She sighs, then blinks. “You still love her.”
“Not in the way you think. She’s my ex. We’ll always be connected, but I’m not in love with her; I haven’t been for a really long time. Besides, Shelby is in my life now.”
“The baker?” She sounds surprised.
“Yes, but she is so much more than that,” I defend.
“It isn’t that. She has a child, right?”
“So?” I frown, setting my fork down.
“I just... I worry about you, Ember, whether you’re truly over what happened.”
“And you wonder why I don’t visit more often,” I sneer. It comes out harsher than I intend. “Look, I’ve come for some of my old tools.”
“They’re in the shed,” she tells me, her voice small. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“No, no, you did. And it’s okay.” I stand and walk out of the kitchen towards the cottage. It used to be our house at some point, then my father bought the land around it, developed it, and now it stands here, a guest house of sorts.
I walk into the shed, the musty smell, a reminder of better times. I remember spending hours here with my father. I spot my toolbox and grab it.
Mom is standing outside, her robe wrapped around her. “I love you, Ember, you know that, right?”
“I know.” I walk up to her, place a kiss on her cheek, and go back the way I came.
There are things my mother will never get. Like why I left this town after college for Katherine. And it is not something I feel the need to explain.
I stop at the Hardware store, glad it’s open on a Sunday. I buy my supplies, and the store hand helps me haul them in the back of my truck.
When I pull up outside Shelby’s a few hours later, my mood has significantly improved.
I knock at the door, and Shelby opens it, a smile on her face. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”
“Wish I could tell you I was here for you, firefly.”
“Oh, the charm that oozes off you, Ember Dale. Come on in.”
I step inside the foyer of her home—It’s cozy and lived in. I like that. There are photos on the walls and throws on the couches. It feels homey. I still have boxes in my living room. Even though I was here yesterday, the kitchen was as far as I could venture.
“Ember!” Brody shouts when he sees me, running up to me and giving me a hug around the waist. The first time he did that, he caught me off guard. This time, I hug him back tightly.
“Hey, little dude. I thought I’d pick up some supplies so we can get started on the treehouse.”
“Really?”
“I thought we could work on it on the days I’m off and the weekend.”
He lets out a squeal. “Thank you, thank you.” He jumps up and down.
“So you wanna lend me a hand?”
“You bet. I need to change my shoes.” He runs off inside the house and up the stairs.
“You want a beer?” Shelby offers.
“Yeah, sure.” I follow her into the kitchen, admiring how her shorts hug her ass. I reach out and squeeze a cheek, and she yelps.
“Ember.” She spins around, glaring up at me. “Don’t you dare!”
