6 Months Later
Taylor opened her eyes; the April sun sprinkled itself across her bedspread. She blinked a few times at the wooden ceiling of her cabin. She could hear the spring birds chirping outside her slightly open window. The sound of light morning traffic rumbled beyond the birds. Taylor rolled over and looked at her clock. 9:04. She didn't have to get ready for work until one.
She pulled the covers back over her head, groaning. Today was her 20th birthday and it was just like every other day. Ordinary, mundane. There were no balloons, no confetti, no presents and most of all no family. Well, she had Tori, but her brothers were probably half way across the nation by now. They wouldn't disclose their location whenever she called them, afraid that she might pack up and follow them again.
Which she wouldn't because, as much as she hated to admit it, they had been right, here she was living a normal life and she was happy. Although, one part was missing…Jeremy. Ever since their conversation last October, they had talked less and less. She hadn't seen him in over six months, she missed his cobalt blue eyes, his deep rumbling laugh…she just missed him.
Taylor had spent Christmas and New Year's with her brother's, Tori and her new friends from work, but most of all she spent her time missing him. She had been secretly hoping he would show up with a giant bouquet of flowers and that cocky smile on his face.
He hadn't come. She doubted he would show up for something as measly as her birthday. She sighed under the covers. Yeah this was going to be her best birthday ever.
She got to work early; the place was just clearing out from the breakfast rush. Whatever you would call the breakfast rush on a Thursday morning when most people were at work. Taylor tightened her apron and made sure she had a pencil and grabbed a new book off the shelf.
Tori came out of the kitchen and stared at her.
"What are you doing here?"
Taylor raised a brow, "Working." She noticed her friend wasn't dressed for work, in jeans and a nice t-shirt.
"Is today April 6th?"
Taylor narrowed her eyes at her friend and boss, "Yeah why."
"Then what the hell are you doing at work on your birthday?"
Taylor's anger flared, "My brothers called didn't they?"
"Of course they did, and I'm glad, because you didn't even tell me," Tori explained, her voice becoming softer.
Taylor laid her hands flat on the long counter, trying to calm her anger.
"I'm sorry, Tori, I didn't think it was that important."
Now it was Tori's turn to be angry, "Not important, girl, it's your damn birthday. Now go home and get changed."
"Why?"
Tori was standing next to her now, "Because you and I have a date at the Gainesville mall."
Taylor smiled, then it faded as she thought of something. "Wait, who's gonna work for us?"
"Christi and Anita are working tonight. Now scat, you need to go change so that we can get rolling."
Taylor grinned, "You don't have to tell me twice." She hopped over the counter nimbly, grabbing her purse and she hurried out to her car.
The shopping trip had gone way too quickly and now they were already on their way back exhausted. Tori insisted that they stop at Just Jackie's for some pie, to celebrate. Taylor agreed not wanting the day to end.
Tori parked in front of the dark restaurant, the sun was setting behind it sending out a rainbow of beautiful colors. Taylor stopped to look at it for a second before Tori dragged her up the old wooden steps.
"Surprise!" Everyone shouted, as soon as Tori opened up the door.
Someone turned on the lights, and Taylor smiled seeing all her co-workers there and her brothers. She ran over to them as soon as she saw them. She flung her arms around Dean first, then Sam. They laughed.
"Happy birthday, Taylor," they said in unison.
"Happy birthday," everyone chorused after that.
The party took off after that, someone set the overhead speakers on a radio station and Taylor went around talking to her co-workers and her brothers. When she felt her phone vibrating she went outside to answer it.
"Happy birthday, Taylor!" the voices yelled through her phone. She laughed.
"Hey guys. Hi Sally."
"Howdy, darlin', are you having a good birthday?"
"Of course."
"We all wish you were here."
Taylor sighed, not wanting to choke up, "I wish I were too."
"When are you coming back darlin'?" Sally's voice was lower and Taylor could tell she'd moved away from the bar.
"I don't know, Sally."
It was quiet for a moment. Taylor wanted so much to ask her about Jeremy but she didn't know how. Finally she took a deep breath.
"Sally, how's Jeremy?"
"Why don't you call him up and ask him yourself."
Taylor sighed, "Because I haven't talked to him in forever and things feel weird between us now."
"Damn that boy, I'm gonna-."
Taylor laughed, "Don't do anything Sally I was just wondering." Taylor leaned against the creaky railing but turned around when she saw all the happy people talking at her party. Something pinched her heart; she put her elbows on the railing and looked out over the parking lot. She almost wished Sally hadn't called and dragged out all her feelings again.
"Well, he needs to talk to you Taylor."
"You can't make him do anything he doesn't want to do," Taylor replied, studying the chipped wood of the railing.
"I know for a fact that that boy loves you with all his heart and it's not right for him to hurt you like this," Sally stated matter-of-factly.
"Well, maybe he doesn't love me anymore," Taylor suggested. Her chest pinched again at the thought.
"Don't think like that dear, I'm sure he does."
"Okay," Taylor said, not believing her, but wanting to end the conversation before it went too far.
She heard the door creak open behind her, "Hey, everything okay?" It was Sam.
"Yeah," Taylor replied, "Sally just called; I'll be back in in a minute."
Sam nodded and closed the door.
"I gotta go Sally, I promise I'll call you soon," Taylor promised.
"You'd better or I'll come down there and kick your butt," Sally laughed after she said it. Taylor laughed with her.
"Bye."
"Bye, dear."
With that, Taylor slid her phone shut and stood in the cool night for a moment longer before heading back inside where, Tori was just lighting the candles on her cake.
When she had made a wish, and every one had gotten a piece Tori started handing her presents. They were nothing special, a necklace here, a bracelet there.
"Okay," Dean said, when she had opened all of them, "we have on last present for you, close your eyes and hold your hands out."
Taylor did as she was told, after a moment Dean set something heavy, furry and moving in her arms.
Her eyes popped open and the first thing she saw were chocolate brown eyes staring up at her. The Black lab puppy licked her face. She instantly fell in love with him.
She looked up at her brothers, "You got me a puppy?"
They shrugged, "We figure you needed some company now that you're living by yourself."
She jumped up and hugged her brothers, "This is the best birthday present ever!"
"What're you gonna name him?" Tori asked, coming over to pet him. He started to whine to be put down. Taylor put him on the floor and he walked around sniffing everything.
"Dean," Dean coughed. Sam elbowed him.
"Sorry Dean," Taylor said, she looked at the puppy once more deciding on a name, "I'm gonna call him Chance."
When she said the name he looked up at her and came lopping over.
"See," she said picking him up he already knows his name.
Taylor unlocked the door of her cabin for her brothers, were a little wobbly from their drinks. It was late now, Taylor had driven them back refusing to let Dean drive drunk. Taylor put Chance on the floor and let him sniff his new home. She saw something on the kitchen island. She went over and saw a new bag of Purina Puppy Chow with a note on it. The note said that there was a new dog bed upstairs a dog kennel in the laundry room and this bag of food to start off her puppy's life here. There was even a list of medical records; it looked like Chance had gotten his rabies shot and a check up recently. He was two and a half months old too; his birthday was even on there, February 18th. She put the note down and saw a collar next to it. It already had bone shaped tag on it, and there was space for the name to be inscribed, her number and address was on it already in case he got lost.
"You guys thought of everything didn't you?" Taylor asked her brothers, were swaying in the living room.
Dean pointed at Sam, "He did it." He slurred his words a little. Sam who was less drunk led Dean to the couch. Sam set himself up on the recliner. Both of them were asleep instantly. Taylor shook her head at them and went over to Chance who was sniffing Sam's foot. She wrapped the collar around his neck and tightened it just right as he nibbled on her hand. She went into the laundry room to grab blankets for her brother's, Chance followed. She put the blankets on her brothers, then picked up chance to let him out once before she went to bed her self. She went out the sliding door, went across the deck and set him out on the grass, where he sniffed and eventually peed.
Taylor checked her phone while she was waiting for him, there was nothing, no messages, no text messages. Jeremy must have forgotten. Or…she didn't want to think…he really didn't love her anymore. She saw Chance squat to empty his bowels and she praised him.
When they went back inside she filled a dish for his water, she decided even though it was late, she should feed him, she would set a schedule for him tomorrow. He gobbled his food down then looked at her asking for more.
"That's all for tonight buddy," she said picking him up again and bringing him and her lap top upstairs to her loft. She noticed the dog bed in the right of her bedroom right away; it had a giant blue bow on it. She took the bow off and threw it away. She set Chance there telling him it was time for bed. She undressed behind her wooden dressing separator that she had put against the railing of her loft for privacy. Chance watched her from his bed, looking tired. She threw on a pair of fleece bottoms and a baggy t-shirt before going into the bathroom to brush her teeth, Chance followed her.
As she was brushing her teeth he sniffed around the bathroom and then sat by her feet staring up at her. She couldn't help but fall in love with him every time she saw those liquid, chocolate, brown eyes. He wagged his tail. She quick went to the bathroom and then brought him back to his bed and set him there.
"It's bed time now." She gave him a long pet before crawling into her own bed realizing she wasn't tired. She turned on the TV, and turned down the volume. Then she turned on her laptop and started looking up training and care for labs.
A few minutes later she saw Chance walked over to the stairs and look down. He sniffed and whined but backed up not wanting to attempt them. He went into the bathroom next, Taylor was about to go in after him when he came back out. She didn't want him to poop or pee in her cabin yet. Then he came next to her bed and looked up at her. When she told him to go back to bed he just wagged his tail and cocked his head at her. She went back to her laptop.
When he barked, she jumped and shushed him. He just barked again.
"Oh fine," she said picking him up and putting him on the bed, "but just for tonight, then you need to sleep in your bed."
He just wagged his tell and nibbled on her hand. She laughed and set him down next to her on the comforter. He wanted to play and bit on her hand again. She set aside her research and turned off her laptop.
She played with him for a few minutes before he yawned and curled up beside her, falling asleep almost instantly. She smiled and petted his soft, little, sleeping body.
She looked at her silent phone, holding back tears. She felt really lonely all of a sudden. The feeling ate at her heart. She brushed it off turned everything off and curled up next to Chance.
It was only a few minutes before she started sobbing.
Sam and Dean left in the morning. They needed to get to the next hunt. Taylor was sad to see them leave again, but they both promised to call as they hugged her goodbye. Neither one of them mentioned hearing her sob last night, so she hoped they hadn't heard her.
Chance roamed around the front yard while Taylor watched her brothers drive away. Chance stopped when he saw a tall weed, he barked his puppy, high-pitched bark. Then swatted at it with his paw, Taylor stood there laughing at him.
Taylor took off that Friday and Saturday, and she always got Sunday's and Monday's off. So she took pretty much a week to started potty training Chance and training him otherwise with his food and to sit and lie down and heel on walks. He learned fast, and it stuck in his mind. By the end of the week he had learned and gotten down all those tricks so when she took him for a walk on Monday night, he was good about walking right next to her as he sniffed and peed. She took him down to the marina, and walked him near the water.
She was glad it was spring now, the weather warmer and the days longer. The winter just made her depressed, with the cold and short days. The weather was different in Missouri than it was in Minnesota, it had more a mind of it's own than Minnesota. The spring had been fast coming with some freezing days already and then some days reached close to sixty.
Taylor sat down on one of the benches across from the harbor. She watched the boats bob in the water. Chance was sniffing around her, when suddenly he jumped into the water. The spray hit her, dampening her clothes. Chance, paddled farther away as Taylor tugged on his leash still attached to his collar. She whistled and called for him, eventually he swam back with a stick he must have seen in the water. He came and dropped it at her feet. He barked for her to throw it again. She laughed at him and released his collar from the leash. She picked up the stick and threw it. He ran in after the stick.
She recalled the history of the Labrador Retrievers as hunting dogs, who, just as their name says, retrieved birds and other game.
Their game of fetch continued until Chance was tuckered out and he collapsed on the grass panting happily. Taylor sat back down on the bench watching as the sun slowly faded below the horizon.
Her thoughts somehow found their way back to Jeremy. She hadn't stopped thinking about him since her birthday. She was getting mad now, and refused to call him, why should she have to if he's the one that doesn't care. Then fine, she didn't care either.
She attached the leash back onto Chance's collar and started the short walk back home. The only problem about her not caring was that she still did. So much that it hurt her.
When she got home she released Chance who ran into the kitchen, it was time for food. She made him sit and stay before she gave him his food. She turned on the radio as she prepared dinner for herself.
"Now for a new song off of 3 Door's Down's newest album, this one's called, Your Arms Feel Like Home," the announcer called over the radio. As soon as Brad Arnold's voice came over the radio soft and slow, Taylor realized that the lyrics hit home for her. The first lyrics made her heart pinch painfully in her chest.
I think I've walked too close to love
And now I'm falling in
There's so many things this weary soul can't take
Maybe you just caught me by surprise
The first time that I looked into your eyes
Tears stung the back of her eyes as everything came out of her. All of what she was feeling right now came out into the words of the song.
There's a life inside of me
That I can feel again
It's the only thing that takes me
Where I've never been
I don't care if I lost everything that I have known
'Cause it don't matter where I lay my head tonight
Your arms feel like home
They feel like home
Feel like home
The tears came then, rolling down her cheeks, and the sobs caught painfully in her throat. She couldn't help but wish his arms were around her right now. That he was here with her.
This life ain't the fairy tale we both thought it would be
But I can see your smiling face as it's staring back at me
I know we both see these changes now
I know we both understand somehow
She knew that things had changed for them and that's why it hurt like this. She understood that things weren't going to be the same.
There's a life inside of me
That I can feel again
It's the only thing that takes me
Where I've never been
I don't care if I lost everything that I have known
It don't matter where I lay my head tonight
Your arms feel like home
(hold on, you're home to me)
They feel like home
(hold on, you're home to me)
He was home to her and because he wasn't here she felt lost. Their time apart had finally gotten to her and now it all came out during this song. She loved him and couldn't be with him and because of that her heart broke right there. She slid slowly to the floor, tears still rolling down her cheeks. Chance came over and nudged her arm; she pulled him into her lap and hugged him close. The last thing she had to hold on to.
There's a life inside of me
That I can feel again
It's the only thing that takes me
Where I've never been
I don't care if I lost everything that I have known
It don't matter where I lay my head tonight
Your arms feel like home
They feel like home
They feel like home
