Page 96 of Falling for Autumn Again

I say nothing of her slow, snail-like movements. I also stay put on the grass. She is like a scared little mouse and if I move, I may startle her.

I wait. And she walks, slow and steady. Two minutes later, she meets me on the grass to look up at her pretty little house—the one she apparently hasn’t seen the outside of in years. It’s a miracle the roses are even alive. I’m not sure they’ve been watered besides the few rain showers Love gets.

April pulls in a breath and turns around. Linking her arm through mine, her breath hitches. “Oh, Ezra. It’s lovely.”

The blue is just halfway up the two-story home. I’ve planned it that way. If I finish the front too quickly, she won’t have a reason to come outside with me. So, I’m going fairly slow and steady myself.

Mrs. Norris from next door walks by in her leggings and walking shoes, with her little schnauzer at her side. She peers at the house, searching for what we’re seeing. “Hello, April!” she says, as if this were a normal everyday occurrence.

April’s hand on my arm tightens ever so slightly. “Hello, Melanie.”

“Love the blue. It’s such a happy color!”

April swallows, a shaky breath falling from her lips. “Thank you. Ezra’s doing all the work.”

I lift my hand and wave to the woman. “Mrs. Green chose the color.”

“Let me know if you’re hiring out.” Mrs. Norris laughs, her arms still pumping as if she’s on a brisk walk, though her feet have stalled. “Good to see you, Ezra.” She waves and picks up her feet again, continuing her walk down the street.

“What’s with this Mrs. Green nonsense?” April’s brown eyes, so much like Autumn’s, peer up at me.

I give a half shrug. “It seemed respectful.”

April scoffs, seeming comfortable for the first time since she stepped out the door. “It’s ridiculous. You aren’t a child anymore and you’re half in love with my daughter.”

I rub a hand over the back of my neck. “Whole,” I say.

“Excuse me?”

“Not half in love.Whole. I am all in when it comes to Autumn. I always have been.”

“See, you might as well be my son.”

My heart lurches and I peer over at her, but she’s too busy admiring the house.

“I’m sorry for how things went down with you two.” She tangles one arm around my waist, giving me a motherly side hug—at least, this is how I imagine a mother’s hug would be.

“It wasn’t your fault,” I tell her past the lump that’s formed in my throat. “Autumn and I made our choices.”

She huffs. “You both did the best you could with what you were given. But you’re here now.”

I swallow, squeezing her back. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

Chapter Forty-Eight

Autumn

I pullup to Mom’s, knowing Ezra is painting, but it’s been a week since I’ve been here with food and four days since we saw Mav on the street. I’ve tried avoiding Ezra—again. But he won’t let me. We’re at a stalemate. I’m not sure what to do and I can’t force him to do anything.

I peer up at the half-blue house. It is a pretty color. It’ll be lovely once he’s done. He’s taking his time. But I’m not complaining—if he’s here, he isn’t at the farm. And I need to figure this out. Ezra can’t stay. I can’t go. He loves me. And while I haven’t said the words, I am just as ever in love with him.

I’m so busy staring at the foreign blue that I almost miss my mother on the lawn.

She’soutside.

In the sun and crisp fall air.

She’s standing next to Ezra, her arm wrapped around his waist, in a sweet side embrace. They’re looking up at the house like this is something they do all the time.

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