Page 66 of Stealing Home

“You don’t look too bad yourself.”

“Thanks. So, what was it like growing up in Colorado?”

“It was amazing until it wasn’t. I loved being close to the mountains because they were just majestic to look at from my bedroom window growing up. My parents did okay for themselves. They bought us a house where we had space and weren’t on top of each other. It even had a white picket fence and a huge backyard.”

“Now I’m disappointed I didn’t get to go on the tour with you and Heather of your old stomping grounds.”

“Trust me, it’s nothing to be disappointed by. The new owners built a new one from scratch on the property. Outside of that, there wasn’t anything really noteworthy.”

“I highly doubt that. You are one of the most intriguing people I’ve met.”

She laughs. I can tell she thinks I’m just trying to sweet talk her, but I’m really not.

“I’m being serious. You’ve dealt with some real shit situations and you’ve made the best of what you could. Only a strong person can pick up the pieces, even when it feels like there is no end in sight for the number of pieces left.

Adriana has this look in her eyes and I’m afraid she is going to cry.

“Thank you Cole. I try to be positive, but it hasn’t and doesn’t always happen. But you’re one to talk. Look at yourself. You and Ty have turned into incredible men. I may not have known you when a few years ago, but you two have had a shitty hand, too.”

I take a moment and let her words sink in. She’s right. Maybe it’s why I feel this connection with her. It’s like our souls just recognize the hurt of the other.

“Yeah, shit has sucked. But I’ve had Ty and now Heather. It wasn’t always easy or like it is now.”

“I’m glad you had Ty. It was hard when it came down to just me. My parents were high school sweethearts, and they gave me the best example of a relationship. How it’s not always 50/50, but it’s give and take. To sacrifice for each other, love and be there for one another.”

I see the tears in her eyes and get up from my chair and walk around the table to take the seat next to her. I take her hand in mine, intertwining them, and cup her cheek with my other hand.

“It sounds like they were amazing people. I’m sorry I’ll never get to meet them. But A, I feel in a way I have. You are the product of their love and I see the way you care about the peoplein your life, your ability to pick yourself up when you felt the world was beating down on you to get to be here in this moment speaks to who they were. They live on through you, babe. Be proud of that.” I gently tell her.

Adriana nods her head. A tear spills out from her right eye, and I move my hand to catch it.

“Thank you Cole. That means the world to me. I think they would’ve really liked you.”

“My parents would have liked you more than me.” I tell her with a smile.

She smiles back at me and squeezes the hand that’s holding hers.

“What were your parents like?” She asks me.

I take a second and look up at the sky to see the shapes of the clouds.

“They were everything you could want in parents. Never missed a game once Ty and I started tee ball. Supported our dreams to make it to the big leagues. They prioritized our baseball dreams over their own needs. They always called us out on our behavior when we were being rude. Outside of Ty, they were my best friends.” I tell her.

“I love that for you both. Can I ask what happened? If you don’t want to tell me, I understand. I know how hard it can be.”

“It’s okay. I would rather have us talk to each other about this instead of you having you hear it from Ty or Heather, honestly.”

I take a moment to gather my emotions because I don’t talk about mom and dad often anymore. The thought makes me sad, but I’m determined to keep their memories alive in the world instead of just in my head.

“My parents died in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. They were on their way home from seeing The Sound of Music at the movie theater. It was Mom’s favorite movie. Dad would always take her to go watch it when it played as a specialshowing. He would always tell us that just because you get married doesn’t mean you stop courting your wife.” I tell her

“I’m so sorry, Cole. I know it doesn’t ever really help, but I am. They sound like amazing people.”

“Thank you. They really were.” I give her a smile and I know it isn’t my normal one.

Adriana laughs a little to herself, which has me giving her a perplexed look.

“You know it’s funny. My dad said something along those lines too about dating my mom. He said romance doesn’t stop just because she got a ring from me. I have to keep showing her she is the one for me. Even when he was sick, in the hospital or when he came home and was on hospice care. There was a point where he couldn’t talk very much but he would write a few words down on a piece of paper and give it to her before she went to sleep so she knew how much he loved her even when he couldn’t say it.”

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