1
The Lord sure does have a sense of humor, Logan West thought as he sat on the bench in front of the bus stop.
He couldn’t believe he was back in Frostford, Colorado, for the second time within the year. This time to help with some much-needed home repairs to Aunt Betty’s home. The woman that had raised him was getting older and had expressed the desire to fix up her old home and sell it for a while. Logan had always been too busy to come down to do the necessary repairs, but he’d just accepted a job in a new city, with just enough time to come to Frostford to do whatever was needed.
Logan peered up and down Main Street. The maple trees lining the sidewalks were green and full of life as they basked in the summer sun. A light breeze blew across his face bringing the scents of a nearbybakery. To a visitor, Frostford might seem a pleasant town. To Logan, it held nothing but bitter memories. He’d vowed to never come back to this place. With any luck, the next time he left, it would be for good.
When a bright-red, 1959 Cadillac Eldorado appeared at the top of the hill, a grin touched his lips. The woman behind the wheel was like a mother to him. Aunt Betty. She wasn’t really his aunt, wasn’t anyone’s aunt, but still insisted everyone in Frostford call her Aunt Betty. Once she was safely parked, she got out and rushed toward him, her movements surprisingly quick for a woman her age.
“Oh, Logan.” She pulled him to her and squeezed tight. “It’s been too long. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too,” he said. Logan tried to take a step back, but she didn’t release him right away, holding both of his shoulders as she searched his face.
“You look old.”
The earnestness of her tone made him laugh.
“Do I?” he asked. Logan assessed the woman in front of him. Though he hadn’t seen her since he left ten years ago, she remained unchanged. Sure, the smile lines at the corners of her eyes were more pronounced. Her hair had lost every bit of color, and now framed her face in a uniform white, but she was still Aunt Betty.
She’d always been there for him. The only one who’d refused to give up on him. Because of this, Logan was excited about the idea of her coming tosunny Florida with him after the house sold. That way, he could be the one who was there for her when she needed it the most. Logan wanted to take care of Aunt Betty through her golden years.
Aunt Betty let go of his shoulders. Free from her inspection, Logan quietly loaded his suitcases into the back seat. “I’m sorry it took so long for me to come home and help,” he said, unable to meet her eyes.
“I know.” Aunt Betty plopped into her seat and Logan followed suit.
“I didn’t mean to stay gone that long.”
“Of course you did.”
Logan stiffened at her frank response. She was right, hedidmean to stay gone for as long as he had. There was no use in arguing.
Aunt Betty checked for cars in her rearview mirror and then pulled out onto the street. “I’ve been on God’s green Earth long enough to learn a thing or two. And one thing I know is you don’t skip out on Christmas and Thanksgiving year after year unless you’re trying to avoid some place.”
Or someone.
Logan turned his head toward the passing scenery. He watched the trees go by as they drove down once-familiar streets. Good Eats, the local diner, had several cars parked out front. Logan had spent his high school summers bringing Reubens to hungry customers. It looked like the lunch specials still brought in crowds. Two blocks past that, a woman walked out of thegeneral store, her arms filled with bags of groceries. As they neared the edge of the downtown area, Logan was pleasantly surprised to see that even the comic store was still in business and still had posters of superheroes covering the windows.
Logan was so busy taking in his surroundings, he had almost forgotten what they were talking about when Aunt Betty softly said, “Though I am surprised that you didn’t come home when Jake was diagnosed.”
“I ... ” The words died on his lips. There was no good response to not showing up when your best friend was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. Or barely showing up for his funeral and leaving before anyone could say hi.
“He needed you.”
Logan nodded, but said nothing, knowing he was guilty.
“Erin was left taking care of him and their two children. She never once complained, but it was hard. Too much for one person to deal with.”
Another thing Logan knew too well. He had read each and every one of Jake’s emails and texts. He’d listened to every voicemail his best friend had sent.I’m afraid of what’s going to happen to Erin and the kids when I’m gone. You know her parents won’t help. I need to know someone is going to look after her.Logan just wasn’t able to be that person. He didn’t know how to be that person.
An ache formed in his chest. He lifted his hand torub it away, but it didn’t do anything to soothe the pain. “Did you help her?” he asked quietly.
“Of course, I did.” Aunt Betty’s voice filled with disbelief. “I helped her the best I could, and so did the church. But we could only do so much. They needed someone else.” She gave him a pointed look. “Why didn’t you come back to Frostford?”
“It’s complicated,” he said. A poor response, but better than the truth.
How did he tell Aunt Betty that he’d left town in a hurry ten years ago because he’d been in love with Erin and hadn’t realized it until it was too late? The idea of sticking around and watching Erin and Jake live out their happily ever after had been impossible. He was too worried about causing a rift in their marriage because of his feelings. Logan didn’t want that. He would never want to break up a marriage or hurt a friend, no matter how heartbroken he’d been. Leaving had felt like the only option at the time.
Now he had established a life for himself outside of Frostford and had no reason to come back.
