Page 3 of Embers in Our Souls
“Your feelings are valid. I’m so sorry.” Her green eyes have a halo of gold, then in the center it’s brown. It’s the most unique eye color I’ve ever seen. Now that I know she’s adopted, it makes sense why she looks so different from Bryce. Her brother has the darkest hair and eyes compared to her, although their fair complexion is similar.
“Were you able to get any answers about your health? I mean, it seems you need to figure out what’s going on there?” I ask her.
She shakes her head. “No. I left in such a hurry. I got a ride-share to my house and grabbed my car. Then I came straight here. Bryce called me and asked me to fill him in on what happened. I guess our mom called him in hysterics.” She rolls her eyes and continues, “And he wants to know if I’m running away or something.”
“Is that what you’re going to do? Run away?”
“I mean, I feel like I’ve lived a life by their standards, and I sort of don’t want to anymore. Remember I told you I didn’twant to be a surgeon like they wanted? I mean, that’s their life. They're cardiac surgeons and I was doing that to stay in the family business, but I don’t even want to do that.”
“Yeah, you mentioned that, but then said you had grown to like the idea of it. I think someone at school said you got into some big school in California,” I tell her.
“Yeah, I got into Central Coast University. It's a big deal. A huge deal. But that’s their old school, where they met. It’s their life, not mine. I was doing it to makethemhappy. But it’s not what I want. And I’m sick of living the life they want for me,” she tells me.
“What do you want then?”
“I want my own life, as hard as that might be. I think that’s what I need to do— find my own happiness,” she says.
“Then do whatever’s needed to achieve that. You won’t be able to live a fulfilling life until you run after the life you want.”
“But how do I do that? How do I go after that with a health issue now? I mean, I need insurance. I’ll need a job and I still want to go to school, but I won’t go on their dime. I’m going to do it on my own. I’ll put myself through the future I see for myself, even though it’s going to suck.” She drops her head into her hands.
I look out over the view, the calm in front of us providing the serenity we’ve both come here to find. This day has had so many winding turns, each one with its own obstacles.
“What if I gave you a solution to the insurance part?” I look over at her.
“What do you mean?” She looks over at me in confusion.
“I can at least help with one. But it will require a bit of rebellion on your part.” I give her a sly smile.
“What kind of rebellion?” She laughs.
“The kind that’s more my style than yours.” I nudge her with my shoulder.
“Oh gosh. I’m scared to ask more.”
“Do you trust me?” I ask her.
“You’ve never lied to me before,” she says, her smile growing.
I stand up, putting my hand out for her to grab.
Hours later, we lay together in a hotel room; laughing, making promises, and holding each other. Wrapped together in the hotel sheets, I memorize every little piece of her. I’m cataloguing each touch, each motion, each second, because I have no idea if I’ll ever get to feel this close to Indiana again.
Then I grasp her left hand in mine, and the feel of our wedding bands touching is a reminder of our little secret. I’ll carry it with me as we start our lives; moving in separate directions after this. But I’ll hold a piece of tonight with me every step of the way.
CHAPTER 1
Indiana
PRESENT DAY
“Mama,I want to see Harley on Saturday,” Noah says as we drive to school.
I sneak a peek at him, his dark brown eyes laser focused on the cars as they pass us.
“Sure, baby. I’ll call her mom later. Maybe we can go to a movie. Ooooh, we can get popcorn and I’ll make sure to get extra M&Ms and pour them in my bucket.” I see him scrunch his nose without looking my way.
“I don’t like sharing popcorn with you,” he confesses.
