I dig into my oatmeal, which she’s sprinkled with nuts without asking me. And yes, I like it. I like it a little too much.
A day away from Willow should help me gain perspective.
twelve
Willow
“You drive to work?” Lane asks me with a frown when I come back from the bedroom with my handbag, car keys in hand, after Noah leaves for the store. The bakery is on The Green, a two-minute walk from Lilyvale.
Beck is jiggling one leg off the footrest, his eyes bouncing between the two of us, a tint of amusement in his eyes.
“Going to see my mom. Time to face the music.” It’s morning, she’ll be cranky, but it needs to happen. I don’t like how we left things on the phone, and my usual text message check-ins aren’t going to cut it.
Lane’s eyebrows shoot to her hairline. “You didn’t tell her directly?”
“On the phone. She wasn’t happy.”
Beck hisses air between his teeth. “Damn.” Then, frowning, he adds, “So… now that No-no’s gone, you can tell us. You preggo?”
“Beckett Rowan Callaway!” Lane cries.
“What? It’d be cool to be an uncle. Just sayin’. It’s not like we can count on Griff for that.”
“Why not?” I ask.
Beck shrugs. “Eh, he’s messed up.”
“What the fuck, Beck. Griff is not messed up,” Lane snaps. I feel in my bones Lane’s protectiveness—I’ve been called messed up a few times, and it hurts.
“Okay then, why did he leave Emerald Creek? Why don’t we ever see him? He came up for Colt’s wedding but didn’t even spend the night.” I stand corrected: Beck isn’t dismissive of Griff. He’s in pain—misses his brother.
“He’s living his life.”
“Is he, though?” Beck’s bitterness slices through me. I want to know more, but it’s not my place to ask.
Lane sighs. “Not everyone believes the world revolves around Emerald Creek. Far as Griff is concerned, you and Noah might be the messed-up ones.”
I’d have a lot to say about that, but I keep it in. These are not my real in-laws, even if they’re treating me as such.
“I guess,” he says. Turning to me, he beams, mischief in his eye. “Hey, you want a tour of the house? Like, the grand tour. With everything. I’m sure No-no hasn’t done that yet.”
No, he has not. And for a reason. Imposter syndrome taints the warmth of being included in the family. “Sure, that’d be fun.”
I ignore the look Beck and Lane give each other. “It’s my day off, so as soon’s I get back from my mom’s, if you’re still up for it?” I leave from the kitchen door that leads outside. On our way back from the airport last night, we swung by my place so I could pick up my car. There’s a path that meanders through the garden to the carriage house, where the cars are parked along with some equipment.
It feels awkward pulling my Subaru out of Lilyvale, using the small driveway in the back that leads to Main Street. I take adeep breath. After I visit Mom and sort things out with her, and once Lane and Beck show me around, I’ll go on a long hike. It’ll clear my head. I’ll take Hunger Path, up the mountain, with a heart-stopping view of the valley down below and the surrounding peaks. I’ll sit for a bit with my sketchpad and draw. It always helps me to put things into perspective.
When I pull up to Mom’s, her car isn’t there. Could it be at the shop? She would have said something, right? I knock on the door and let myself in without expecting an answer. The house is empty. One mug is on the drying rack. Her bed is made, the window cracked open just enough to air the bedroom out.
8:03
Me:
Where are you?
I get in my car. On the way back, I stop by my apartment to gather a few more clothes, my hiking gear, plus my shampoo. Colton and Kiara’s cars are both in the parking lot, and my guilt feeling tingles uneasily. I didn’t check or notice that last night, but now I can’t ignore it. They’re back from their honeymoon, and I’m due a visit to them as well.
Maybe later? It’s too early to knock on newlyweds’ door, right?
