Sorry it took so long to get you this chapter, I've been extremely busy. Hope you enjoy, and thanks for all the comments!
Chapter 21
I never realized how many country songs were about love. Every other song was about loving, losing or cheating. Sure there was the occasional rowdy Saturday night honky-tonk stuff that would make me relax a little more on the drive back home but then right afterwards a song about how much the singer was in love or how bad they're hurting would come on and make me close to tears. I toughed it out for a long time, living on the rowdy songs, but once Garth Brooks started singing 'More Than a Memory' I had to turn it off.
My mom eyed me but didn't say anything. We didn't talk much during the ride. I basically just looked out the window at the rolling landscape flying by, every second taking me farther away from where I wanted to be.
Despite my attempts to shut it out of my mind, 'More Than a Memory' was already stuck. I could hear his soft voice singing, 'it's gonna take time but I'll forget.' That's all I was leaning on. Maybe if I stayed away long enough, kept myself busy, got back with my old friends… Ronny, then I'd forget – or maybe not care as much. It was only a week that I've known Embry; this shouldn't have such an impact on me. But those were only the first lines of the song. The rest went on to say how he tried but it was impossible to forget because she'd always be more than a memory. That's what I'm worried about.
My mom planned a 'hand off' in Colorado between her and my brother Rhett. I asked her why she didn't just fly me to Kentucky but I already knew the answer – they didn't trust me. All the hurt and sadness lifted from me momentarily when I saw my brother Rhett leaning up against his truck in the motel parking lot. We'd always been very close growing up, even though he's several years older than me. We looked a lot alike; we shared curly brown hair and green eyes that we both have no idea where we got them. My mom said they came from our great grandparents, but I we both secretly hoped we were adopted.
"Hey Dix," He grinned and gave me a gentle hug when I exited the car. Evidently he had heard. Come to think of it the whole town probably knew. School wasn't going to be much fun.
"Hey Rhett," I replied and hugged him back tightly.
After greeting my mom Rhett went to move my luggage from the truck to his. I watched as my life switched over. It seemed more official now. I was over the fence, but on the wrong side.
"Call me when you get home sweetheart." My mom said as she hugged me goodbye.
"Mhm." was my only response. I saw Mom and Rhett exchange a glance but I ignored them and started heading for the motel. Rhett quickly followed after me and I heard mom drive away.
Rhett put an arm around my shoulders and said, "So, how you feeling?"
"You want to know how I feel?" I asked bitterly.
"Well, yeah…" I looked at Rhett's confused face and smiled a little.
"I'd be a lot better if I was back in Forks." I muttered as an answer.
He sighed, "I don't know a hell of a lot about this situation" he admitted, "And I have a feeling that this may be an overreaction," I nodded eagerly but he ignored me, "But just give it a while back in La Grange. We missed you. Everyone's excited to have you back."
"I missed you guys, too." I replied blandly. It's a little true, I did miss them. But I'd give them all up for Embry. I clenched my jaw at the thought. I wasn't doing very well on the whole forgetting thing.
Rhett and I spent the night in a hotel before starting out on our 17 hour drive to La Grange. Rhett turned the radio on and I tried hard to not let it affect me. I half listened to the notes going up and down and half watched the scenery turn into thousands of acres of farmland. It was almost September and the fields were in the middle of harvest. It felt so… open. I had just gotten used to the little rainy box called Forks. We passed a truck hauling a wagon overloaded with hay. Rhett lifted his hand in a wave even though he didn't know the driver. The driver waved back. It was then I realized I really did miss this.
We didn't pull into La Grange until ten at night. We drove down main street; avoiding the train tracks in the middle of the road. I think La Grange is the only town to have a train pass through town on a main road – several times a day.
Grandma and Grandpa's little house was on the other side of town. It was set back in a corn field that was already harvested. The land was open and bare except for the dead stumps that flecked the field. They both came out of the house to greet us.
Grandma was short and plump; the perfect image of Old Mother Hubbard. I couldn't see her going to the cupboard to get any dog a bone though, she hates dogs. My grandpa loves dogs though, so there's always at least one running around against grandma's will. Grandpa is tall and lank; his skin leathery from years of work. He and grandma were originally from western Kentucky, up in the Appalachian Mountains. Grandpa was one of the lucky few to have been able to find work outside the mountains.
Grandma gave me a quick hug, "I'm so glad you've come back, dear. You're so much better off here." Grandma never failed to speak her mind.
"It's good to see you again," I replied politely, taking my bags from the truck. Grandpa took them from me and we all went in the house.
Grandpa's black lab, Rocky, bounded up to great me. His tongue rolled out to the side in a goofy grin and as I glanced at his eyes a pain jabbed my heart. His eyes were hazel, just like Embry's. Rocky pawed at me but I uncharacteristically ignored him and headed for the spare bedroom.
Grandpa set my stuff down and I said, "I'd like to go to sleep now, if that's ok."
He nodded and put a hand on my shoulder before heading out of the room. Grandpa never talked much. Rhett hugged me good bye and left with grandma. I was alone and the loneliness rose to the surface. I sank down on the bed and scooted against the headboard; wrapping my arms around my legs.
Instead of thinking about back in Forks I thought of my friends I had left here. I would go back to school in a couple days and I was sure to be bombarded. I thought about Ronny and wondered how he'd expect me to act. He'd probably figured I'd still want to be more than friends. I could try but just the thought seemed wrong.
I sighed and rested my head against my knees. Rocky scratched at the door and whined. I ignored him and his whine turned into a desperate howl. I rolled onto my side and put the pillow over my ears. Outside the full moon was low, casting ere shadows over the baron field. I could picture Embry climbing through my window, just like he had a couple days before. I shut my eyes and pushed those thoughts out. I was trying to forget, but forgetting is harder than I thought.