face illuminating with recognition as he saw her. “What the-”

  “I just left your house,” their mother said as she came to stand with her husband in the doorway. “I don’t think now is the time or place to come barging into my house.”

  “No barging in, Mom, honestly. We’re just going out,” Tom lied as they stood on the doorstep. He knew going in was an invasion and Austin would find it awkward so he thought he would go public. “You can come with us if you want?”

  Austin went to speak, but was interrupted. If anything she wanted to hideout and get used to the familiarity of this place. Somehow she didn’t think she’d have time to do such a thing. She wanted so bad to hug her mom, hug her dad, turn the clocks back, but they were all impossible feats right now. So she had to swallow her fear and live the moment as the new one was piled on top of her.

  “Austin!” She heard from behind her and spun around to be met with the welcoming arms of who would have been her mother-in-law, Tanya Armstrong.

  Now two worlds collided once again.

  Chapter Three

  June 2005

  YOU know we’re going to have to get that shoulder seen to if it keeps acting up,” Austin commented as she watched Tyler try and hide the pain. She could never stand to see him in pain and she would do anything to stop an old sporting injury plaguing him.

  “Training did it in, that’s all, Sunny,” he told her and to show that it was forgettable, he pulled her to his well built body and kissed her with absolute pleasure. “I’m pretty sure you’ll find me a way to forget about it.”

  Austin giggled and smiled as she went in for another kiss, “It’s a good thing you know I will.”

  As they resumed walking along the shore to the beach, the strip barely holding any other people considering the weather, Tyler took a moment to reflect. “Do you ever see yourself leaving this place?” Tyler asked suddenly and Austin stopped. It was more a comment to goad the moment to its goal. He used it to see if she was well aware of her dreams and her ability to change the world with just her presence.

  “What do you mean?” she asked, confused as to how this question came about.

  “Well, there’s a world outside of Point Arena,” he pointed out and he saw her still looking at him in the same way. “I just wondered if you see yourself living in it.”

  “Maybe one day,” she told him honestly and gave shrug, “But not without you.”

  He chuckled at her last remark, “That part is not up for negotiations.”

  “Good,” she commented back pleased. “Now let’s have some fun,” Austin suddenly said and pulled her top from her body, standing in only her bra and shorts. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to plan the future that far ahead, but it was more that she was unsure what she wanted to do and how far Point Arena would allow her to do what she loved. Right now, she just loved life how it was. She then grinned at him as she undid her denim shorts and quickly dropped them to the sandy ground before she kicked off her favourite tattered pumps. “Going to join me?” she asked as she left him behind, stepping into the ankle deep water in just her underwear. “Or are you too grown up with your career aspects?” she grinned at him, her eyes sparkling with her adoration for him and her love to tease him.

  “I’m right behind you, Sweet thing!” he almost growled and quickly stripped so he could follow her. The moment he did, she screamed playfully and ran further away from shore. He caught up with her faster than she had anticipated and they both fell into the water.

  As they came back up, Tyler held onto Austin and kept her afloat as they treaded their way in the salty water. “Marry me,” he stated as he clung onto her body with ease. It might have been cold, but any time with Austin made nothing else matter. It wasn’t exactly the way he wanted to do it but he was caught up in the moment and shocked even himself. “I want to be the one to make you the happiest girl possible.”

  “That means you have to come home more,” Austin teased Tyler lovingly and even though she understood his job and those he worked with, she wanted him to come home after his hours were up, not wait for him to be done at a bar.

  “You know I go to get my name out of there, Babe. I do it so I can get put forward for promotions,” he told her and saw her expression harden, “But for you I will definitely change.”

  Austin couldn’t fault her man. He was still young, still learning, just like she was, but he was willing to do anything for her and she hoped that when it came to them being old and gray together they would be doing the same. “Don’t change too much though,” she whispered as she put her forehead to his, “You’re perfect the way you are.”

  He smirked at her, “Now, Miss Austin Pearson, you didn’t answer my question.”

  “That’s because you didn’t make it question. You made it a statement,” she teased him and giggled, “There was no question to answer, Mr Tyler Armstrong.”

  “Okay then,” Tyler commented and said no more, he moved her so she was scooped into his arms and he walked to shallower water. He took no notice and made no attempt to answer her constant questioning and pandering. He just did what he had to do. He had to give her the question to answer and he needed to do it properly – like a grown up and not a nineteen year old.

  Carrying her out, he took her to the shore where their clothes were. Placing her feet to the sand, he reached for his pants and grabbed what he needed from the front pocket. Turning to face her, he could see she had a face full of expectations for this and he hoped that after this he had exceeded every single one of them. He was nineteen and hopelessly in love with the most perfect girl ever and he wanted this perfect for her.

  Dropping to one knee, he held the blue velvet box out to her, allowed the happiness to show on his entire face and opened the box with slow ease. “Austin Pearson, I have loved you since before I even knew what love was and I only know love with you. I only want to know what it feels like to love you and I want to know it every day of my life because even a day without you isn’t worth it. My life is empty without you in it and I have been lucky to have nothing but an amazing life with you.” He could see she was biting her lip to stop herself from crying at this moment, “I have been thinking of ways I could ask
you and the scariest thing is that there is a chance of you saying no, but before you make any decision, I need you to know that everything I am doing right now is to make sure that you have the best life ever. I am trying to be the best damn officer in that PD so I can be the best man for you. I only ever want to keep you happy and I want to be able to give you my last name so the whole world knows who owns your heart.” He shifted a little on his knee and cleared his throat. “Austin Pearson would you do me the honour of marrying me?”

  Austin let the dams burst and cried out as she nodded her head sharply, “Yes, yes, yes,” she whispered, “Of course, I will.” She watched him stand up, taking the ring from its holder and slipping it onto her finger. “Silly man for ever thinking I’d say no,” she told him as she watched the ring fit perfectly and she just wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tightly. “I love you,” she murmured into his ear and felt him pull back a little to kiss her.

  There had been many years of kissing. Their first kiss had been shared in a tree house when they were seven; they had kissed under the stars, in the sea, in front of friends, in front of family. They had kissed when they graduated high school, when they were at prom and danced their last song of the evening. They had kissed at birthdays and Christmases, Christenings and family parties. Kissing was normal to them, but this kiss was heightened. It was much more than any other kiss they had ever shared before. This was divine and soul binding. This kiss marked the new turn in their life together.

  “God, you are beautiful,” he told her as their first kiss as an engaged couple ended and he looked at her. “Life without you, Aussie, it wouldn’t be worth it. You complete me. You always have and God, deep down I know you always will.”

  Austin giggled, “You’re actually the sweetest guy in this town.”

  “Luckiest,” he stated, changing her opinion. He leaned in, “Luckiest guy in the world, Austin. I’m the luckiest guy to have you as my girlfriend.”

  “Fiancée,” Austin took her turn to change his statement.

  There was no way she would ever forget this day.

  Chapter Four

  Present Day

  SHE had managed to escape almost a week without coming face to face with Tyler and if she had her way she would keep it that way. She knew the fates would not allow such luxury when she owed him so many explanations and home truths. She owed herself them too; she needed to unsettle a bundle of six year old secrets.

  Sighing, she knew that once she saw him and he made it crystal clear that he wanted nothing more to do with her, she would flee again. This time it would be forever. She wouldn’t cut all ties, just all physical ones and with that she would go searching for what she wanted out of life - peace.

  Looking across the back yard, she saw her mother indulging in conversation; laughing happily, enjoying herself. She dropped her gaze away from the sight, if she were to go over there then she would be subjected to awkward silence or her mother would treat her like she only deserved to be conversed with in the company of others.

  “I thought you could do with a drink,” Austin’s father came and sat with her on her steps. He passed her the plastic cup and leaned towards her, bumping her slightly as a friendly gesture. “She’ll come around.”

  Austin snorted a little at that, “Sure.”

  “Aussie, you disappeared on her and she didn’t know why. She wondered if it was her fault or not. She thought she had let you down. We looked everywhere, but you weren’t traceable. We got a few hits but they never lasted.”

  Looking up into the deep brown eyes of her father, his clear complexion only aged slightly, but still the same as when she left, and she finally realised how much she missed this man. “I had my reasons, but believe me I regretted ever leaving.”

  “Then why did you?” Nicolas asked his daughter, he would get to know the truth if it killed him. “What was so bad that you couldn’t talk to even me about it?”

  Sitting up, Austin took a deep breath before exhaling, “It’s honestly dead and buried now, Dad.” She looked at him, blinking through the lie, “I hear you leave on a month long job in a couple of weeks.”

  He nodded and realized how she was subtly moving the conversation on. He wasn’t going to chase her back out of this town now the she was finally back. “I am and I expect you to still be here when I get back. Can you promise your old man that?”

  “I can do better than promise you,” she spoke before she lifted her hand to him with her little finger in the air. “Aussie promise?”

  Seeing the smile ignite across her father’s face, Austin realized she couldn’t just duck out of this town however much she wanted to. She had too many apologises to give and too many bridges to rebuild and she wanted to right her wrongs.

  Latching his little finger to hers he tightened the hold as she rested her head on his shoulder and smiled as he slipped his arm around her once they let go and sat there for a moment. He was lavishing the feel of having his baby girl in his arms after so long.

  “I’ll always love you, Aussie,” he whispered to her as he kissed her hair, inhaling her sweet scent, one he had missed for years. He had missed the mere essence of having his daughter around him and he was overwhelmed with finally having it back. “You will never know how much I missed you.”

  Austin sat back up and looked to her dad, “Probably as much as I have missed you I’m guessing.” Austin assumed and smiled, but looked away. “I’m surprised I was even allowed back into this house.”

  “It’s a small town, Austin. Your mother doesn’t like being the gossip’s gossip; she likes to be the one spreading it.” Nicolas joked as he watched his wife trying to stop herself from looking across the way at them. “You coming back has already caused a stir but, had she not let you through the front door to attend this party then she really would be the center of attention.”

  Austin smiled sadly at the thought and looked at her dad, “I think you best get over there to her.”

  He shrugged at her and shook his head, “I’m okay here.”

  “Mom keeps looking. I’m honestly no fun to be with,” Austin told him sincerely. “Not right now anyway.”

  “You need to sort your head out, then you just call me and your dad will help right away,” Nicolas told his daughter as looked at his wife and locked eyes with her. He turned to Austin, “I’ll speak to you later, Kiddo.” he replied as he placed a kiss on her forehead before leaving her be.

  Austin watched her mother be embraced in a one armed hug and smiled as her father kissed her mother passionately and she couldn’t help the pang of jealously that washed through her as she wondered what life would have been like had her and Tyler actually gotten married.

  Would they be that in love that he would just walk up to her and kiss her regardless of the company surrounding her? Would there be children running around wanting attention and love? Would they have lasted?

  Batting away the endless questions she gave up her thoughts and allowed herself to be consciously aware of the eyes that were on her. She could have walked around and made herself become reacquainted with old friends, family, neighbours, whoever, but she didn’t have the confidence to just throw herself into the mix of people.

  So she sat alone on the sidelines, not causing a stir, waiting for a reasonable time to leave the party.

  “Well,” Tyler said as he sauntered up to Austin. He hadn’t even noticed her, his mom had pointed her out to him. It was the first time he had seen her after all the hubbub of her return. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”

  Austin looked up at Tyler and she felt her restraint disappear. She smiled and then looked away, “Right back atcha.”

  She hadn’t changed one bit, Tyler thought. Sure she was curvaceous now, gorgeously so and her hair was longer and a darker shade of blonde than before, her lips were still plump and kissable and her eyes still managed to capture him with one look, but regardless of the changes to her physically she was still the same old Austin. He couldn’t deny th
at all the sexual tension and chemistry that had helped to build their relationship was still there – untouched by the years. He acknowledged his weakness to her immediately and knew he didn’t stand a fighting chance.

  Taking a seat next to her, he huffed a laugh, “So what brings you back?”

  Shrugging, Austin looked down at the drink, “You do not want to know, believe me.”

  “It’s been six long years, Austin, I think I deserve some sort of explanation,” Tyler started and leaned forward to look up at her. He gave her a smirk and a quick teasing wag of his eyebrow, “That or a proper welcome back.” He sat back as she looked at him in shock, “You pick.”

  Feeling a constriction in her chest, Austin remained placid for a moment. It didn’t matter how much she tried to allow this to be okay, she just couldn’t do it anymore. She looked at him and felt her heart skip an all knowing beat. She tried to smile, but faltered, “I’m really sorry, Tyler, but I can’t do this.” She then got up and left, not a goodbye to anyone. She just put her cup down on the kitchen work top as she fled the back yard and headed for the front door for her quick exit.

  Growling as the familiar scent of Austin surrounded him, he exchanged looks with Tom and got up and bolted after her. He was determined to get an explanation out of her. Six years of trying with Tom had failed so he went for the origin itself.

  “You don’t get to walk away from me again,” Tyler shouted out to stop her as he left through the front door, following Austin’s footsteps. “Not after six years.”