Page 3 of Whisk Me Away

“I said, what do you think you are doing? That is my spot,” each word came out as if they were their own sentence.

“Oh, um. Well… I didn’t know and if you couldn’t tell, I'm a little late so I really should get in there.” She said before rushing up the sidewalk without another look back.

“Unbelievable,” I muttered under my breath before speeding down the aisle looking for a different spot. Who did she think she was? The spot said reserved, who was she that she thought she could take a reserved spot just because she was running late.

I parked my truck and slammed the door before hurrying across the parking lot to the large front doors of the church. The one and only church in this town was similar to the precinct in the fact that it was super old but they seemed to take better care of this building. The siding was painted white with a tall steeple and a bell that hadn’t worked in I don’t know how many years. The tall wooden doors were a dark, cherry color with fancy handles.

I pulled the handle gently before sneaking into the back to find Gram and my brothers. It was no surprise that my three brothers were already standing in our normal pew, singing when I approached. They each sent me a knowing smirk before Gram's gaze connected with mine. Oh boy, I was in trouble.

How was it that one look could make me feel like I was back in high school again? I was a grown man, but no age nullified the stern look from a grandmother. She was the only one who could make me feel like the best man and the worst screw-up all in the same day.

“Hey Gram, sorry I’m late, it was a long night,” I whispered before I placed a kiss on her cheek and scooted past my brothers in the pew.

“We will talk about this later,” she whisper-yelled at my retreating back.

"Ohhh someone's in trouble," Brooks snickered, giving me a playful shove.

"Everyone knows Gram likes to pretend Brant would be trouble, but she’s a big softie," Brock whispered.

"Shush," Gram shot us all a glare.

We spent the rest of church singing worship songs and listening to a message on Matthew 5. My mind was still processing something Pastor Walter had said when I rounded the corner and collided with none other than the spot thief herself.

“I am so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going—“ her words cut off when she noticed it was me. “oh, it’s you,” her eyes locked with mine and for a second, I was at a loss for words. Her eyes were deep green. I didn’t think I had ever seen such captivating eyes in my life. I quickly shook my head. I couldn’t be thinking about that right now.

“Me? You are the one who stole my parking spot!” I snapped back.

“Well, isn’t someone acting like an entitled child. I would love to sit here and listen to your little spiel, but I have more important things to do. Have a lovely day,” she flashed me what I could only assume was a mocking smile before she turned on her heel and sauntered toward the parking lot.

I stood there like a big idiot, at a loss for words, because she was the most beautiful—and sassy—girl I had ever seen, and I had no idea who she was.

CHAPTER 3

KARIS

There was nothing quite like waking up in your childhood bedroom to a massive poster of NSYNC. I thought my parents would have taken those down by now, but my room looked exactly the same as it did the day I left for UMKC. Aside from the boy band posters on the wall, this room was one of my favorite places. The reading nook below the big bay windows was where I spent countless hours reading and dreaming, and the attached en suite held a decent sized walk-in shower and clawfoot tub.

When my parents had this house built, they gave Eden and I our own bathrooms connected to our bedrooms so there would be no fighting over showers or time in front of the mirror while getting ready for school each morning. It was probably the smartest decision they made in the home building process.

I rubbed the remnants of sleep from my eyes and trudged through the bedroom to the bathroom to flip on the shower. I quickly undressed, tossing my clothes in the hamper and slipped under the hot water. There was so much I need to get done today but there was also a big part of me that just wanted to spend the day with my mom. That phone call from my dad had scared me more than I’d like to admit, and I didn’t know what I would do without Mom. I just wanted to relish in her wisdom and loving demeanor as long as I could.

I hurried through my shower routine before wrapping myself in the fluffy white towel that hung on the brass, butterfly hook. I blew out my long blonde hair and threw on a pair of white shorts with a pale pink blouse that buttoned up the front. When I opened my bedroom door the smell of eggs and bacon greeted me. Man, I’d missed my momma’s home cooking, but a pang of guilt quickly overshadowed my excitement. She shouldn’t be on her feet. I rushed down the stairs intent on taking over when I heard the hushed tones of my parents talking in the kitchen.

“It’s gonna be okay, Barbra,” Dad’s soothing voice filled the quiet space. I stopped at the bottom of the stairs, not wanting to intrude on their moment, but also curious if there was something they weren’t telling me.

“I know, I just don’t know what to expect from the treatments and that makes me nervous,” Mom replied, sadness seeping through her tone.

“You’ve got me, the girls are both here and we have a community of people willing and waiting to step in whenever we need them. God’s got this and we will continue to trust in His healing.”

I heard the sound of a kiss and knew that Dad must be holding Mom and kissing the top of her head. It was something I saw often growing up. My parents were never ones to shy away from displays of affection in front of me and Eden. They always said they wanted to give us a picture of what a loving marriage looked like.

The prolonged silence was my cue to enter the kitchen.

“Good morning,” I said with a smile as I rounded the corner of the island and slid between them for a group hug.

“Good morning, Pumpkin,” Dad said placing a quick kiss on the top of my head.

“Morning, sweet girl,” Mom replied before heading back to the stove.

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