“Do you know where you are?”
“I do.” The tallest loblolly pine in North Carolina was on the left. “This was halfway between Mom and Dad’s house and Kelly McIntyre’s. We used to meet here.”
“I guess you do remember that. You did community service for a whole summer to make up for defacing that tree.”
“All in the name of love.” He laughed, although it hadn’t been funny at the time. He’d had to do community service and pay a big fine. “Every time I walked or rode Doc down here to meet Kelly, I’d hum that old Diamond Rio song, ‘Meet in The Middle.’”
“I loved that song.”
“Me too. In the song there were seven hundred fence posts to the middle. There weren’t that many on this walk, but I’d lay odds that I’ve been down this path every bit of seven hundred times.”
“Y’all were really good together.”
He pulled up to the old barn in the curve. “We were.” The creek ran right behind it, and as kids, he and Dawn had picnicked here often. He was thankful to arrive so they could change the subject.
They ate pizza and skipped rocks on the creek like they had as kids. It was a relaxing afternoon. He hadn’t realized how tense he was, but boy could he tell the difference now that he wasn’t.
Dawn tucked the trash into the pizza box. “We’d better get back to Mom’s. She’ll be mad if I keep you all to myself, especially while Dad’s out of town. I like to help her with the horses at night when Dad’s not around.”
“Sounds good.” Andrew led the way back to the car, and they headed home. Nightfall came early this time of year, and the sun was already dipping low beyond the horizon when he pulled into the driveway.
“We should’ve saved her some pizza. Let’s throw the box away out here so she doesn’t know.”
He put the trash in the bin and slammed the lid.
Dawn pointed down the hill. “Mom must already be down there. The barn lights are on.” She cupped her hands to her mouth and hollered, “Mom!”
“I’ll check inside.” Andrew went inside, then came right back out. “She’s not up here.”
“She’s not answering. That’s not like her.”
“I’m sure she’s fine.” He caught the look of worry on Dawn’s face. “I’ll race you down.”
Dawn took off down the hill, but he caught up with her easily.
She stopped and yelled again, “Mom?”
Andrew turned and ran backward, waiting for her to catch up. “Slowpoke.”
“I can’t run anymore.” She stopped and bent over with her hands on her knees.
“What’s wrong, Ms. Yoga Teacher? Are you getting old?” He ran a circle around her.
“Real funny.” She leaped onto his back, and he ran to the barn with her piggyback style.
“Hey, Mom. Need some help?” Andrew called out as they got to the barn, but she still didn’t answer. Then again, she didn’t cry out for help either. “She’s probably behind the barn,” he said, hoping to calm Dawn.
He swung open the barn door, but he never expected to see this.
Chapter Five
A huge Welcome Home banner in big red letters, with a chef’s hat over the H, hung across the front of the first three stalls, and the barn was filled with people cheering.
It only took a moment for it to register that Dawn had tricked him into getting down here to the barn for this surprise.
He spotted his mom in the crowd. “How did you do all of this?”
“I had help,” she said, making her way through the crowd to his side. “I know you said you wanted a quiet visit, but we couldn’t let everyone miss out on your visit back, son. I hope you’ll forgive us.”
He gave her a hug then started making the rounds, handshaking, hugging, and backslapping friends.
His best friends, Sam and Jason, had set up their guitars and amps in the corner and started playing “Take the Long Way Home.”
“Real funny, guys,” Andrew called out to them with a joking laugh, but he was genuinely surprised by the turnout. As much as he thought he hadn’t wanted to see anyone but his immediate family, his heart filled with joy as he recognized friends he hadn’t seen in years. “This is crazy.”
“Quit being a stranger then,” Sam shouted into the mic.
“Yes, it has been too long,” he shouted back. “I’ve missed y’all.” But honestly, he hadn’t realized it until this minute.
“How’s France?” someone hollered from across the way.
“France is beautiful,” Andrew responded, not even sure who had asked.
“We wouldn’t know,” Sam said. “Didn’t even get a postcard from the world traveler.”
“Guilty.” What kind of friend am I?
“You should post pictures on Facebook or something.”
“I’m not on any social media.” He regretted the admission when it was met with a series of groans.
“Get with the program, man. How are we supposed to live vicariously through you if you don’t tell us anything?”
“I’ll do better,” he said. “Be sure I get your number before you leave.”
Dawn came in with a big smile. “Surprise!”
“I’m going to get you,” he said. “But thanks for an awesome day. And this. I know you were in cahoots with Mom. This is great. It’s awesome to see everyone.”
“I hoped it would be. Hey, I’m dying of thirst. I’m going to grab something. What do you want?”
“Bottle of water for starters. Thanks.” Three six-foot tables were covered in black tablecloths on the other side of the barn. Food was spread out like a potluck. Nice of everyone to chip in on no notice.
Then, as he scanned to the right, he noticed the beautiful display of desserts. Trays of pastries, cupcakes on a three-tier tower, and cakes on raised cake plates like the ones the Main Street Diner used. “I can’t believe this.”
Dawn brought him a bottle of water.
Behind that table, Kelly stood there staring at him with those chocolate-brown eyes.
The ruckus seemed to fall away as he focused in on her.
“What is she doing here?”
“I ordered desserts from her,” Dawn said. “Besides, you
