Page 38 of More Than Anything

He waited, but she didn’t offer anything else. “Well, okay then. I accept your apology. And if ever you’re ready to talk to me about why you’ve acted the way you have, I’ll be glad to listen, okay?”

“Okay.” She didn’t say another word.

“Well, okay then. I guess I should get some sleep. Morning comes early and I’ve got chores to do. If you ever want to come out and help, I’d be glad to have your company,” he offered as an olive branch.

“Thanks. Well, goodnight.” Before he could say another word, the phone went dead.

LydiaKinsey, you’re a mystery, Avery thought as he sat there in his quiet bedroom. It had taken a lot of courage for her to call him like that, and he respected that. And he wanted to find a way to honor and encourage that. But how?

He’d think of something. He always did.

* * *

Several quiet weeks went by,and Avery relaxed. No one mentioned Lydia around him, and he was glad, but a little sad too. He really wanted to get to know her, especially after that kiss. There’d been something between them, something he couldn’t identify, but he didn’t know exactly what.

LaborDay was just six weeks away, and Avery made an important decision. In minutes, he tapped a contact on his phone and a cheerful voice answered, “Hi, son!”

“Hey, Mom! How are you?”

“Good, good! How are you?”

“I’m doing great. I wanted to talk to you about everything that’s happened. Look, I know I left in a huff, and if you’ve thought about it, I think you can understand why.”

There was a sigh on the other end of the phone before his mother said, “Yes. I’ve had time to really think on it while I worried about where you were and what you were doing. What your brother did was wrong; well, Shannon too. And I’m sorry I wasn’t more supportive. I just want you both to be happy, but I guess in my desire to see Ben happy, I forgot about your happiness. You’re older and can handle things better, or at least that’s what I thought.”

There were so many things Avery wanted to say. “You know, Mom, that doesn’t matter?a broken heart is a broken heart, no matter how old you are.”

“You’re right, Avery, and I’m sorry. And I’ve been worried sick about you. Where are you and what are you doing?”

Avery started into the story, and the more he talked, the more he realized how much he’d accomplished in a very short time. “I just got several hundred bales of hay ordered for the cattle over the end of the year, and feed too. I went down and ordered plenty of feed, enough to last several months. Got the mineral blocks out in all the lick locations on the land, and I built another barn, a bigger pole barn, so they’ll have a place to go when it’s really hot and they need the shade. And believe it or not, there has been snow here, so it’ll be good if that happens too. Everything’s looking great.”

“That’s amazing! I’m so proud of you!” his mother sang into the phone.

Does she really mean that? There’s only one way to find out, Avery told himself. “So, Mom, the holiday’s coming up and I was wondering … Would you like to come here to visit me?”

After a few seconds of silence, she asked, “Really? You want me to come there?”

“I’d love for you to come here! I’ll even pay for your plane ticket. How’s that?”

“Well, yes, I’d love to come! Want me to do the booking? I don’t mind paying for it,” she said.

“Great! Just let me know where and when and I’ll pick you up. I’ll be glad to see you,” he told her, and he meant it.

“Avery?”

“Yeah?”

She cleared her throat before she spoke. “I just want to tell you that I’m really, really proud of you. When you first left, I didn’t quite know what to think, but now, I’m happy that you’re happy, and you do sound happy.”

“I’mveryhappy, Mom. You just can’t imagine.”

“Good. I’ll let you know as soon as I get my flight arrangements made. Oh, this is so exciting!” she gushed into the phone.

“I’m excited too. Talk to you soon, okay?”

“Yes. Talk to you soon. Love you, son.”

Avery smiled. “Love you too, Mom. Bye.” He hit END and put the phone down.

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