Page 1 of Adventures in Spring

ChapterOne

Rhett

When we lost our parents, our oldest brother, Lukas, stepped up to take care of us. And by ‘us,’ I mean my brother Paxton, our baby sister, Felicity, and me. Lukas didn’t have to do what he did, he had his own life to live. But he gave up being with the woman he loved to stay with us. He made sure that I finished school and helped Paxton became a carpenter. We all work together to keep the store our parents started running.

I almost quit school when our parents died. But Lukas reminded me of how proud they were of me. That brought back the passion I had for school and I finished my degree in five years. I’m now the town pharmacist and I love it. I love helping the people in Wintervale. I also get to see a side of our residents that most don’t. Some even ask if what I see or talk to them about is covered by doctor/patient confidentiality. I always have to remind them that I’m not their doctor.

For a while, I went off the deep end. I was angry and wanted everyone to just leave me alone. I had been dating Sabrina since our senior year. We were going on three years when my parents died. The day after their funeral, I told Sabrina it was over. She fought me, saying she didn’t understand why.

At the same time, Lukas and the love of his life, Emmanuelle, broke up. Seeing them struggle to find a way to keep their love going made me sad. And I made the decision to walk away from Sabrina. I just couldn’t see a future with her anymore. This last year, Lukas and Emma found their way back to each other. Emma moved to Wintervale to be with him. They’re happy and in love. I want that and I hope one day I’ll find it.

I see Sabrina around town, she teaches English at our high school. It’s been two years since we broke up. And she’s finally stopped glaring at me every time she sees me. Baby steps.

Emiko

I found the love of my life when I was fourteen and he was fifteen. He was a jock and I was the science nerd. No one thought that we’d stay together. But we proved them wrong. We spent eight years together before he was taken from us.

My parents, Kiyoshi and Keiko came to the US from Japan when I was four years old. I have two older brothers, Kentaro and Tadashi. We grew up in Springfield, Illinois and that’s where my parents still live. Kentaro lives in Chicago and he’s a doctor. Tadashi lives in Hawaii and he’s a detective on the island of Maui.

When I got pregnant with our twins, Kaito and Miyuki, Seth’s parents gave him an ultimatum. If he chose to stay with me, they would have nothing to do with him or our children. Seth chose me and our babies. His parents and siblings have never met our kids.

I had the twins when I was sixteen and Seth was seventeen. I was a junior and he had one more year of school. My parents did everything they could to help us. They even let us live in their basement. Seth got a job and worked full-time while finishing high school. He even graduated early. He was my hero. He told me that he wanted me to finish school and then we’d figure things out after that. So with my parents’ help, I had the babies and finished high school when they were a year old.

We all sat down and decided that in order for Seth and I to give our family the best life possible, we needed to go to college. So I went to school to become a teacher and Seth got his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, then went on to become a state trooper.

The day I lost Seth, I woke up with a bad feeling. But I couldn’t put my finger on it. I almost asked him to stay home…it was that bad. But I knew he wouldn’t unless one of us or the babies were sick. That morning, we had breakfast with my family. Every day, my mom would make us breakfast and we’d sit and eat together. I don’t know what we would’ve done without her and my dad.

I was teaching my fifth-period class when there was a knock on my door. I turn and see my principal, Curtis. He walks in with Seth’s Sargent, Michael, Lieutenant Wilson and the department chaplain. And it felt like my heart stopped. Michael was wearing his campaign hat…they don’t send the chaplain or wear their dress uniforms unless it’s bad.

Principal Curtis came over to me and told me he would be taking over my classes for the rest of the day. I nodded at him and grabbed my things. I could hear my students murmuring in the background.

I don’t remember how I got to the hospital. But I do remember the doctor telling me that they needed to get Seth into surgery, but he refused to go until I got there. I ran to Seth and kissed him. I told him how much I loved him and he couldn’t leave me yet. We had so many adventures to go on with our babies. He promised that he’d see me soon. And told me how much he loved me. I never thought that would be the last time I would kiss him or hear his voice. He never made it back to me.

I found out later that Seth had been called to a robbery in progress. It was at a truck stop and when he got there, the suspect started firing. He hit three troopers and the store clerk. My Seth wasn’t the only trooper lost that day. I was sad for the other families, but losing Seth was the only thing I could focus on. I miss his voice…his smile…the way he would hug me after a hard day at work. And how he would look at me and tell me I was the only woman he would ever want.

I feel like I’m suffocating here and I need a new start. I’ve talked to my parents about it and while they want me to stay, they do understand. And I hate to take my kids away from them. But I have to do something. It’s like I’m drowning and I can’t be a good mom to my babies when I feel like this.

I miss Seth.

ChapterTwo

Emiko

I haven’t gone back to work since the day Seth got shot. The school had been holding my position for me, telling me that whenever I’m ready, I can come back. I finally told them that I won’t be back. The flood of memories that come when I see my old school is too much.

I applied to be a science teacher in Wintervale, Montana. It’s about a day’s drive, so I won’t be too far away. I just need a new start,weneed a new start. Kaito and Miyuki are struggling too. There are days my babies come home sobbing, asking why their daddy had to die. I don’t have the answers for them. I don’t know if moving is the answer for us, but I need to try.

“I wish you weren’t leaving, Emi.” My mom sighs as she helps me pack.

“Me too, Mom. But everywhere I go, all I see is Seth and it’s killing me.”

“I understand. I’m just going to miss you and the kids. You know you can come home anytime, right?”

“I know, Mom. And I appreciate you and Dad so much,” I say as I hug her. “I wouldn’t have survived this past year without the both of you.”

My mom sits next to me and takes my hand.

“You’re stronger than you think, Emiko. Make sure you take the time to find your happiness. You deserve to live your life. Open up your heart again.”

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