Page 36 of Mended Hearts

I hold my hand out, stopping her.

“Here comes the more part. Dax is Dustin’s brother.”

“Oh my. What are the chances of that?” she asks redundantly.

“And that’s not even where it ends.” A nervous laugh escapes my mouth. Speaking it all aloud sounds absolutely insane. “After thirteen years, I finally saw Dustin.”

My mom uncrosses her legs, straightening her posture, but keeps her hands placed at her knees.

“It was at an award ceremony for Dax. That’s how I found out, but we didn’t get to really talk. A lot happened that night, keeping us from being able to.” I stand up, pacing in front of the sofa, and rub the back of my neck.

“Well, what happened? Where’s he been this whole time? Where’d he go after?” Her voice sounds invested, as if she’s intrigued by my story.

“He’s been in the Army.” I stop dead in front of her and look down. “And he went to the war with Brian,” I whisper. My knees begin to wobble, wanting to buckle beneath me. I pivot and drop to the couch.

“Oh, Echo.” My mom’s arms swiftly wrap around me, and she pulls me into her, rocking me in that loving way only a mother can. I finally break. I cry as one might mourning the loss of a loved one. And maybe that’s exactly what I’m doing; mourning the girl I once was or the one I’ve become. “I love you.” Her words flutter across my ear, warming my heart. I sniffle as I pull away and place my hands right below my eyes and wipe outward. Thankfully, I didn’t wear makeup, or I’d look like a clown.

“I love you too, Mom,” I finally reply, regaining my composure. I look around, grimacing. “No wonder you’re having issues selling this house,” I say, changing the subject. “I mean, it’s not like people are dying to move to this town, as it is. This house solidifies why they shouldn’t.” I chuckle, hoping to lightenthe mood for a short stint. “It needs a lot of work. Not hard work, just work.” I shrug, angling my body in her direction.

“You want the job?” She cocks a brow, then adds, “I’ll pay you.”

“You don’t have to pay me, Mom. I’ll gladly help. I need the distraction.” I place my hand over hers and give it a squeeze.

“Knock, knock,” Lynsie says through the screen door. Excitement and dread hit me as I stand to let my friend in.

I give her a big hug as if I haven’t seen her in years. It’s only been a few weeks, but it feels like an eternity.

“Where’s Blu?” I ask, taking notice of her empty arms.

Her smile is warm and comforting. “I just dropped her off with Lincoln’s parents.” We make our way to the couch, and I introduce Lynsie to my mom before we sit on the couch across from her.

I prepare myself for what I’m about to say. “Okay. I need to start from the beginning for any of this to make sense.” I take a deep breath. For a second, I debate whether to continue to pull the breath in until I run out. Maybe I’ll pass out and buy myself some time.

You can do this, Echo, I keep thinking over and over.

“Echo, you don’t have to start from the very beginning. I know why you left.” I peek over at my mom and can see the pain written all over her face.

Hell, this is just as hard for her as it is for me.

I swallow hard. “Yes. Yes, I do. I owe it to you, Dylan, and myself. I’m tired of living with this feeling. I’ve finally come to a point in my life where I’m realizing what matters most. I’m done being that stubborn girl.”

My mom snorts, causing me to giggle.

“Fine, you got me there. I’ll always be stubborn, but it doesn’t have to be at the expense of others any longer.”

The hope shining in my mother’s blue eyes encourages me to push forward. The weight begins to lessen. Then I think about Dustin. This conversation doesn’t end here. It ends with Dustin. He deserves to know what happened. Truth be told, I’m more worried about that conversation.

So I start from the beginning. Mom cries through the parts about me being eighteen, pregnant, and feeling alone. Sympathetic Lynsie sniffles beside me.

“We would have never made you give up your baby.” My mom cries, pleading for me to believe her. I do.

“I know that now. But I was young, in love, and hurt. I was scared, and through the pain I was feeling, I wanted you guys to hurt, too. Brian had always been there for me. So the night Dad told me we were moving back to Oklahoma, I remembered what Brian said before he took off for basic training.” He called me and told me he had joined the Army. His dad had recently been diagnosed with cancer and Brian couldn’t deal with the reality and blamed God, not understanding why he wouldn’t heal him. As I sit here and remember, I witness the chip on his shoulder form and realize it’s the same timeframe mine manifested with Dustin’s following shortly after.

Oh, the weight we have all carried for far too long.

I shake off the memory and continue, “I told him about Dustin and how hard Dad was being with it all.He said, ‘you could just leave and come with me.’I thought he was joking.” I laugh. “Until I called him, and he showed up.” I wipe away the tears I didn’t realize were falling as I look up at my mom. She’s wiping her own tears away. “Eventually, he brought up the idea of marriage. I’d get his health benefits, and as his wife, I’d be able to move wherever he was stationed. I knew I loved him in a way.” I tell her that it made perfect sense and for the last thirteen years, it’s worked for us.

“Well, as much as I hate how it all happened”—my mother sniffles—“I’m glad it did all work out on your end.” She starts shaking her head as more tears stream down her face. “I just hate all the time we’ve missed. I didn’t get to see my baby grow up or have her own baby.”

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