Page 100 of Embers of You
“She actually hasn’t said too much about you.” I could tell him that I’ve seen some of their spats, but I don’t have anything personal against him, so there’s no point in telling him anything.
“That’s surprising. Well, I wanted you to know I’m not all bad, and if you need help with anything, I’m around.”
I nod. “Thanks, Wes. It was nice to meet you.”
“You, too.”
He heads back to his house, and I continue on my walk with Bennet, surprised to have had a pleasant interaction with him. Maybe things will start looking up. At least it’s not like it can get much worse.
When we get back home I notice something sitting on my front porch, it’s a single flower. A daisy, I think, with a noteattached to it. I look around to see if anyone is nearby, a car driving away or someone hiding in the bushes, but I don’t see anyone.
Bennet and I walk inside and that’s when I open up the note. It’s simple. So simple that I reread it a few times, just in case I somehow missed something within it.
I remember the first time I saw you. There hasn’t been a day you haven’t been on my mind since. I’m going to show you how much you mean to me.
I know who this is from even though he didn’t sign it. Unless I have some stalker that’s been really good at keeping himself hidden. But I know who this is from.
Part of me wants to crumple up the paper, shred it to pieces, and throw it away. But I just can’t bring myself to do it. I pick up the daisy and smell it. I want to know why he picked this flower.
Maybe he was hoping I would reach out and ask. I’m not going to. I’m going to stay strong. He lost his chance with me and he’s not going to get another one. Maybe I hold grudges a little too easily, but it’s the same reason I’ll never forgive my parents or Cassie. No matter how many times they reach out and try to mend things, there’s no coming back from that.
Jameson will move on as well. We both will.
Things get weirderthe next time I’m at work. Jerry Lee is always a loud mouth with his constant barking, and telling Vern to shut up. Plus, I can’t forget some of the newer words he picked up recently thanks to Lily.
Even though she somehow blames me for that one, I’m not sure how.
Today, for some reason Jerry Lee’s fixation is on the man I’m trying to forget. It seems like every few minutes he’s calling out“Hot guy, Jameson.”Every time he does it my head shoots up because I feel like I’m going to see him walking through the door. He’s not and I have yet to see him at all so I don’t know why Jerry Lee keeps announcing him.
“Jerry Lee, if you say his name one more time I’m seriously setting you free.”
He barks in response, then goes through his entire repertoire.“Shut up, Vern. Jizz. Hot guy, Jameson.”
I groan, regretting not having some noise canceling headphones with me. You’d think I would’ve learned by now, but Lily has been entertaining enough to justify not getting them. She’s not here today, and Trish already left for the day so it’s just me, my thoughts, and the annoying bird who is still barking.
“That’s it, you’re at least going to bed.” I storm toward his cage and he squawks again, but I lure him inside with a treat, tossing a towel over the top so he’ll think it’s nighttime.
I notice another envelope with a flower sitting on the windowsill by his cage. This time it’s a carnation. I pick both things up, and see the envelope is addressed to me in the same handwriting.
Maybe I should wait until I’m home to open it, but I can’t help myself. I’m too curious. This one is a lot simpler.
I’m Lost without you.
I sigh, shaking my head. He’s not going to make it easy to not think about him, but I have to. Though I can’t bring myself to get rid of the letter or the flower, so instead, it comes home with me to join the daisy in my kitchen.
My phone goes off and I expect to see it’s Jameson, but when it says “Mom,” I think about throwing it across the room. I’ve been dodging all their phone calls and texts since I got here. I’m not ready to talk to any of them, but I’m also so fired up because of everything else going on in my life. And maybe closing that door will help me feel some semblance of peace.
That’s why for the first time since I walked out of their house after witnessing the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life, I answer the phone. I don’t say anything, I just put it on speaker and leave it on the counter, staring at the screen.
“Sutton?” Her voice comes through the speaker and it’s the first time I’ve heard her since that day.
I don’t say anything right away. She says my name again, this time a little louder.
“What do you want?” I finally snap.
“To talk to you. To explain. To find out where you are. There’s a lot I want as your mother, Sutton.”
I scoff. “Yeah, well maybe you should’ve thought about that before.”
