“What? That’s only like… an hour away.”
“Right,” I mumbled. “He and Carver are renovating the ski resort there.” Or maybe they were done with that, since I’d spoken to him months ago.
“Oh, wow. That’s awesome! I heard that place is amazing now. I didn’t know it was the Storm brothers who re-opened it. I’ve been thinking about heading there for spring break. You know, one last family vacation before… well…”
“Dane?” I asked, and she cleared her throat.
“Yeah, before Dane goes away to college.” Emotion clogged her tone, and I almost wanted to roll my eyes at her. The kid was a senior in high school, not some kindergartener.
“You don’t have to sound so sad about it,” I murmured, slightly callously, even to my own jaded ears.
“One day, Ash, you’ll understand what this feels like, and you’re going to feel really bad for being a jerk right now. Just wait.”
“No thanks,” I chuckled, making light of her warning. “I’m not completely heartless, you know? I get choked up at the thought of my first nephew about to graduate high school and get out on his own in the real world. I genuinely don’t want to know how much that hurts as a parent.”
“Anyways,” she sassed, ready to move on to a different subject. “What’s up with Harry?”
“They’re doing some kind of New Year’s thing at the resort.”
“Oh! Does that mean you are coming home?”
“No, but…”
“Ohmygod!” She sounded exasperated. “I was right, wasn’t I? You are working through the break?”
“Why? Do you miss me?”
“I do,” she confirmed quietly, and something inside of me made me pay closer attention. “But I get it; you’re busy. Maybe I’ll head to LA in February, see if you can get me a spot on your calendar for lunch or something.”
“Sounds good. Call my assistant.”
“Shut up!” she laughed. “Okay, I should get going. I have a couple of deliveries to make before I have to get the kids from school.”
“Any other reason you called?” I asked, and she paused. The line went so still and quiet, I had to check my cell to make sure I hadn’t lost her. “Tiff?” I called. She sighed softly.
“I just missed you, wanted to hear your voice, make sure you were okay. And see if maybe you have somehow changed your mind about coming home for the new year.”
“Oh…” Slight awkward silence fell between us.
“You do have that brand-new cabin you had built, remember?” I did. I still hadn’t set foot inside of it since the contractors finished it two years ago.
“I remember,” I muttered. “The place holding up okay?”
“I think so. Dane stopped by there last week, said racoons haven’t taken it over yet, so there is that.”
“Shut up.” I chuckled.
“Okay, well… I should really go. Love you, baby bro.”
“Love you, too, sis.” And with that, the call ended. I stared out the window again. The view should have been great, spectacular even. But with all the smog, you couldn’t see out as far as usual.
That feeling I hadn’t been able to shake off crept back up, and my eyes dropped to my cell.
I pulled up my call log, my sister’s name still highlighted as the last one received.
I just missed you. Wanted to hear your voice, see if maybe you have somehow changed your mind about coming home for the new year.
Home. What a concept.
