and got up. After throwing some clothes and bathroom supplies into his duffle bag and letting a concerned Jan know where he was going, he hopped into his truck and put some distance between him and Elizabeth Marshall.
He slammed the door of his pickup truck, and walked up the short path that led to his parents’ front door where his mom stood just inside waiting for him just as she had years ago as he and his three brothers were growing up. She hadn’t changed much aside from the addition of the gray that now streaked through her dark brown hair. Her arms opened, pulling him in for a warm hug.
“It’s so good to see you, Chris,” she said ushering him to a kitchen chair. “Did you want some coffee? Or maybe some juice? I think I’ve got some of that white grape juice you like so much.”
Chris chuckled. “I’m fine, Ma.”
She gave him a look that clearly said she doubted he was telling the truth.
“Really, I picked up some coffee on the way here. I’m good.”
She nodded, closed the refrigerator door, and took a sit next to him. “All right then, tell me what’s wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“Christopher Allen Daniels, do not play stupid with me. We’ve lived in this house for almost ten years now, and I can barely get you to come one Sunday a month. Last night you call, out of the blue, wanting to come for the weekend. Something is up.”
He took a deep breath and ran his hand over his face. Maybe coming here hadn’t been a bright idea. Maybe he should have just gone fishing or something. He grimaced. Fishing. Yeah, right. Just what he needed; endless hours with nothing but his thoughts that seemed to center on the one woman he was trying to not think about.
With a heavy sigh, he met his mother’s concerned eyes, feeling a sense of guilt for putting that look there, but he had no intention of dragging her into this mess. Besides, if she knew about Elizabeth, she’d only encourage him to go after her, which was the last thing he wanted.
Eventually, his mother sighed and stood, wrapping him in another hug. “I’m here if you want to talk and so is your father, but I understand if you feel you need to figure this out on your own. Whatever it is.” And then she left to go wake up his dad.
Chris spent the rest of Saturday working with his dad, Mike, out in the backyard. It was busy work like mowing the lawn and weeding the garden and flowerbeds; just the type of thing he needed to keep his mind busy. He missed the solitude of mind manual labor provided. Trent usually came over to help their parents with the yard work since he lived a little closer, owned his own landscaping business, and had all the right equipment. Their parents just weren’t able to keep up with it anymore on their own.
Dinner was a quiet affair. After working outside all day, the food was more than welcome.
He helped his mom clean up before going upstairs to the guest room where he’d stashed his things. The room was littered with pictures of his family. The newest picture was taken about five years ago and included the whole family. He picked it and studied it. Everyone looked so happy. Gage had just signed with Tennessee. Trent was standing proud, just having finished his first full year as a business owner. Paul stood with his arms wrapped around his wife, Melissa, whose belly was swollen with Chloe, still three months away from entering the world. And even he stood with a smile. He was newly married and happy. Even though Carol hadn’t made it to the family barbecue, times were still good. Everyone was happy. So much had changed in five short years.
Before he could let his mind travel any further down memory lane, he dug through his duffle for a clean pair of boxer shorts and T-shirt. What he needed was a shower and a good night’s sleep. He walked into the bathroom and turned on the water, watching the hard spray hit the tiles. Showers were simple and guaranteed. He wasn’t holding his breath on the
He slammed the door of his pickup truck, and walked up the short path that led to his parents’ front door where his mom stood just inside waiting for him just as she had years ago as he and his three brothers were growing up. She hadn’t changed much aside from the addition of the gray that now streaked through her dark brown hair. Her arms opened, pulling him in for a warm hug.
“It’s so good to see you, Chris,” she said ushering him to a kitchen chair. “Did you want some coffee? Or maybe some juice? I think I’ve got some of that white grape juice you like so much.”
Chris chuckled. “I’m fine, Ma.”
She gave him a look that clearly said she doubted he was telling the truth.
“Really, I picked up some coffee on the way here. I’m good.”
She nodded, closed the refrigerator door, and took a sit next to him. “All right then, tell me what’s wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“Christopher Allen Daniels, do not play stupid with me. We’ve lived in this house for almost ten years now, and I can barely get you to come one Sunday a month. Last night you call, out of the blue, wanting to come for the weekend. Something is up.”
He took a deep breath and ran his hand over his face. Maybe coming here hadn’t been a bright idea. Maybe he should have just gone fishing or something. He grimaced. Fishing. Yeah, right. Just what he needed; endless hours with nothing but his thoughts that seemed to center on the one woman he was trying to not think about.
With a heavy sigh, he met his mother’s concerned eyes, feeling a sense of guilt for putting that look there, but he had no intention of dragging her into this mess. Besides, if she knew about Elizabeth, she’d only encourage him to go after her, which was the last thing he wanted.
Eventually, his mother sighed and stood, wrapping him in another hug. “I’m here if you want to talk and so is your father, but I understand if you feel you need to figure this out on your own. Whatever it is.” And then she left to go wake up his dad.
Chris spent the rest of Saturday working with his dad, Mike, out in the backyard. It was busy work like mowing the lawn and weeding the garden and flowerbeds; just the type of thing he needed to keep his mind busy. He missed the solitude of mind manual labor provided. Trent usually came over to help their parents with the yard work since he lived a little closer, owned his own landscaping business, and had all the right equipment. Their parents just weren’t able to keep up with it anymore on their own.
Dinner was a quiet affair. After working outside all day, the food was more than welcome.
He helped his mom clean up before going upstairs to the guest room where he’d stashed his things. The room was littered with pictures of his family. The newest picture was taken about five years ago and included the whole family. He picked it and studied it. Everyone looked so happy. Gage had just signed with Tennessee. Trent was standing proud, just having finished his first full year as a business owner. Paul stood with his arms wrapped around his wife, Melissa, whose belly was swollen with Chloe, still three months away from entering the world. And even he stood with a smile. He was newly married and happy. Even though Carol hadn’t made it to the family barbecue, times were still good. Everyone was happy. So much had changed in five short years.
Before he could let his mind travel any further down memory lane, he dug through his duffle for a clean pair of boxer shorts and T-shirt. What he needed was a shower and a good night’s sleep. He walked into the bathroom and turned on the water, watching the hard spray hit the tiles. Showers were simple and guaranteed. He wasn’t holding his breath on the
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