Page 80 of Time For You
By the time I made it downstairs, Sadie was bouncing on her toes by the truck’s passenger door.
“Behave,” I scolded my sister as I turned around in my driveway. Or what would soon be my driveway. It was still a mud pit for now.
I drove the ten minutes to the entrance of Sunny Brook Farms and waited patiently for Sadie to get the full effect before I pulled through the gates.
“My goodness. It’s so beautiful, Colton.” Her face was basically pressed against the glass of her window.
“I had the same reaction when I came here for the first time. Wait until you see the house and farm.”
We passed through the harvested corn fields until we crested the hill that pulled away like a theater’s curtain as it showcased the Easterly’s ranch.
Breathlessly, I could hear Sadie murmur, “Oh, wow.”
Yeah, I know, kid.
“Now, before we go in there, I want you to be prepared that I haven’t seen Autumn in over a week, so. . .”
“So, I need to make friends quickly so you can scurry off with your girlfriend?”
“Well, not exactly. I haven’t spoken to her in like two days, so she may have my balls.”
“What? Colton! Why haven’t you spoken to her? What if she thinks you’re dead?”
“She doesn’t think I’m dead, but I’ve been hanging out with you. I even turned my phone off, remember?”
My agent was probably going nuts right now, but I’d enjoyed the reprieve from technology. I spent the last couple of days going with Sadie to all her favorite places and learning more things about our mom. But I’d completely ignored the thought that Autumn may have reached out to me.
“Probably not your smartest idea, big bro, but I guess you don’t get paid for your brains, huh?”
“Man, not holding back with the punches, are you?”
“No way.” As we exited the truck, Sadie asked who was going to be in the large modern farmhouse and I explained I had no idea, but Nash and Marisol were Autumn’s parents.
Walking toward the house, I was used to seeing people milling about that worked the farm or at least Nash hanging around the house. The man couldn’t sit still to save his life.
I knocked on the large wooden door and waited, but when there was no answer, I twisted the knob and pushed the door open.
“Hello? Anyone home?” I called out, tilting my head for Sadie to follow me.
The sound of chatter grew as I approached the kitchen and living area, hoping Sadie was following behind me. When I crossed the entrance, I was surprised to find all of Autumn’s siblings grouped over a computer that they were scrolling through, her dad leaning over the kitchen island with his phone in his hands, Marisol resting on the couch watching a decorating show on television. The same show that would be filming at my home in six months.
“Hey, everyone,” I greeted, hoping to receive a warm welcome. I’d become good friends with the Easterly family. Instead, they greeted me with complete silence.
Autumn’s sisters turned to face me in astonishment and her brother cracked his knuckles, a vein bulging in his neck.
“Well, don’t you always seem to make a dramatic entrance,” Alex said.
“What?” I whispered just as Sadie stepped up beside me.
“Hi, everyone! I’m Sadie Cartwright, Colton’s half-sister.” Leave it to my sister to stun the crowd further.
“So you’re not cheating on Autumn with your sister?” Alex exclaimed as she stood at the table.
“What? No, don’t be ridiculous, Alex.”
“Ridiculous?” the tall blonde exclaimed as she approached me, her fists clenched at her waist. It was obvious she was itching for a fight and I got the feeling it wasn’t on Autumn’s behalf, but maybe something going on in her own life. “I’ll show you ridiculous, you two-timing-”
A domineering shout masked the room as Marisol stood from her spot on the couch. “Hush, Alexandra. I told you from the beginning that you and your siblings jumped to conclusions. Look at her. This young lady has so nicely come to meet our family and you all haven’t even welcomed her and Colton. I am ashamed of you all.”
