by A L Williams
Home.
Wade in the water, wade in the water.
Be happy.
Wade in the water, wade in the water.
I will.
Children wade in the water.
Chapter Thirty-one
James
Months later, Mt Lemmon’s peaks were coated in white. Wreaths, colorful lights, and decorated cacti could be seen throughout the city. The melody of holiday music filled the air as the temperature dropped and fashion shifted from shorts and T-shirts to coats and pants.
Corbin, Hayley, and I spent our time contacting the insurance companies, trying to get the coffee shop rebuilt. I offered to pay for it with some of my saved money, but he refused. During this time, I had also moved in with Andrew. He had started asking after several months of us dating. It was probably too soon, but I agreed. I spent so much of my life scared and running away. It was time for me to take chances, and this was what I wanted. He wasn’t leaving.
When I moved, my father took over my apartment. He had tried to leave, but I managed to convince him to stay. Even so, the fear that he would just be gone one day lingered.
I looked around the run-down studio, excitement coursing through me. I still couldn’t believe this place wasn’t my home anymore. Well, it never really was. I guess the most amazing part was that I had a home now.
My father came through the door and stood beside me as I watched the light shift across the walls. “What’s up?” I said.
He blinked. “The ceiling.”
I rolled my eyes. He’d been here for millennia and he still didn’t get slang. “How are you?”
“Fine,” he replied.
Something was off. I searched his face. “What’s wrong?”
His lips thinned. “I should leave.”
My heart sank. “You can’t just go.” I grabbed his hand. “This is your home.”
He stared at me. “I don’t have a home.”
I smiled. “Your home is with me.” He furrowed his brow as he studied me in silence. Seconds ticked by, maybe hours. He nodded, and I released a shaky breath. My phone rang, and I pulled it out of my pocket. Andrew. “Hey.”
“I’m going to be late tonight,” he said.
“Hey, Jamie!” Ben yelled.
“Shut up!” Andrew said. I rolled my eyes. He way too much like Hayley. It was freaky.
“Anyway, have dinner without me. Sorry, babe.” Andrew said.
My cheeks warmed. “It’s okay. I have homework to do. I’ll see you at home.”
“I’ll be home at ten, I expect you naked when I get there,” he murmured, the heat of it sending a shiver down my spine. Ben snickered in the background.
I cleared my throat. “Love you.”
“Love you, too,” he said. I hung up the phone and turned back to my father.
“You love that man.” He stated. I nodded, my face still warm. His lips thinned, and he glanced out the window. The loud screech of an ambulance approached and sped passed the complex. It whipped around the corner, towards the hospital. We watched as the echo of the sirens faded into the distance, replaced by a gentle rumble in the sky, as gray clouds drifted over the city from the mountain peaks.
Epilogue
She walked out of the bathroom into the dimly lit bedroom, filled with several simple bunk beds pressed against plain white walls. Outside the window, tree branches whipped through the wind, casting shadows through the room. The sky roared and lightning flashed.
Her roommates were already settled in their beds and fast asleep. An ache radiated through her body suddenly, and she slogged to the bunk and climbed into her bed, covering her legs with her thick, blue fleece blanket. Sweat gathered on her forehead and her vision blurred. She swayed, glad that she wasn’t standing. She hadn’t felt well for a few days now and it didn’t seem to be getting any better. Not wanting to take the nasty medicine, she didn’t tell anyone. Now she wasn’t sure that was the right choice.
The room began to spin as she leaned over coughing into her hand. She coughed and coughed until the other children around the room sat up and glared at her. She glanced at them and broke out in violent coughs again. Wetness coated the palms of her hand and when she pulled it back, they were stained with scarlet. She furrowed her brow, wobbling again. She looked up when one of the kids ran to her. She lifted her head and blinked, trying to make out the blurred figure asking if she was okay.
“Please, help me,” she said before she started to hack, more wetness gathering in her hands. Larger figures ran to her from the corner of her eyes
. “Eden!” someone said. And everything went black.
Thank you so much for choosing to be on this journey with me. I am glad that you stopped by. If you would take a few moments and leave an honest review on Amazon, I would appreciate it!
To find out what other books and short stories I have visit my website!
Do you want to be notified of any pending book releases or updated content every month?
Sign up now for my newsletter!
You can also follow me on social media:
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Please do not hesitate to connect with me if you have any questions about this series. I would be happy to hear from you and I enjoy connecting with readers.
Thanks again,
A. L. WIlliams
Sneak Peek
Hopeless Scars
"You would look so beautiful in a dress!" Hayley chimed from across the room.
"I'm not a drag queen," James replied.
I sighed and turned from the large window, the drapes dancing with the cool March air. The remaining light of twilight faded. Pressed against the wall was a flat-screen television on a stand, holding DVDs and a player, casting shadows along the white block walls. Pictures of James, Andrew, Hayley and I littered the room alongside a mix of minimalist modern decor, a stark contrast to the rustic adobe style home.
James, Andrew, and Hayley sat on the gray couch. A variety of soft blue and white color swatches covered the glass coffee table in front of them. I glanced at my son as he glared at Hayley. She continued to babble, while Andrew shook his head. James and Andrew were getting married in a year, so they had spent their time off planning the event with Hayley's help. "Oh come, it would be fabulous," she said with a ridiculous pout on her face.
James rolled his eyes, brushing a lock away from his warm brown face. "Not happening." and continued flipping through magazine after magazine, his white eyes shimmering as he scanned each page, the covers displaying people in different wedding fashion.
She turned to me, her light golden brown hair bouncing around her pale face. "If you keep making that face it's going to get stuck that way, Lucy."
I narrowed my eyes. "Do not call me that." I couldn't for the life of me understand why she had to be so obnoxious and loud. I always left her company with a headache. I pushed off the glass doors, unable to remember why I agree to come over. Crossing the room, stop in front of the glass coffee table, peering down at them. James stared down the magazines with furrowed brows.
He glanced up at me. " What do you think?" He held up a magazine. I clenched my jaw. He was trying to include me, but I did not have experience with weddings.
I eyed the glossy pages. Splashes of bright blues, lavenders, and grays were spread across its contents. The people in the image smiled, love an affection brightening their eyes. "Do whatever you want. I am sure it will be adequate." James looked down, chewing his lip.
Andrew leaned forward, running his hand along his dark russet bald head, eyeing me with annoyance. "Whatever you chose will be beautiful." I thinned my lips. What did he want me to say? I knew nothing about human marriage ceremonies. When James had told me that Andrew asked for his hand, I was not sure what to do with that information.
Hayley shifted closer to him. She placed her hand on top of his. "Don’t worry so much, I will make sure you don’t fuck things up to
o bad." James chuckled and nodded.
She turned and glared up at me. "Your son is getting married. How about a little more excitement?" My chest tightened. Why was it so important? It was just another day.
Andrew leaned over and placed a kiss on James's forehead. “They are all beautiful. I'm sure whatever you choose will be perfect.” James relaxed into him and gazed up at him, tucking his head in his neck. He pulled away with a bright smile a reflection of the smile on Andrew’s face. When the moment passed, my son's attention returned to the pile on the table, still smiling. Andrew peered up at me, jerking his chin towards the kitchen. He stood and I followed him.
We entered the kitchen and Andrew walked over to the fridge and started to prepare coffee. Kitchen was moderately sized with marble countertop and dark wood cabinets. The refrigerator quietly hummed as Andrew slid the pot back into the maker, moisture sizzling at the bottom. He grabbed the mugs filled with the dark liquid and handed one to me. “This is probably silly to you.” I inhaled the rich scent and took a sip, the heat warming chest. “This is important to him.” I met his gaze, his dark brown eyes intense. It always amazed me how human and yet not quite him he was. He was not human, but a loa. A spirit that had accidentally landed a permanent body several decades prior.
He walked past me with the other three mugs, stopping at the swinging doors. “He has something to look forward to.” Smoke rose from the cups around his face, Beatrice's warm brown face wavering in the haze. My shoulders grew tight as I sat the half empty mug on the counter.
Andrew shook his head with a frown. "He’s happy. You should try being happier about it." He left the room before I could respond.
I stared at the doors as they swayed slowly, wrinkling my forehead as his words replayed in my mind. I shook my head and returned to the living room, finding Hayley and James laughing. Andrew sat down and James leaned back against him.
Walking over , they turned to me. “I am tired.”
James face fell and my stomach twisted. "I will come over for dinner tomorrow. I just have a headache and need to lie down."
The light returned to his face. "See you tomorrow night."
"Night, Lucy!" Hayley chirped.
I grimaced and walked to the door. “Goodnight.” From the corner of my eyes, Andrew shifted closer and James leaned back. Andrew eyed me over his shoulder and turned back, watching James flipped through the magazine. It warmed my heart watching him gaze at my son with such love.
They returned to their banter at me with a smirk and turned away. I walked to the door, their voices fading behind me and I left, their voices fading behind me.
