Page 6 of Burned By the Broken Doctor

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EMMA

“Harmony Creek - Population 2,347”

The familiar creak of the weathered wooden signpost sends a shiver down my spine as I drive past it.

The sun dips below the snow-capped peaks, casting the highway in a warm, orange glow that stretches as far as the eye can see. I squint, brushing my hair out of my eyes as the familiar scenery unfolds before me. The town is nestled in a deep valley, surrounded by mountain slopes that are a patchwork of snow and green forest. There’s a waterfall a few miles out, its water feeding into the creek that flows right through the heart of town. That’s probably where the town got its name, Harmony Creek.

I’ve missed this majestic view.

I take it all in, slowing down to enjoy the drive. I roll down my window, letting the crisp, fresh air fill the car. It smells like pine and earth. That smell is unmistakably home.

Driving through these familiar landscapes brings back memories. Dad used to load Damon and me into his old truck for afternoon drives. We’d spend hours exploring these roads, windows down, the wind tangling our hair.

I drive through the town. The same quaint shops line Main Street, their windows adorned with faded holiday decorations. Mrs. Henderson's bakery still wafts the intoxicating aroma of freshly baked bread, and the town square, with its creaky old bandstand, seems frozen in time.

Nothing seems to have changed much in the five years since I left. Nothing much seems to change in towns like these, except maybe the people.

The last time I was here, Damon was reeling from Dad’s death, trying to figure out his life after years spent in the Navy, and then there was Aurora, Damon’s band girl girlfriend who dropped the bomb of Ethan’s unexpected arrival. Damon married her, but Aurora left not long after Ethan was born. She couldn’t handle the quiet life in Harmony Creek, and Damon, being Damon, didn’t try to stop her. He’s been a single dad ever since, doing a damn good job of it, too…until now.

Now he’s with June. My best friend since forever. She and Damon have always had this weird chemistry, but the timing was never right for them. Now, it seems like fate has finally aligned. They’re getting married, and I’m back to help make sure it’s the wedding of their dreams.

And me? Life in the fast lane of New York City has etched lines around my eyes and replaced the carefree girl with a woman burdened by the weight of unspoken dreams. Coming back also means facing all the things I left behind. The memories, the people, the pain of losing Dad. It’s a lot to take in.

My phone rings, and I see June’s name flashing on the screen. I activate the hands-free and answer the call.

“Hey, June!”

“Emma! Where are you?”

“Just getting into town,” I reply, glancing at the scenery. “Should be there in a few minutes.”

“Great! I’ll come by later this evening. I’m out with Ethan right now,” June chatters, the excitement in her voice filling my ears.

“Sounds like you guys are having fun?”

“Of course. Ethan here. Want to speak to him?”

I know without doubt that Ethan and Damon are lucky to have June. She’s the perfect stepmother for my brother’s five-year-old son after not having one all his life. I wonder if Damon ever regrets his decision to date Aurora and marry her after she told him she was pregnant. It was around the time our dad died from heart disease. Damon had his own way of dealing with the grief, and I had mine. I left town, and now, five years later, I’m back.

“Hey, Ethan!” I call out, hoping he can hear me. “I can’t wait to see you!”

“Aunt Emma. June told me you’re coming home.”

We’ve only seen each other on our video calls, but Ethan and I have bonded easily even with just that. He’s quite a smart kid for a five-year-old, and he keeps his dad on his toes all the time.

“Yes, sweetheart. I can’t wait to see you.”

“See you soon, Aunt Emma!” Ethan’s excited voice brings a smile to my face.

“Okay, drive safe. Talk later.” June adds.

“Later guys.”

I can picture the smile on June’s face as we end the call. I wish I felt as happy as her. There’s a mix of excitement and fear churning in my stomach instead. While I can’t wait to plan June and Damon’s wedding because it’s what I love doing, coming back to Harmony Creek also brings up a lot of the past, and I’m not sure how ready I am to face it all again.

I end the call and start singing along to the song playing on the radio, trying to drown out my thoughts. The winding highway narrows as I approach the East Side of town, and I pass under the huge overhead sign board that reads Cole’s Avenue. I let out a sigh, asking myself what this homecoming has in store for me.

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