A drop of rain landed on her windshield, then another.
“What in the world?” She peered out her windshield at the blends of violet and vermilion clouds hovering among the remnants of the day’s blue sky. “Where is it coming from?”
The rain continued, falling at a steady pace now. She looked out her window and saw a single rain cloud above her car. “Of course.”
She waited out the shower and five minutes later, grabbed her purse and ran inside. Overwhelmed, she stood by the front register and traveled her gaze from one side of the store to another.
An employee approached her. “Can I help you find something?”
“No, thank you.” Sybil felt her cheeks flush. She’d find it on her own—no need to advertise her potential predicament.
She took her best guess at which aisle stocked the pregnancy tests and found them on her second stop. Who knew so many choices existed? Her heart thumped against her chest as she reached for a two-pack of one that spelled out the results. Regardless of the first results, she’d want a second test for confirmation.
On her way to check out, she grabbed a pack of toilet paper, a bag of candy, a new bottle of shampoo, and several Independence Day items on clearance. Not that she needed any of it, but she didn’t want the pregnancy test to stand out. The more items she could bury it under, the better.
She overestimated how much she could carry and juggled the items in her arms. When she came to the register, something slipped from the bottom of the pile, landing on the counter. She cringed when she realized the test has escaped her grip. What she’d desperately tried to hide was now on display for all to see.
Okay, so only the cashier in front of her saw it, but that was one person too many. She hurried to drop the other items on top of the box and refused the make eye contact with the store associate. After she paid, she mumbled, “Have a good day,” snatched her bags from the counter and hurried back to her car.
The ride home seemed to take forever, although she made it to her house in record time, not hitting any traffic or red lights. She pulled up to her mailbox which she’d forgotten to check earlier. Anything to prolong finding out the results. She dragged her feet as she walked to her front door. In a few minutes, her life might change forever.
She wasn’t ready to know.
But she had to.
Chapter Three
Jared fought Denver traffic on I-25. Every delay prolonged his arrival home that much longer.
Home.
The single word settled his anxious heart. He’d been gone for nearly a decade, but Weatherton, Wyoming would always be home. The few days’ visits he’d had sporadically since enlisting would never be enough to fill the void.
He needed the wide-open spaces and blue skies that stretched for miles on end. He craved the small-town atmosphere where time stood still in a place where neighbors cared for each other and people showed respect for everyone, no matter their differences.
If he were honest, he even missed the gossip mills fueled by old ladies with good intentions, and the brutal winters that brought whipping winds and feet of snow.
Because home was home, and he’d take the good with the bad.
He hadn’t told his mom or sister that he was coming. Until he’d left Louisiana after Evan and Janie’s wedding, he hadn’t been sure he’d come.
A part of him feared he put too much stock in coming home. Evan and Janie, even Wyatt, had agreed a change of scenery would be the best course to help him recover. Jacksonville held too much temptation, too little accountability.
His family, however, knew nothing about his behavior of late. As far as they knew, he was still their favorite son: upstanding citizen, a combat veteran, and a hero for serving his country. If they only knew the truth and how far he’d fallen.
But he was determined to change, to put the past behind him once and for all. He hadn’t touched a drop of beer or whiskey since that night before Evan had picked him up and taken him to his truck. Only sheer will had kept him sober, but every day he found it harder to resist.
When Evan and Janie’s wedding fell at the beginning of his terminal leave, he’d decided to spend the rest of August in Weatherton. Yet, that would require an explanation to his mom and sister. What would they think of him?
A smile settled on his face. They’d take him into their arms and tell him they loved him, that they’d be there to support him in any way they could. He knew unequivocally that his mom and Cara would stand by his side, even if they disagreed with the wrong turn he’d taken.
Sooner than he expected, Denver reflected in his rearview mirror. He continued north, and when he crossed into Wyoming, he rolled down his windows to breathe in the air.Won’t be long now.His mom’s return to Weatherton after living in New Mexico for several years made visiting his family easier. During the New Mexico years, he’d always been torn on where to spend his leave time. He’d wanted to see his mom, but Cara needed him.
He reached Cheyenne, which blessedly had little traffic, especially compared to what he’d driven through in Denver. His exit approached, and he headed west toward Weatherton. He could have stopped to fill his fuel tank and pick up a drink for his parched throat, but he had enough diesel to make it home and a warm bottle of water to drink. The closer he got, the more desperately he wanted to be there.
Memories of his last trip to Weatherton flooded his mind. Forever and a day ago, it seemed, but man, the trip had been a blast. He’d picked his mom up from the airport, and they’d surprised Cara on Christmas Eve. The visit had turned into a celebration of Cara’s engagement to Jase McCade, and then an impromptu wedding.
Cara insisted she couldn’t get married without him present, but he wouldn’t be able to come home again until after the deployment. Neither Cara nor Jase wanted to wait that long, so they’d decided to marry New Year’s Eve.
