I laugh. “Yeah, don’t need to do that considerin’ I emailed him with my CV and hecalledme back within ten minutes offerin’ me a job.”
Another good thing about my home town is that we have the only maternity ward in three districts. Meaning there are lots of babies that need obstetricians as well as it being useful that I’m also trained in emergency and family medicine.
As luck would have it, my predecessor had been angling for retirement for a good twelve months so Bob–the head of the hospital–took my email as a sign from above. We’ve been chatting off and on for the past month so I feel like I know him already, but it’ll be good to put a face to the name.
“I’m real proud of you, ya know.” Ma says her gaze glistening with tears.
I narrow my eyes and point my finger her way as my own eyes start to sting. “Don’t you start or elseI’llstart and then we’ll just be blubberin’ in your kitchen together. And ain’tnobodygot time forthat.”
Mom closes her eyes, scrubs her face, and shakes her head around as if to get herself together. She holds out her pinky finger and waits until I wrap mine around hers before squeezing it. “You are back for Austin though, right? I let you two make amistake last time, I’m not goin’ to sit back and watch you both let a good thing slip through your fingers again.”
I nod. “I don’t knowhoworwhen, but I do want to reconnect with Austin. It’s time.”
“OK. And I promise I’ll let you do it at your own pace. But don’t think I won’t have an opinion on things if you two don’t sort things out.”
“Ma…” I warn, staring into her blue eyes that mirror my own, hoping she gets the message. “I’m not a little girl anymore.”
She scoffs. “My girl, you’realwaysgoing to be my little girl whether you’re five or thirty-five.”
My glare softens and a warm gooey gaze takes its place. “Love you.”
“Love you more, Charlie-Bear. How about we table all the deep and meaningful conversations we need to have until you’ve had some rest and are functionin’ on all cylinders, yeah?”
A big yawn takes hold of me. “Sounds good. I think my bed is callin’ me.”
“Go ahead, you’re in your old room in the house for now, and in the next few days, we’ll talk about what you might want to do with the apartment above the garage. I figured you’d want your own space and not have your dear ol’ mom underfoot.”
I down the rest of my drink and stand, moving around the counter and pulling her in for a big hug. “Thank you, Ma. For everythin’. I’m glad I’m home.”
“Glad you’re home too, my girl. Dad can’t wait to see you too,” she says, referring to my stepfather, Greg, who’s the only father I’ve ever known.
“Yeah. He said he’d see me the minute he was back in town from his trip,” I say.
“OK. Have a good night’s sleep, and I’ll try not to wake you when I get back late from the diner.”
“See you in the mornin’,” I mumble through another yawn.
Mom chuckles and squeezes my shoulder. “It’s all goin’ to work out, you know.”
I don’t trust myself to speak around the growing lump in my throat. As if she can read my mind Mom lifts on her toes to kiss my cheek before grabbing her keys and moving toward the front door. “Sweet dreams, my girl.”
“Thanks, Ma. For everythin’.”
“Always, Charlie-Bear.” She waves goodbye and closes the door behind her.
After an overdue hot shower, I hop into my pajamas even though it’s only seven at night, and slide into my old bed, curling on my side and looking across at my wooden desk that’s still where I left it all those years ago.
That’s when I catch sight of something etched into the side and my heart clenches in my chest.
CB 4 AG
So, before I let sleep take me, I take a slow deep breath and offer up a manifestation into the universe.Please let me have a chance to make it right…
2
AUSTIN
When we found out about the mountain prophecy that had been activated at Bull Mountain, I knew that it wouldn’t be for me. I’m happy for my brothers though because one by one, they've met and fallen head over heels for theirOne, their soulmate.
