Page 139 of Other Side Of Never
“She’s saying goodbye,” Christine whispered, her soft hand falling to the crown of her daughter’s head.
Noelle reached forward and trailed the ribbon in the water for a moment before letting it go.“Mama, I’m sorry about the gnomes.”
Christine laughed out loud, face soaked with tears.
Joy and pain.
Laughter and rain.
I felt the pull, hard, and reached for my aunt’s hand.
We landed on a bench next to a river much like the one we just left.I kept her hand in mine.For a long time, we said nothing.
Finally, I had to ask, “Weren’t you worried?”
“Nah.”She sniffed.“You had her.”
My chest split wide open as I whispered, “Thanks.”
She smiled.“You always had a bad habit of underestimating yourself.”She shook her head.“Terrible, terrible taste in Halloween costumes.”
“You really need to let that go, you know?”
She slanted a warning glance in my direction.
I grinned.“I can’t count how many times I’ve gotten that look.”
“You know,” she began thoughtfully, patting my hand.“We were always secretly proud of your antics.”
My eyebrows flew up.“Really?”
“Oh, yeah,” she laughed.“Terrified of you taking it too far and blowing up somebody’s barn, but proud just the same.”
“Huh,” I mused.
She bumped me with her shoulder.“Me and your mom made fifty bucks off The Great Lawn Tractor Race.”
My jaw fell.“You did not!”
She snorted.“People grow up, Hunter-baby.But they don’t change much.The same spirit you and Harley share?You get that from your mom.Hawkley is more like your dad.”
“I’ve spent a lot of time with Harley,” I mused.“And I met Daire.He seems like a good guy.”
“You’re going there next.”
I raised my eyebrows.“You’re not coming?”
Standing, she turned and bent at the waist.With her hands cupping my face, she leaning close and pressed her lips to first one closed eye, then the other.“I’ll be here when you get back.”
I kept my eyes closed for a moment longer, the sudden heaviness in the air warning me of what was to come.Gathering my courage, I opened my eyes to meet the vacant stare of my sister as she stared out over the water.
When she turned to walk, I walked with her.
There was something different about today, the air thick with sadness.“Did somebody hurt you, Harley?”I demanded.
Not like I could do anything about it.I felt the pull to leave but resisted, trudging along beside her toward the bluffs.
At the foot of the hiking trail, I felt the pull again.I shook my head and moved closer to my sister as she began to climb, but this time it stole me away.Like wind whipping through leaves, it whisked me away to an angry Daire yelling over the phone.“Where is she?This is not a day she should be alone!”
