Page 3 of The Homecoming

“Think your mom will be mad at you for leaving your graduation party?” Dan asked. They sat across from each other at a picnic table, Dan with his ice cream cone and for Autumn, a milkshake.

Autumn sipped and thought for a moment. “It was your idea to leave.”

“That’s right, throw me under the bus.” He shot her a wicked smile over his cone.

Autumn shrugged. “She’ll never be angry with the great American hero. And maybe with enough people talking, she might not even realize I’m gone.”

Dan rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on. You can’t mean that.”

She did mean it, but she wasn’t in the mood to explain it. “No, she thinks you’re a hero,” she replied, watching the cars pass by.

He sighed. “I’m not. But that’s not what I meant.”

“I just don’t like crowds,” she said with a smirk.

“You’re in the wrong family.”

The sun half dipped below the horizon as they walked back to the jeep, the sky pink with fluffy clouds hanging low. Autumn stood there, admiring the colors a moment before getting in. “I love it when the sky looks like this,” she said. “Like the clouds are painted.”

Dan nodded and smiled at her over the jeep; the heat in his dark brown eyes caught her off guard. He drove slowly back toward her parents’ house, taking his time meandering long and windy roads, down a long road next to a field of hay. The wind whipped Autumn’s hair as she exhaled and sank back into the seat, closing her eyes as she took in the feeling of peace. The worry of what she was going to do with her life, whether or not Mark would show up.... For the moment, all of those fears were gone. Then the car slowed and turned onto the driveway, the weight of the world returning. Most of the other cars were now gone, and her mom was probably mad that she’d left. The front door opened and her mom stepped out holding a dish towel.

Dan waved sheepishly and stepped out of the jeep. “Sorry, Mrs. Mac, I took Autumn out for a drive.”

And just like that, her mom was all smiles. “Daniel? Oh, my word. Look at you.” She came down the front steps, arms raised for a hug. “Come here and let me look at you.”

Dan embraced Autumn’s mom as she ran her hand up his pecs, shoulder, and down around his bicep. “You’re in such good shape,” she cooed as Dan blushed. “The military certainly made a man out of you.” It was humiliating having her mom feel up Jason’s best friend out in the yard, though Autumn had to admit she’d like to do the same thing. Her mom insisted that Dan come inside for a visit and he complied, removing his baseball hat and holding the door for the two women.

“I’m sorry,” Autumn mouthed as she followed her mom through the door.

Daniel smiled, shrugging as his deep brown eyes held hers until she looked away, and placed his hand on the small of her back when she passed him.

Shirley McMillan served Dan a mug of decaf coffee left over from the party, and he refused the offer of any cream or sugar. Conversely, Autumn poured herself a cup and dumped both into the black liquid. She took the seat across the round kitchen table from Dan while her mom recounted running into Dan’s mom at the grocery store the week before. He politely nodded along to Shirley’s story while taking sips of the coffee, until he caught Autumn looking at him, and she looked away. When Autumn glanced back, he was looking at her in a way that made her face flush. Shirley began asking him questions about being in Special Forces and whether Dan still spoke to Jason. Dan admitted that he hadn’t seen his friend much the past year, but they usually spoke every couple of months or so.

“He called me a couple of weeks ago from Iraq and said he might be coming home this fall,” Shirley said, smiling at the thought. “It’ll be great to have him back.”

“It will,” Dan agreed. He flashed Autumn another look that made her tingle. She didn’t want to tingle.

Autumn studied the inside of her mug to avoid his eyes. They grew up together; he was like a brother. They shouldn’t be eye flirting.

“How long are you home for?” Shirley asked.

“Don’t know. I’m just waiting for orders,” Dan replied.

“Are you staying with your parents while in town?”

“No, ma’am. I have a room over at the Budget Inn.” Dan took a drink. “My brother’s kids are staying at moms; it’s a bit crowded.”

“Isn’t that place gross?” Autumn asked.

“Better than the desert,” he shrugged. “I don’t need much. Besides, they work with me on extended stays and don’t mind if I have to bounce at a moment’s notice.” He shot another flirty smile.

“Will we see you in church tomorrow, Daniel?” Shirley asked.

Dan turned to Autumn. “You going?”

“Of course she is,” Shirley answered.

Shirley tied the top of a huge trash bag made full from the party in the middle of the floor.

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